Dr Martin Freney

Martin started at UniSA in 2003 as a lecturer in Industrial Design. He graduated from the UniSA Industrial Design Program in 1993 and worked in Adelaide as an industrial designer, design engineer and draughtsman for Mining Supplies Australia (sand-cast mining equipment), Minelab Electronics (metal/mine detectors and high-end audio), Electrolux (ovens, cooktops), APC Technology (special application computers) and Geologics (mining machinery). He studied Product Design at Art Center Europe for one term in 1994.

In 1999 he completed a Permaculture Design Course with The Food Forest (Gawler SA) sparking an interest in sustainable design. In 2003 he completed the construction of an owner-built eco house which features straw-bale walls, passive solar design, a reed-bed for recycling greywater, composting toilet, photovoltaic panels for electricity generation, solar hot water, and non-toxic finishes. Hundreds of visitors have toured the house as part of Solar House Day (2004, 2005), ReNew Open House Day (2007), or as part of their studies at UniSA.

Currently Martin is experimenting with Earthship technology (off-grid homes built with large amounts of waste materials such as waste car tyres). In 2013 Martin became the first person in Australia to receive council approval for an Earthship building. The project was completed in 2016 via a series of “workshops” where volunteers learn how to build with waste materials. Now it is tourist accommodation where people can experience what it is like to live off-grid with all the modern conveniences, yet minimal eco-footprint. Martin is an advocate for sustainable housing and runs a design consultancy part-time through which he has designed a number of Earthship homes throughout Australia.

In 2014 he completed his PhD titled "Earthship Architecture: life cycle assessment, thermal performance and post occupancy evaluation" at the School of Architecture and Built Environment at The University of South Australia. He has published a number of papers that have stemmed from this research. He was awarded a Dean's Commendation for the quality of his thesis.

In 2019 he completed a Diploma of Building Design.

Martin has won grants to develop improved online systems for delivering feedback on assignments (funded by the Carrick Institute, 2007) and to conduct research into methods for upcycling waste car tyres (funded by Tyre Stewardship Australia, 2017).

Martin believes that designers have an important role in making our world a better place, responding to threats such as climate change, peak oil, and planned obsolescense. Through good design and improved systems we could enjoy modern conveniences, yet not trash the planet in the process.

Martin works part-time in the Product Design Program at UniSA.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy The University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) University of South Australia