Being Sustainable

Being Sustainable

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Contents About us...

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Uplifting 6 Progressive 8 Respectful 10 A trailblazer for low energy housing

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Enhanced ways of working on Oxford’s science & innovation campus

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Reinvigorating a vibrant Central London quarter

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Celebrating arboricultural legacy in South London

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A low energy, low cost dining hall for a school in Kent

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Low energy homes on brownfield sites

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Gardensity: Localised, integrated food production

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Delivering Passivhaus at scale

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Addressing fuel poverty for those in housing need

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About us...

Founded

2004

Located

Wapping, London

Team

35 strong

Awards Architect of the Year | Winner 2023 Architecture Today | Winner 2023 Civic Trust | Winner 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 RIBA National | Winner 2016, 2022 Housing Design | Winner 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022 New London | Winner 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 Clients Argent, Lendlease, Peabody, 17 London Boroughs including Southwark, Westminster and Tower Hamlets, Get Living, Igloo, Backhouse, Be First, Pegasus Life, Pocket Living, British Land, The Skinners’ School, Kent College Canterbury, Dartford Grammar, Empiric Student Housing Frameworks Notting Hill Genesis, Southwark, Bloom, Clarion, Catalyst Peabody, Perfect Circle, L&Q, GLA A+U Panel

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Uplifting We create places people love We believe in the power of architecture to provide sustainable and inspiring places that everyone should thrive and benefit from.

Our strong social and moral purpose drives us to use our expertise as architects to make a tangible impact on people’s quality of life.

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Progressive We build for a positive future Our design approach is progressive, responsive to the changing world, continuously evolving but always underpinned by our commitment to create a better life for everyone in society.

We create beautifully crafted architecture that responds positively to its surroundings, that challenges convention and creates future legacy.

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Respectful Community, collaborators and the planet We pride ourselves on our proactive and enthusiastic approach to build constructive relationships with everyone we have the pleasure to meet.

We strive to make the process enjoyable and lead each project with a sensitive ear and collaborative mindset because we believe people make places.

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A trailblazer for low energy housing Sherwood Terrace This project is a template for high density, affordable, low energy housing on inner city sites. In response to the constrained site we created six dwellings with living spaces and large terraces on the second floor to provide good amenity, sunlight and views across the nearby docks.

Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 is achieved via a highly insulated and airtight building fabric, large areas of photovoltaic cells on the roof, MVHR and grey water recycling. The blue engineering brick is reminiscent of Dockland’s Victorian industrial structures, and the gold copper cladding makes reference to the signage of the pub that previously stood on the site.

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Project

Sherwood Terrace

Location

Custom House, Newham

Client

London Borough of Newham

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Completed 2012 Awards

Housing Design Award 2013 | Shortlisted Brick Award 2012 | Shortlisted Sustainable Housing Award 2012 | Shortlisted

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Enhanced ways of working on Oxford’s science & innovation campus Harwell Hide Harwell Campus is a science, technology and innovation campus with close ties to Oxford University. The hides provide tranquil workspaces overlooking an existing lagoon. Each pavilion is clad in angled facets of timber cladding and mirrored glass with each offering a distinct working environment.

To reduce the impact on the ecology of the site the structure of the Hides will touch the ground very lightly in localised areas, with no major excavation or earthworks, and there will be no hard paved paths or vehicle access. The pavilions have been constructed offsite using crosslaminated timber (CLT) to reduce the impact on the ecology of the site.

The use of timber cladding and CLT minimises the embodied carbon, whilst natural passive ventilation and woodburning stoves minimise energy in use.

The Hides have been arranged to minimise the impact on the site’s ecology, trees and planting and the landscape design will reinforce and enhance the existing flora.

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Project

Harwell Hide

Location

Harwell, Oxfordshire

Client

Harwell Campus

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Completed 2022 Awards

British Council of Offices Award 2022 | Finalist

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Reinvigorating a vibrant Central London quarter Sites A, B & C, Church Street Westminster City Council on Church Street comprising 1,100 mixed-tenure homes, public realm, a library, retail, workspace and infrastructure supporting the market.

We have obtained detailed consent for the first of the three plots comprising over 400 homes, a library, public realm, retail space and infrastructure supporting the market with outline consent for the other two plots.

Economic, environmental and social sustainability are key to the proposals. The design seeks to provide resilience to the local area through the support of the street market and provision of affordable retail and workspace. New public amenity space, a new library and community space will contribute to social cohesion whilst existing residents will be given the opportunity to return to a new home providing that the existing community stays in place. The homes are designed to be low energy to address fuel poverty incorporating high levels of insulation and airtightness, triple-glazed windows, PVs, air-source heat pumps and MVHR. Over 90% of dwellings are designed to be dual aspect.

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(%)

7.6 28.6 39.1

Reinvigorating a vibrant Central London quarter all children (0-15) (%)

14.7 18.9 20.0 22.5

working people (16-64) (%)

63.2 63.8 68.6 73.9

older people (65+) (%)

11.4 13.8 17.8

Project

Sites A, B & C, Church Street

Location

Edgware Road, London

Client

Westminster City Council

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Hybrid planning consent

BAME (%)

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14.5 38.3 40.2 61.7

first Awards english is N ew language London Award 202312.9 |4.4 of no oneShortlisted in household 22.4 27.2 (%)

(£)

employment rate (16-24) (%)

dependant children (0-18) in out-of-work-households (%)

15.4 16.3 18.4 34.5

17.6 24.1 25.9 55.8

households open rented space private (%) (%)

16.7 24.8 7.6 25.1 28.6 39.7 39.1

63.2

older people (65+) (%)

48.7 66.1 69.2 71.2

England 414 London 5,293 Westminster 10,286

population density households (person per owned sq km) (%)

all children (0-15) (%)

BAME (%)

Church St 16.8 29,750 30.6 48.2 63.5

14.7 18.9 20.0 22.5

14.5 38.3 40.2 61.7

households social rented (%)

working people (16-64) (%)

63.8 68.6 73.9

english is first language of no one in household (%)

11.4 13.8 17.8

4.4 12.9 22.4 27.2

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Reinvigorating a vibrant Central London quarter Sites A, B & C, Church Street Sustainable design has been considered as a central part of the design process from the start, working closely with the energy consultant to deliver on the client’s ambition of a net zero carbon scheme.

• 100% of homes are dual aspect with all flats and circulation areas having a view of green space • 50% of homes are affordable tenure and all existing residents are re-provided with new homes in the new development • High levels of airtightness and insulation ensure the scheme achieves the Passivhaus standard of 15kWh/m2.yr heating demand • An innovative ambient loop energy system will provide low carbon heating and cooling ensuring that the LETI EUI target of 35kWh/m2 is met to deliver a net zero carbon development • A new garden street helps deliver an urban greening factor exceeding 0.4 • Community assets such as the Church Street market and library have been prioritised to ensure continuity of service throughout construction

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Celebrating arboricultural legacy in South London The Tree House Elephant Park is at the heart of a £2.3 billion regeneration led by Lendlease, which will create 3000 new homes and establish one of London’s best new open spaces. This new pavilion for Lendlease is the centrepiece of the new park, accommodating WCs, food and beverage kiosks, a new community space and a viewing terrace.

The triangular pavilion is formed by three volumes bound together by an oversailing roof terrace centred on an existing mature London plane tree afforded the benefits of shade, elevated views across the park, and the opportunity to circulate beneath the tree’s canopy. The pavilion is designed to create a seamless flow between park and pavilion, blurring boundaries between inside and outside, enclosure and exposure.

Sustainability and consideration of embodied energy has been a key consideration of the design. The structure has been designed in crosslaminated timber (CLT) with sustainablysourced timber cladding and bamboo decking resulting in a building with exceptionally low embodied energy.

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Project

The Tree House

Location

Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle, Southwark

Client

Lendlease

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Completed 2022 Awards

Civic Trust Awards 2024 | Regional Finalist Dezeen Awards 2023 | Shortlisted AJ Awards 2023 | Shortlisted New London Award 2021 | Shortlisted

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A low energy, low cost dining hall for a school in Kent Rainham Mark Grammar This new dining hall/ study space will provide essential accommodation required for sixth form students at Rainham Mark Grammar School, Kent.

The building seeks to connect with nature through its outlook, materiality and new landscaped area. The design celebrates timber’s natural qualities by with an expressive butterfly roof structure which also allows for views of the tree canopies and a naturally ventilated space.

The low energy design is constructed in timber to reduce its embodied energy, is highly insulated and naturally ventilated.

The chequerboard elevation design was developed to address structural, overheating and energy assessments which resulted in large shifting windows which also creates a playful appearance both internally and externally.

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Project

Rainham Mark Grammar

Location

Gillingham, Kent

Client

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Planning consent granted

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Low energy homes on brownfield sites Ealing Passivhaus Construction has commenced on 134 mixed-tenure homes across six redundant and underused brownfield sites in Ealing for Ealing Council.

The six developments, of varying types and scales, will include 70% affordable homes with 73 at London Affordable Rents.

The homes have been designed to Passivhaus standards to reduce energy consumption, address fuel poverty and meet Ealing Council’s commitment to deliver net zero carbon homes. The Passivhaus standards for the building fabric and the use of MVHR, PVs and air-source heat pumps will see a 61% improvement on Part L for a typical flat.

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Project

Ealing Passivhaus

Location

Multiple sites, Ealing

Client

London Borough of Ealing

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status

Planning consent granted

Awards

Inside Housing Development Award 2021 | Shortlisted

Low energy homes on brownfield sites Ealing Passivhaus The energy and sustainability strategy for the sites meet Ealing’s net zero requirements by minimising energy demand, maximising energy efficiency and including onsite renewable energy generation.

• The buildings’ orientation and window design was carefully considered to balance heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer • The buildings have low form factor, very high levels of insulation, high performance windows and excellent airtightness to reduce carbon emissions • Most of the dwellings are dual-aspect for passive ventilation with brise-soleil added to prevent overheating in summer • All six sites achieve on-site reductions on Part L greater than 70% with some sites exceeding 80% improvement • Exposed concrete soffits in living areas increase building thermal mass to reduce overheating and give a greater sense of space • Common details and materials are used across the six sites to create economies of scale, reducing capital cost and allowing for efficient lifecycle maintenance • We worked closely with a Passivhaus consultant from an early stage of the design process to ensure that the design followed good passive design principles and that the building envelope was designed to achieve high levels of airtightness and insulation and reduce cold bridges.

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Low energy homes on brownfield sites Ealing Passivhaus

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Gardensity: Localised, integrated food production Meridian Water Gardensity is a vision for a zero-carbon community for Meridian Water in Enfield.

Underpinned by Garden City principles the vision seeks to address the challenges of the urban environment by creating a resilient and healthy community structured around an integrated local food system.

Gardensity will empower the community to live more sustainable and healthy lifestyles by providing locally grown food, minimising energy use, reducing transportation and changing attitudes to consumption, creating a stronger and more stable community in the process.

The proposal, developed in conjunction with Grow Tottenham, Susan Parham, Webb Yates, Hoare Lea, Human City, Arcadis and Savills comprises a resilient and sustainable urban community centred on food production at different scales. The integration of homes with food production results in a more sustainable community, with outstanding external amenity space, a greater sense of community, opportunities for education and a heightened relationship with nature where nurturing and growth are central to the shared ethos.

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Project

Meridian Water

Location

Meridian Water, Enfield

Client

Enfield Council

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Research / Design Code

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Gardensity: Localised, integrated food production Meridian Water A typical urban block proposes large family dual-aspect scissor flats with generous gardens that can be used for growing and which provide excellent amenity. Communal allotments on the roof together with urban gardening and markets on the ground floor make for a self-sustaining community.

The ethos is extended to the public realm to create a network of edible and biodiverse routes throughout the development. This allows residents to benefit at different levels of participation, from passive observer and consumer to full blown grower whether it be as part of a community garden, personal grower or even an urban farmer.

The design seeks to deliver the vision at an appropriate scale and density to make optimum use of sites to deliver much-needed homes.

The study will inform the design guide for the Meridian Water masterplan and will establish principles that underpin the plot designs.

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MERIDIAN GROWTH

MERIDIAN MARKETS

MERIDIAN FOODS MERIDIAN MAKERS

Delivering Passivhaus at scale Convent Way Estate

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Delivering Passivhaus at scale

Convent Way Estate The proposals for the Convent Way Estate feature a landscape-led masterplan, that creates a sustainable neighbourhood providing up to 967 new homes built to Passivhaus standards (resulting in 69% improvement on Part L), generous public realm and shared amenity connected via a green and blue ecological loop, a new local retail and community heart, and improved connectivity through the creation of a new neighbourhood lane.

Beginning with Phase A, which has been submitted as a detailed design proposal, 117 affordable homes will be introduced to the estate, providing existing residents with a seamless transition and the opportunity to stay within their community as the subsequent phases begin.

With 85% of the resident ballot favouring the regeneration, the estate will transform in phases to ensure that existing residents will only move once into a new home.

Each phase of the development has been designed in direct response to discussions with residents during a series of successful consultations and will provide a range of homes to meet different needs alongside new parks and play to ensure easy access for all.

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“What we have put together is remarkable and will have a huge impact on our society and community.

Being part of it for me has been a badge of honour and something I am happy to be part of.”

Ahmed Mohammed, current resident

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Delivering Passivhaus at scale Convent Way Estate The landscape-led approach for Convent Way has used the Metropolitan Green Belt as a catalyst to create distinct neighbourhoods that are positioned around a series of attractive green communal spaces and connected by a high-quality public realm.

In order to improve pedestrian connections and equality of access, Convent Way was transformed. A shared cycle and pedestrian footway and safe crossings were added to create links to the currently poorly used public Green Belt park to the south. A new neighbourhood lane was incorporated, improving permeability for all residents to the new high quality parks and play spaces.

Supporting Hounslow’s climate emergency declaration, the scheme addresses fuel poverty within the estate reducing operational carbon by 69% compared with Building Regulations. All homes are to be designed to Passivhaus standard and certification. The design will achieve net-zero carbon and has to aligned its energy targets with the RIBA 2030 climate challenge. Embodied carbon targets have been established for the development that will improve with each phase.

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Addressing fuel poverty for those in housing need Riverside Road These homes provide much-needed temporary housing on an under-utilised brownfield site for Watford’s residents, helping to relieve the housing shortage.

The five homes for are constructed using a lightweight timber frame for its ease of construction and low embodied carbon.

To future-proof the homes, the pitched roof structure and internal stair have been designed to allow the loft space to be easily converted into an additional bedroom, extending the capacity of the house without requiring any significant structural work.

To complement the neighbouring properties, rich red brick was used for the main façade material, with dark grey brick and a stepped brickwork detail to add depth and texture.

Brise-soleils are incorporated to minimise overheating from south-facing windows.

The impact of fuel poverty on residents was a key consideration. Through the implementation of a highly airtight and insulated envelope, use of PVs, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and air source heat pumps the homes will provide an energy saving of 68.3% improvement over a Part L 2013 compliant development.

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Project

Riverside Road

Location

Watford, Hertfordshire

Client

Watford Borough Council

Project Cost

Undisclosed

Status Completed 2022 Awards

Housing Design Award 2022 | Winner

“Hundreds of thousands of families across the UK are already in fuel poverty and can’t afford to heat their homes – that’s why the green homes like these at Riverside Road are so important and point the way towards future housebuilding in our town.”

Cllr Stephen Johnson

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Bell Phillips Architects Ltd Unit 305 Metropolitan Wharf 70 Wapping Wall London E1W 3SS 020 7234 9330 www.bellphillips.com