Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space and the ecosystem at large. Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.
The idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our use of presently available resources doesnt affect to collective well-being or making it impossible to obtain resources for other applications in the long run.
Architype is a vibrant and dynamic architectural practice. Their purpose is to design genuinely sustainable architecture. They are UK’s leading architects for sustainable buildings so they design create places and spaces that have a positive impact on the people who use them, and on the immediate and wider environment. We focus relentlessly on eliminating unnecessary complexity in design to create elegantly simple architecture. We aim to achieve tangible economic and envi-
Our remit is broad and always exciting. Whether we are working on a private residence or a factory, a hospice or a school or university we know we are influencing people’s lives and that the buildings we design will be used for many years to come. It’s our conviction that we should push at boundaries, that there is a better way. It’s our intention that clients are liberated and empowered by the process of working with us and by the buildings we deliver for them. We apply integrated design thinking using BIM (Building Informa-
Wherever possible, we carry out a period of thorough consultation, an immersion into the issues and needs of everyone who will occupy the building. We involve them in the process of describing their ambition and developing a plan that is informed by everyone’s contributions. This ensures we deliver the building they have a right to, a place they will be proud of. We love what we do - the profound sense of engagement that comes with each new project, the union of great design and credible
Sustainability design is a concept that is known by many names, most commonly it is known as sustainable design or environmental design or even green design. No matter what name it is called by, sustainability design is more of a philosophy than a design concept. At its very core, sustainability design strives to create products and services that are beneficial not only to the producer and the consumer but to the global economy and the environment as a whole.
This is achieved through the use of renewable resourcesas well as by incorporating the natur al environment and human interactionwith the natural environment into designs.
tecture, interior design and rural and urban planning and development. The idea of sustainability design is being applied to how every day products and services are produced as well.
Sustainability design, once thought of as more of an ideal than a reality is now being commonly used for a variety of applications.
The most common current examples of sustainability design can be seen in the increased interest of companies in buying resources from local Renewable energymarkets and using local labor. By creating industrial systems that more closely resemble biological systems, not only do companies increase their profits, they increase their efficiency levels and make less of an impact on the environment.
Though most probably thought of as an architectural concept, sustainability design is now being used as well in landscape archi-
On a larger, and more obvious scale, sustainability design can be seen in urban architecture as well as in urban planning. More cities are turning to the idea of waste reduction as opposed to waste management and they are also more readily adopting the idea of renovating spaces within existing area and improving internal transportation systems instead of building out and increasing urban sprawl.
Population growth statistics paint a rosy future for the construction industry. With the global population predicted to hit 9 billion by 2050 – and two out of every three people living in cities by 2050 – the demand for construction has never been greater. Worldwide, construction is already one of the largest industry sectors, accounting for more than 11% of global GDP and expected to grow to 13.2% by 2020, according to a 2014 PwC report. But focusing on this strong demand obscures a more precarious reality. Underlying challenges in productivity, profitability, performance, labour, and sustainability could derail the industry’s growth. Today, the construction industry is at a crossroads. Companies that address these challenges headon and re-imagine their business processes will be poised for significant growth. Businesses that fail
It’s no great surprise that the UK construction industry is the country’s largest consumer of material resources, requiring more than 400 million tonnes a year. However, you may not be aware that around 13% of this is sent directly to landfill without ever being used. In fact, 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction industry alone – that’s an estimated 77.4 million tonnes a year. When looking at figures such as these, it’s easy to see why the construction sector seems to have earned a bad reputation when it comes to unnecessary waste. Sustainability is a big issue within the construction industry – and is only becoming more so. Although many current discussions focus on creating sustainability through building design, the industry’s waste practices also have a big impact on construction’s long-term sustainability. With the built environment sector demanding around 40% of the world’s extracted materials
Research shows that world wide, the construction of offices, hotels and retail outlets is booming, with nearly half (46%) of all respondents expecting to build commercial structures with high
environmental standards in the next three years. Whilst the industry is yet to see such a seismic move towards eco-friendly design within the UK, the construction industry is showing positive signs. According to Dodge Data and Analytics, 37% of UK developers are positive that in the next three years, green buildings will form part of their portfolio. The National Trust occupies one of the greenest offices in the UK. Carbon emis sions are 65% less than similar devel opments, largely due to an array of photovoltaic panels on the roof, which provide 30% of the annual electricity use. Eco-friendly materials, such as PVC-free linoleum and water-based paints, were used throughout the building. There are some ingenious ideas here too, like the carpets in the building which were made from wool from the Trust’s flocks of Herdwick sheep and the ventilation snouts on the roof which were made out of
Waitrose Stratford City, London- The first retail store to receive BREEAM’s ‘outstanding’ rating, Waitrose Stratford City is run completely offgrid through Westfield’s energy centre. All unusable food waste is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant where it is converted into energy which goes back into the national grid. Low carbon lighting is used, and cold air is retrieved from the fridges and used to cool the shop. The Eden Foundation building in St Austell, Cornwall is recycling at its finest and completely PVC-free. Old newspapers were used to insulate the roof, walls, and floor, making it one of the best -insulated buildings in the country. They even manag