Zinc available in a range of finishes for use in roofing, cladding and interiors amongst other uses. A number of different roofing and cladding systems
Pavatex Isoroof boards can be exposed to the weather for three months, and are “waterproof” according to the European standard EN 14964 for sarking boards.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Potential for Open Loop Remanufacturing of PPE Waste to Construction Products
A Project by University of Strathclyde, Dept. of Architecture + Dress for the Weather
Funded by Scottish Institute for Remanufacturing + Zero Waste Scotland
Project Overview:
The project categorised and quantified the volumes of single use, disposable PPE issued by NHS Scotland in the ‘Low Risk’ PPE pathway. This identified huge volumes of various categories of plastic waste which are currently not recycled. By first studying the material flows and waste streams associated with the PPE items the project team were able to propose methods for collecting the waste, processing and then transforming into new products for the building industry. In doing so they propose to ‘lock-in’ this plastic waste for a duration of at least 15-20 years before it is likely to enter a waste / recycling stream once more. The applications and recommendations focus specifically on healthcare interiors.
Key Outcomes of the project include:
Proposal for prototype healthcare interior made from 100% recycled PPE
Collaboration with Still Life Studio for ‘Proof of Concept’ PPE Stool
Local + Open Loop Remanufacturing strategy proposal for NHS PPE waste
Further Development for the project aims to include:
Detailed Feasibility Studies for each product
1:1 Prototype Interior
Pilot programme to capture + remanufacture plastic PPE waste with 1no. hospital
Structural construction panel comprising a hardwearing aesthetic skin, and a foamed mixed core. The panel is 46mm in total thickness, and is extremely strong, taking over 400Kg in cantilevered loading (wall hung WC) without concern.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered via a low-impact and low-energy modular timber house model – using local industries and home-grown materials where possible.
Project Information
Project: An Cala
Location: Assynt, Sutherland
Square metre: 150 approx
Date start and finish: On site Sept 2017 to June 2018 though mostly built off site prior to delivery.
CLT is produced from dried, quick growing spruce & fir (larch or pine are alternatives) boards, stacked at right angles and glued together under pressure bonding system over their entire surface in generally 3, 5, 7 or more board or panel layers.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
The awards recognise the innovative and creative use of timber in buildings in Scotland. Part of the annual RIAS Awards scheme, the award is sponsored by Scottish Forestry and Wood for Good.
The award demonstrates the potential of home-grown timber, as well as showing how different species of timber can create a range of inspiring spaces.
The projects range from small to large and from domestic to commercial – all showcasing the benefit of timber in new architecture in Scotland.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Festival Programme:
Day1 – 23 August 2021 – 11:00
Festival Opening Remarks by Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer
Followed by:Virtual Tour/Walk down Royal Mile by BEFS– EWHT
Stopping at key buildings and highlighting their importance and any sustainability work undertaken previously.
Day 2 -24 August 2021 – 11:00
The Building Stones of Edinburgh– Paul Everett for the British Geological Survey
Provide a Virtual Tour of Calton Hill with a live Q&A session
Day 3 – 25 August 2021 – 11:00
Traditional Stonemasonry– Andy Bradley SPAB Fellow) will give a presentation with a live Q&A session
Day 3 – 25 August 2021 – 14:00
Timber and Sash & Case Windows – Alex from the Federation of Master Builders will give a virtual demonstration with a live Q&A session
Day 4 -26 August 2021 – 11:00
Roof Leadwork – Steve McLennan of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors will give virtual demonstrations with a live Q&A session
Day 4 -26 August 2021 – 14:00
Roof Slating and Tiling– Graeme Millar of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors and current President of IFD will give a presentation with a live Q&A session
Day 5 -27 August 2021 – 11:00
The Importance the Placemaking for adaptive reuse – Tyler Lott Johnston of Grand Bequest presents the opportunities to leverage technology as a tool to elevate and champion the voice of local people within adaptive reuse projects followed by a live Q&A Session
Day 5 -27 August 2021 – 14:00
How to maintain your home/building – Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and RICS will give a presentation on the importance of repair and maintenance of traditional homes and best practice in doing so which will be followed by a live Q&A.
To book tickets for this year’s event please follow the link:
The Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival was formed when a member of the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum attended the Festival of Politics at the Scottish Parliament one year. As he walked up the Royal Mile from the parliament he saw (as we all do) tourists marvelling at, and taking photographs of, Edinburgh built heritage and thought “if they can do a festival of politics then we can do a festival of traditional buildings”.
Tyler Lott Johnston, Convener of the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum, said “I am delighted to be delivering our ninth annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival this year. After 2020’s record-setting event, we are so thankful to be able to continue to deliver our goals of highlighting and advocating for the many traditional buildings throughout our great city and beyond. I want to express my personal thanks to all of the presenters who have donated their time, expertise, and resources to once again bring together an exciting event in what has undoubtedly been a challenging year for us all. Thanks to the digital engagement brought forth over the past year and a half, our message and our teachings have more significant, far-reaching opportunities than ever before. The weight of that responsibility is not lost on us and while we hope to resume in-person events next year, we will continue to embrace a hybrid model to ensure that our audiences across the world can tune in and experience the incredible opportunities that our industry has to offer.”
This was raised at a meeting of the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum and the next year, we were part of the official Festival Fringe delivering a number of demonstrations and talks to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings”, which became our strapline.
The event grew over the years and, due to limited capacity, each of the shows were regularly sold out well before the start of the Festival Fringe.
Like the rest of the world, we had neither planned for a global pandemic nor what we would do in such an instance; While it was a steep learning curve last year, we were overwhelmed by the support and encouragement received for our efforts across the sector.
Following the success of last year’s event and the potential widespread health implications of hosting an in-person event at the present time, the Festival working group have once again wholeheartedly embraced technology. Without the benefit of the usual in-person planning meetings, the group divided tasks equally and came together to create.
We definitely missed the benefit of live skills demonstrations last year, so are pleased to be able to have incorporated virtual tours and demonstrations in this year’s event for a more dynamic experience for all.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
As designers, we play a critical role in the material choice used in construction projects. These choices affect more than just the performance of a building, they also address:
tackling climate change
achieving Net-Zero Emissions by 2045
supporting Scotland’s economy
addressing construction waste
addressing fuel poverty
utilising healthy materials
Watch our short animation to see why our choice of building materials is important.
CLT is produced from dried, quick growing spruce & fir (larch or pine are alternatives) boards, stacked at right angles and glued together under pressure bonding system over their entire surface in generally 3, 5, 7 or more board or panel layers.
Hemp is a fast-growing, low-impact plant crop that produces fine fibres suitable for insulation. Thermafleece Hemp, a blend of UK grown hemp and recycled polyester,
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is proud to be delivering the 8th Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. The event is normally a part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but in light of recent circumstances in relation to COVID-19, we are bringing the festival online for all to enjoy. As the event was completely sold out last year, we are excited by the opportunity to open our ‘doors’ to many more to attend in this virtual capacity! Come join us as we “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings”.
The Forum would like to thank all of the organisers and presenters who have kindly donated their time and expertise to highlight the importance of maintaining Edinburgh’s built environment. The Forum would also like to extend special thanks to Tyler C. Lott, Scotland Officer for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for leading on the organisation of this year’s event and serving as host. Special thanks also are extended to Gillian Murray of AECOM for assisting in the organisation.
The Forum would also like to thank Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Planning for once again opening the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival.
Please follow the relevant links to book places for the individual shows. We hope that you enjoy this year’s lineup and look forward to having you at this year’s online Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival.
The Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival is brought to you in partnership by members of the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum, a division of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum.
Schedule:
24 August 2020 – 11:00
Festival Opening Remarks by Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Planning
Granville Place, Stockbridge – Una Richards of Scottish Historic Building Trust
24 August 2020 – 14:00
Energy Efficiency Improvements to Traditional Buildings – Jessica Hunniset, SPAB Scotland Guardian, SPAB Lethaby Scholar, and District Surveyor for Properties in Care in the West Central Region of Scotland for Historic Environment Scotland
25 August 2020 – 11:00
The Building Stones of Edinburgh – Martin Gillespie, Team Lead of Building Stones for the British Geological Survey
25 August 2020 – 14:00
Lime Mortar – Scottish Lime Centre Trust
26 August 2020 – 11:00
Traditional Stonemasonry – Andy Bradley, SPAB Fellow and stonemason joined by Architect SPAB Lethaby Scholar Martin Haddlington
26 August 2020 – 14:00
Newhailes Estate, Musselburgh – Emma Rose Berry, LDN Architects
27 August 2020 – 11:00
Roof Leadwork – Steve McLennan of National Federation of Roofing Contractors
27 August 2020 – 14:00
Roof Slating and Tiling – Graeme Millar of National Federation of Roofing Contractors
28 August 2020 – 11:00
Timber and Sash & Case Windows – Oliver Beatson, SPAB Fellow and Joiner for Historic Environment Scotland and James Innerdale, SPAB Lethaby Scholar and architect
28 August 2020 – 14:00
Property Repair Seminar – Jo Parry-Geddes, Jackie Timmons, James Innerdale, and more!
Attendance is free for all, but booking is required.
About SPAB Scotland
Members of the SPAB living and working in Scotland decided to form their own semi-autonomous group in 1995. Scotland has its own building traditions, architectural language, and property laws, all of which are best dealt with locally. All members of the SPAB residing in Scotland are automatically members of SPAB Scotland.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Sustainable Renovation in Practice – a practical guide to improving homes for energy, health and the environment.
Start date: 22-07-2020
End date: 22-07-2020
Who is this event for
Are you involved in the renovation of existing buildings? This webinar will introduce this Design Guide which is an essential reference point for everybody in the retrofit sector from Policy Makers and Development Managers in Housing organisations, to Architects, Builders, Surveyors, and those simply interested in upgrading their own homes.
About this Event
The webinar will commence with a short introduction to sustainable/circular economy approaches to construction by Clive Bowman of Zero Waste Scotland.
This will be followed by the main talk by Chris Morgan of John Gilbert Architects. Following a short break (5 mins), we will have a 30 mins Q&A session for Chris. This is an opportunity for you to put your practical questions to Chris, whether you are new to this, or a tried and tested user of the techniques described in the book.
The webinar will conclude with a few words from SEDA and The Pebble Trust.
Why this event is important
Many organisations including Zero Waste Scotland, SEDA (Scottish Ecological Design Association) and RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland) are currently encouraging Scottish Government to instigate a national sustainable retrofit programme as part of a green recovery plan post-COVID 19, in an effort to create jobs, increase skills and combat climate change and fuel poverty.
A sustainable retrofit and renovation programme needs to go beyond energy efficiency and renewable energy. This is an opportunity to get the fabric of the exiting 2.5 million homes in Scotland up to standard to be net-zero carbon in the most sustainable manner possible and in the process build both human and social capital.
Zero Waste Scotland, supported by The Pebble Trust and SEDA has seized on this timing to promote this guide written by Chris Morgan of John Gilbert Architects, and funded and published by The Pebble Trust.
The work is based heavily on BPE (Building Performance Evaluation) studies in which investigators study the actual performance of buildings once built, rather than the calculated predictions routinely used, and the real experience of people within these buildings!
Once you register for the event a link will be sent giving full details of how to join the online webinar.
Your organisers
This event by Zero Waste Scotland is being held in partnership with Scottish Ecological Design Association.
Scottish Ecological Design Association shares knowledge, skills, and experience of ecological design. A membership organisation, SEDA aims to promote the design of communities, environments, projects, systems, services, materials, and products which enhance the quality of life and are not harmful to living species and planetary ecology.
Zero Waste Scotland is Scotland’s resource efficiency and circular economy expert. We work to create a society where resources are valued and nothing is wasted. Our mission is to influence and enable change at a number of levels: from informing systems-wide policy and regulatory interventions through evidence gathering, to motivating practical change in the behaviours of individuals and organisations through our programmes and brands. We also make direct interventions, commonly in the form of finance, business support, technical advice, training and competence development or communications support.
The Zero Waste Scotland Construction Industry Support Programme offers free advice and technical support to Scottish business, helping them embed circular economy principles into the design and construction of our built environment.
The Pebble Trust has a vision of a more sustainable, equal, and low-carbon society, where human activities take account of climate change and the wider environment. The Trust provides small grants for projects in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and commissioned and published the Sustainable Renovation Guide to help inform the enormous task of upgrading the fabric of Scotland’s homes.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement
When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations to see what is recommended, cement is the most commonly accepted material. There are a few exceptions, but they are just that, a few. As cement wasn’t widely used in construction until the 1920s, what was going on underground before then? Barbara Jones, Director at Straw Works, founder of the School of Natural Building and author of ‘Building with Strawbales’ discusses a few alternatives to cement-based foundations.
Introduction
It is important to recognise that cement-free foundations are not a new idea. Much of the world’s housing stock have cement-free foundations, as are many homes in the UK. Cement was invented in 1824 but wasn’t much used in construction till about 1920. If we look at buildings dating from before 1920, we can see natural foundation solutions, typically constructed with stone and brick with lime mortars, sometimes with gravel trenches. Another important aspect of cement-free foundations is that they are flexible – and this means they are durable and will stand the test of time as earth movements cause changes, but not structural changes.
Stone foundations with no mortar
Many traditional vernacular houses are built with only stone, or smaller stone (gravel) beneath them. Cob houses, in particular, are likely to have this type of foundation. As for all foundations, the topsoil must be removed and the stone laid down on top of good bearing soil, which may be just under the topsoil, but may be deeper. Gravel, since it cannot support its own shape like stone, must be contained within soil that can, usually in modern times with a fabric liner; therefore, it is not suitable for all soil types. An example of this is when we used a gravel trench with a brick, lime, and foamglass plinth above for the foundations of the Council houses in North Kesteven in 2009.
Gravel trenches and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect working in the USA in the early 20th Century, and known for his love of nature, popularised the traditional method of building foundations using a gravel trench (albeit with cement blocks or a slab on top). He drew on traditional methods to create more simple modern buildings, often opting for a gravel trench using small stone instead of wet cement to support the weight of the building.
Brick/stone and lime plinths with foamglass
Strawbale houses, like Cob houses, require a plinth or stem wall above ground to protect the more vulnerable wall material from splashback. Using brick/stone with lime mortar as an outer skin and foamglass blocks as an inner skin, with the loadbearing core filled with foamglass chunks is a great solution and gives a wall with a U value of 0.17W/m2K. This is a great modern design for situations where aesthetics requires something more traditional in appearance. The buildings can be laid on gravel trenches, or brick (engineering below ground) or stone laid with lime mortar.
As a roofer, I came across foamglass blocks a long time ago, primarily used as a horizontal insulating material. I asked the company manufacturing them if they could be used as a loadbearing material. Only one type can, the T4 (now called T4 plus). From there I designed the first foundations using these blocks, again for the North Kesteven council houses in 2009. I needed a well-insulated but natural solution for plinth walls and this sufficed.
Ram-filled car tyre foundations
By 1994 I was an experienced builder with my own construction company. I was traveling, looking for alternative building solutions that were better for the environment. In Arizona, I came across some off-grid housing types which combined natural materials with upcycled materials called Earthships. Everyone I talked to said ‘great idea but too much hard and repetitive work’ (I file this under my ‘no fun building’ category) however, I thought ‘wouldn’t their use of rammed earth tyres be great for foundations?’ so I started experimenting when I got back to the UK. I was designing natural buildings and building my first foundations with rammed earth-filled car tyres. This worked ok but it was hard work. The Building Inspectors were unsure about it and asked, ‘how can you prove that one shovelful of earth is identical to another?’ Nevertheless, the design was passed by Calderdale Planning and Building Control for a sauna in Hebden Bridge back in 1996 – unfortunately, this was never built. The first fully legally approved building was for the Clow Beck Trust at Croft, North Yorkshire in 2002. Richmondshire council insisted on the use of crushed dolomite and onsite load testing. This passed easily and the building (a dormitory for a school) was built, with course participants building the tyres under my supervision.
Since then I have refined the fill used to ram the tyres. Initially, we had to use MOT type 1 fill, as engineers insisted. This is a standard type of gravel used for roads hence Ministry of Transport (MOT) that has been extensively tested. It is a hard job to ram-fill tyres with this and it needs to be compacted severely every 150mm and packed tightly under the rim of the tyres. I had found the ideal solution: pea shingle, or 10mm draining gravel. As the engineers I spoke with were unsure of this type of gravel and couldn’t produce the data modeling, I didn’t always win the argument that it would be suitable. I persisted with this gravel type as knew it was a lot easier to use, and my practical experience told me it was just as effective as using MOT type 1. It can be poured like water and it finds its own level. Like concrete, it needs a bit of shaking and the only real compaction happens at the end making sure it is rammed tight under the rim of the tyre. Additionally, it is far less processed and usually cheaper (unless you happen to go for the decorative type used on driveways). This means that a tyre can be rammed extremely quickly by an experienced person and pretty fast by new course participants. When we did on-site testing for a major project in London in 2018, this method of ram filling the tyres satisfied the engineers, and I was proven correct!
As a designer and builder committed to using natural materials wherever possible, I did have to think about using car tyres. My thinking is that they are a waste product, very difficult to get rid of. They are also extremely cost-effective and can be the make or break decision for community groups and self-builders. Through the use of up-cycling car tyres for use in foundations, two large community build projects saved about £100,000 each by designing foundations in this way.
Stone filled gabions
This is an alternative to the earth rammed car tyres. Some issues with this method are the wire of the gabions has nowhere near the life of a steel rimmed car tyre covered in rubber. It is harder to lay the stone carefully in the wire basket to avoid settlement later and It is more expensive.
Timber foundations
Many traditional houses have timber foundations. Think Tudor, think of Venice, or parts of Winchester Cathedral. Modern houses can have them too. I’ve designed community centres using old telegraph poles, and an artist’s studio near Turriff with timber posts on top of flat stones. All legal and approved.
In conclusion
There are several permutations of cement-free foundations, using different sorts of materials, which should suit all ground conditions and aesthetics. We can be informed by our ancestors, the master builders, who built to last, and be inspired by the Romans who’s great bridges and monuments were built with stone brick and lime, and we can think outside the box for natural solutions that don’t add to the negative effects of climate change. That’s the challenge. Are you up for it?
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case studies, new materials, exhibitions, our digital library, and outgoing media. As part of Architecture and Design Scotland, the Materials Library assists the organisation’s corporate strategy. Well-designed buildings and places make the very best use of our resources and create places that help people and communities to flourish.
Please click here to view and download the review.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
As Scotland is in lockdown and people are now adapting to home working, Clive Bowman, Project Manager – Circular Economy Construction at Zero Waste Scotland shares some thoughts on Occupant Comfort and the Circular Economy.
As I write this blog we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and I am working from home, as many other people are just now around the UK and the world. We are effectively trapped inside our houses and flats, restricted from venturing outside more than once a day. I am working in a room that has not been designed for office work, at a table that was designed for eating not laptop use, and with the distracting noises of family next door. A discussion on internal occupant comfort has never been more pertinent.
The Cambridge online dictionary defines comfort as ‘a pleasant feeling of being relaxed and free from pain’. I think you would agree that there is much more to occupant comfort than this. It is a balance of many complex thoughts, feelings and senses. Each person will have their own perfect balance, and that balance will change to suit activities and moods. However, generally, we are all looking for a safe, dry, warm space that has clean air to breathe, a place for us to carry out our activities productively and ultimately a space that is visually inspiring and restful. These requirements can be summarised as providing us with all the ingredients for WELLBEING. Wellbeing is a ‘quantified state of wellness and happiness … that captures the needs of the physical body, the mind and the emotions of occupants in any given space’ (Grigoriou, 2019). Wellbeing is, therefore, a personal experience, but can it be supported through design?
Wellbeing:
If wellbeing is not experienced in our indoor workspaces, learning spaces, healing spaces then it can have significant effects on our performance. Ultimately it may affect activity outcomes, which can sometimes be life-changing e.g. academic qualifications, illness recovery, financial decisions, or relationship mediations. The design decisions made on a spatial scale, arrangement, choice of materials, textures and colours will all have a significant impact on wellbeing. It is clear then that the design of the interior spaces is very important.
Interior Spaces:
Most interior spaces are used by more than one person and in the case of commercial and public spaces by thousands of people throughout the year, so the challenge with these spaces is to deliver personal levels of wellbeing at scale, as a well as delivering function. First impressions provide us with visual clues allowing us to make instant decisions on whether we are going to experience comfort inside a building. Will it be crowded? Will I have personal space? Will I feel safe? The visual signals provided by the design of a building’s or a room’s entrance is important.
Comfort:
As well as visual clues we use touch, smell, hearing and taste to inform our comfort decision making. These non-visual attributes can affect our comfort rating as much, if not more than, the physical ones. Air quality, temperature and humidity are highly dependent on the physical design of a space, its heating system, the ventilation of the spaces and also the choice of materials. Increased levels of CO2 in a classroom has been linked to increased student absences. Overheating through excessive solar gain can lead to poor concentration and dehydration. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the air emitted from materials such as paints, vinyl floorings and furnishings can have an impact on health, concentration and wellbeing. Poor ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens can lead to mould growth which has been linked to breathing disorders.
Once a design has been implemented it is also important to know that occupant comfort has been achieved. It should be maintained throughout the day, throughout seasons and over prolonged use. It is not a one-off consideration. Rooms get redecorated on a regular basis, different materials will be used that affect comfort and air quality, cleaning products are used, technology and machines are added that can affect the noise, humidity or thermal levels. Post-Occupation Evaluation is essential to ensure that initially the design got it right, but we also need to recheck regularly as things change or as discomforts become apparent from long term use. We need to think with a whole life occupancy comfort mindset when designing and maintaining our buildings.
Whole Life Cycle:
The concept of thinking whole life is one of the key principles of a circular economy. As you would expect, a circular economy approach includes being resource-efficient, retaining the value of all the materials and products we build with and reducing the amount of waste we generate. But it is a much bigger concept than that. It is about recognising the whole life value of all the resources and assets (in the widest sense) available in society. As well as physical materials, these resources are our people, our skills, our productivity and our health. We need to think outside our silos and understand the long term implications of the current short term (linear) decisions we make that impact negatively on people, as well as the environment and our economy. Considering whole life occupant comfort and wellbeing through design is an excellent way to think more holistically and thus more circular.
Of course, it is not just whole life value principles that link wellbeing with the circular economy. The use of natural materials, from a local renewable source, that contain no toxins, make them easier to reuse or recycle as well as providing better air quality. A timber structure such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) not only provides carbon sequestration but also a visually and thermally comfortable space. A well-designed space which has good thermal insulation, controlled ventilation and correct solar gain is not only using less energy to heat but is consistently thermally more comfortable. A building that has been designed to be adaptable and flexible can meet future needs, whether that may be a growing family needing space solutions, an office whose staff now work at home, or in response to climate changes. Digital technologies can help us get better occupant comfort right first time, thus reducing waste. Digital twins can measure thermal comfort or air quality. Smart sensors can measure post-occupancy performance such as CO2 or humidity levels.
Principles:
Zero Waste Scotland believe that circular economy principles can be applied to all aspects of building design and placemaking activities to deliver a wide range of benefits. We strongly recommend that the following 10 circular economy principles are embedded into all building design decision making:
A collaborative approach
A Whole life cost/value approach
Design for health and wellbeing
Design for deconstructability for 100% material recoverability
Design for Long Life / Loose Fit (quality and adaptability)
Design out waste – Lean/resource efficiency
Design for both low embodied carbon and energy efficiency, using natural, healthy materials that sequestration Carbon
Utilisation of assets, use of renewable, recycled, pre-used or surplus built assets, products or materials
Apply SMART construction – using digital technology, BIM, modularisation and modern methods of construction
Best practice construction site material management and planning
Zero Waste Scotland offers advice and support to all businesses operating in the construction sector to help embed these circular economy principles into projects. Please get in touch to find out more.
So as I sit at the table in my house, warmed by the afternoon sun coming through my window, in a room decorated to my tastes, surrounded by personal objects, a ready supply of tea and biscuits and wearing ‘casual’ clothing – because I can – there’s a lot to be said for achieving occupant comfort when working from home.
Clive Bowman, Circular Economy Construction Project Manager, Zero Waste Scotland
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case
Karen Ridgewell ARB, Senior Design Officer, Architecture and Design Scotland shares some insights on the use of Rammed Earth Construction.
Rammed Earth:
In March 2019, A&DS welcomed the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) for the third annual collaborative event on materials that focused on the use of earth as a construction material. Building with earth is a low carbon emitter compared with other forms of construction that utilise steel, concrete and composite materials. Raw materials can be sourced on-site therefore eliminating reliance on vehicular transportation, which further reduces the embodied energy required to build the structure. As designers and constructors, we will need to understand and reduce the impact of the materials we select and specify. Climate change legislation is moving to focus on the impacts of indirect emissions, which will impact every aspect of our lives. With resource depletion and the negative impacts of global supply chains we wanted to further highlight the process of building with earth, in particular, the use of rammed earth and its potential to positively impact occupant health.
Application:
Rammed earth is an ancient form of construction usually associated with arid areas. Historic examples of its use exist across the globe, with a handful in the UK. Rammed earth is composed of cob, earth, chalk, lime, or gravel which is mixed with clay and aggregates then rammed between temporary formwork walls that are subsequently removed. When dried, the result is a dense solid form subject to less shrinkage than mud walls. These can be designed to be a structural element or a non-load bearing component within a structural frame.
As Scotland’s current climate is generally currently cool and wet, albeit with the east coast having marginally more continental climate than the west, the erection of a rammed earth structure would best be carried out under a temporary roof. Like all other masonry, a rammed earth building will last longer if it is kept dry so it should be cited under a roof that provides decent permanent cover. Alternatively, the walls can be located internally. Walls can be left untouched illuminating the patterns created by the formwork, rendered, painted, or dry lined.
Occupant Comfort:
Rammed earth has been used in a number of high-profile projects across the UK and Europe in recent years, including the Brighton Waste House by BBM, Bushey Cemetery by Waugh Thistleton, the Mass River Observation Tower in the Belgium-Dutch border by De Goulden Liniaal and the Rivergreen Centre by JDDK.
It is however used within a domestic setting for a number of reasons, one of which is occupant comfort. Rammed earth walls, like other masonry structures, have a high thermal mass, containing or absorbing more heat than concrete, even though it is less dense (Soebarto, 2009). External rammed earth walls provide a long thermal time lag, slowing down the heat transfer between the inside and outside. When insulated, rammed earth walls can provide improved internal comfort levels of heat and cold. With benign health qualities, a low carbon footprint, sound absorption and the ability to absorb and release moisture to regulate humidity rammed earth could provide an alternative to current mainstream construction techniques.
Brighton Waste House – a short video highlighting their Rammed Earth Chalk Wall – Vimeo link
Bushey Cemetery, Hertfordshire – RIBA Stirling prize 2018, by Waugh Thistleton – A short film by Jim Stephenson – Youtube link
Training
Earth Building UK (ebuki) has been working with partners in Europe to write training standards or learning outcomes that have converted into National Occupational Standards and National Vocational Qualifications.
NVQ Unit 549 v2 06-16 Preparing and erecting or conserving and restoring earthen structures in the workplace
COSVR549 Prepare and Erect or Conserve and Restore Earthen Structures (The UK National Occupational Standard)
The Centre for Alternative Technology runs a short course and postgraduate courses that focus on natural building materials and construction techniques.
An Cala The project, a modest-sized two-bedroom home, is seen as a key exemplar in terms of demonstrating the potential of combining client-driven design delivered
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival programme issued, with the organisers turning their eyes to the future, COP26, and the sustainability of traditional buildings in a dynamic
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2020 24 – 28 August 2020, 11:00 and 14:00 daily Free Online via Zoom Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is
Foundation design for Climate change mitigation – robust details using no cement When we think of foundations for buildings and look to the building regulations
This is the annual review for the Materials Library, which summarises the work completed throughout 2019 / 2020. This includes CPDs, workshops and education, case