Sustainability

Sustainability touches every aspect of our work. We continually strive to achieve more using less. That means reducing our dependency on non-renewable resources and energy together with the resulting carbon dioxide emissions.

Technically advanced systems can often be successfully employed in reducing environmental impact. However, many of the most environmentally sustainable design solutions exploit passive measures and technologies which maximise the effects of daylight, shading, natural ventilation, thermal mass and suitable local resources.

Designing buildings that make sound commercial sense and satisfy the demands of sustainability is a real challenge. Our office now has considerable experience in this field with staff who have worked on a wide range of successful, ecological, low energy buildings ranging in scale and use. These skills form an integral part of our design process.

Global warming and climate change mean sustainable design has never been more important. Buildings consume half of the energy used in the developed world. The quality of their design can reduce energy consumption, create a more productive environment and reduce dependency on inefficient transport by influencing transport patterns through urban planning.

Designing with sustainability in mind requires an integrated approach that includes everything from initial siting to the orientation on the site, the sourcing of materials, approach to environmental systems and the use of renewable energy both in the design and in the process of manufacturing.