sustainableBYdesign
think - design - deliver
#056
Urban Ecology Centre
sustainableBYdesign have completed the design for a new educational and project resource for the Phoenix Garden Community Group in Covent Garden. The building will feature a 'Voronoi' wall to introduce ecological habitats into a vertical element, so that the birds and insects' colonies are visible from the teaching area at first floor level. At ground level the project resource will include meeting areas and wardens' facilities, and at first floor an education room for local schools, with a window wall to overlook the rich landscape and ecology of the Phoenix Garden. The roof will be surrounded by a three-dimensional mesh screen designed as a growing screen providing nesting sites for the site's sparrow and other bird population.
#055
Green Construction Board
Lynne Sullivan is one of two Architects appointed to the Government's Green Construction Board, chaired by Business Minister Mark Prisk and Dan Labbad CEO of Lend Lease. The Board has been set up following the release of the June 2011 Low Carbon Construction Action Plan - the Government's response to the Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team report - to ensure the action plan is implemented and continues to develop in a context of cooperation between Government and the Construction Industry. See press release.
#054
UK Passivhaus Conference, 24/25th October 2011
Lynne Sullivan is providing a keynote speech for this two day conference at the Barbican, London, on the topic of 'Passivhaus in the UK: Policy, Regulation and Implementation'. Anne Thomas will be joining the panel discussion 'Implementation of Passivhaus in the UK' on Day Two of the conference. See conference schedule.
#053
Rural Community Masterplan, Essex
sustainableBYdesign is working with local suppliers and developers applying sustainable design criteria, including orientation for Passivhaus design and solar roofs, to a mixed use masterplan with homes sensitively grouped in winding homezones and clustered courtyards. The design features a central open space, local play areas and a health centre/ community hub. A varied mix of affordable house types, earmarked for local people and adaptable for live/work, will be built in each phase to an overall density of up to 50 units per hectare. Outline planning to be submitted in Autumn 2011.
#052
Roof Gardens, Soho Square, London
Pascall + Watson Architects appointed sustainableBYdesign to provide the design concept for three sustainable roof gardens in a major building refurbishment project in Soho Square, providing green working and amenity space as well as allowing staff to grow their own food for their lunchbreak. Carefully chosen native flora will create an all-year-round garden habitat for wildlife to encourage biodiversity right in the heart of London city centre. Other sustainable features include: recycled decking, rain water havesting, PV shading panels and a PV tree to provide free mobile phone charging.
#051
Sheltered Housing, Beijing, China
sustainableBYdesign worked with BRE on a concept design for adaptable sheltered housing, allowing family growth and future generations to co-inhabit a flexible apartment block, all designed with the potential for Passivhaus accreditation as well as mapped to best practice Chinese Green Star standard .
#050
Passivhaus Trust 1st Anniversary event at the Residence of the Austrian Ambassador, London
sustainableBYdesign partners were invited to the Passivhaus Trust's first Anniversary and joined fellow members and the event's sponsors in discussion of growing numbers of Passivhaus buildings in Europe and globally, along with feedback from the International Passivhaus conference. News updates included the growth of certified professionals and products and the forthcoming 'tradesman' certification scheme, as well as feedback from pilot refurbishment projects to the PH Enerphit standard.
sustainableBYdesign have been closely involved in the preparations for the UK Passivhaus Conference due to be held on 24 and 25 October 2011 and will be presenting some recent projects. See Passivhaus Trust website.
#049
Flight Timber Collaboration
sustainableBYdesign are working with leading timber frame construction company Flight Timber to develop applications for a prefabricated timber cassette construction methodology which meets the highest thermal performance and environmental standards. The aim of the collaboration is to bring integrated sustainable thinking to the design and delivery process. See Flight timber website.
#048
Sustainable Building Conference in Shanghai, China
Lynne Sullivan, sustainableBYdesign Partner, was an invited Keynote Speaker at a two-day Marcus Evans conference held at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai June 2011. Lynne contributed a Keynote Speech on sustainable building standards and design issues, as well as case studies from her portfolio of innovative sustainable buildings and community developments in UK and Europe. The conference featured case studies from around the world with presentations from Government representatives including the China Ministry of Housing and Rural Development.
#047
Design for Future Climate Adaptation
sustainableBYdesign have joined the One Creative Environments Ltd team in their submission of a Technology Strategy Board competition entry in the Design for future climate: Adapting Buildings call. sustainableBYdesign will contribute sustainable design expertise to the design development process of a Primary Healthcare Trust project pending funding approval.
#046
National and Regional Design Review Panels
sustainableBYdesign Partners serve on several design review panels. Most recently, sustainableBYdesign partner John Pratley has been chosen to serve on the Hertfordshire Design Review Panel, set up to help planners, developers and designers realise the full potential of development schemes by giving expert advice on development and, where applicable, suggest how schemes can be improved. See Hertfordshire Design Review Panel website for more detail.
Lynne Sullivan has been a member of the Design Commission for Wales National Design Review panel for three years, and the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel, established by Cambridgeshire Horizons to provide independent and objective feedback to the Local Authorities on major development sites across the County, since 2009. See Cambridgeshire Quality Panel and Design Commission for Wales websites for more detail.
#045
Links with Academia
sustainableBYdesign recently contributed as industry experts to discussion of the implications and application of two ongoing research projects. The London School of Economics' European-funded research is considering Urban Morphology and Heat Energy Demand, and focuses on heat energy efficiencies created by the spatial configuration of cities.
The University of Dundee's EPSRC-funded research project has developed a comprehensive and transparent framework to promote the systematic assessment of sustainability in urban developments, taking account of scale, life cycle, location, context and stakeholder values.
#044
Planning Permission Granted - Isle of Man Passivhaus Development
Planning permission was recently granted for this private housing development in Baldrine, Isle of Man, designed for Wolf Environmental Consultancy (IOM) Ltd by sustainableBYdesign to meet the Passivhaus environmental standard. The development is believed to be the first proposed Passivhaus-standard development on the island, and features solar orientation of principle rooms, heat recovery ventilation, and loft spaces under active solar roofs. Using a palette of local materials, and simple compact forms, it is intended to act as a model for further development on the Isle of Man. More detail
#043
Code Level 5 House in Surrey
sustainableBYdesign worked with BeCollective on a proposal for a one-off Code Level 5 house on the outskirts of Cobham which was recently granted Planning Approval. sustainableBYdesign provided sustainability design advice and benchmarking, and carried out environmental analysis and thermal modelling for the proposed house, to showcase an exemplar approach to housing design, in line with Elmbridge Council's policy, and sustainable development within a sensitive Green Belt area.
#042
Response to Government Chief Construction Advisor
At the 7th Annual Happold Medal Lecture, delivered by Paul Morrell, Chief Construction Advisor, at the Royal Aeronautical Society on 12 May, Lynne Sullivan led an industry response to some of the integration and industry reform issues raised in the Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team report chaired by Paul Morrell. Lynne was followed by Paddy Conaghan her colleague from Edge Debate and all three debated a number of questions from the audience of 160 construction professionals.
#041
British Council for Offices Research showcased at Geneva Conference
sustainableBYdesign contributed to a recent BCO report "The Challenges for the Office Sector over the Next Decade and Beyond" which featured at the recent BCO conference in Geneva. The report, by Volterra Consulting, acknowledges contributions from Lynne Sullivan, and looks at the big questions facing the office sector over the next ten years and beyond including the sustainability and carbon agendas. Offices must accommodate flexibility both spatially and technologically, and at the same time offer stimulating and comfortable working, meeting, and social environments as well as good accessibility. See article's cover page.
#040
Coalition Government's sustainability record
BUILDING DESIGN's May Review focussed on Sustainability and the Coalition Government's progress to date - SustainableBYdesign Partner Lynne Sullivan was one of three architects contributing to the magazine's supplement, and focussed particularly on the regulatory steps to the recently redefined Zero Carbon standard.See link
#039
Conference at the Department of Health
Lynne Sullivan gave a presentation at the 2011 UK Indoor Environments Group Annual Scientific Conference at the Department of Health, entitled "Environmental Architecture", featuring recent studies carried out by sustainableBYdesign on daylight modelling and site shading analysis for new housing and schools. The talk also showed how well designed, installed and commissioned heat recovery ventilation can deliver energy efficiency and good indoor air quality as long as the user interface is clearly understood.
#038
Ecobuild 2011
Partner Lynne Sullivan delivered three seminars at Ecobuild in the ExCeL conference centre in London's Docklands this year, attracting an average audience of 150 people at each session.See link
#037
Passivhaus Development, Isle of Man
sustainableBYdesign have submitted a planning application for private houses in Baldrine, Isle of Man.
#036
Passivhaus Trust Members
sustainableBYdesign have become members of the Passivhaus Trust: a group of independent experts, academics and not-for-profit organisations providing leadership in the UK for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology. Lynne, John and Anne will be helping to man the Passivhaus Trust stand at Ecobuild on Wednesday 2nd March 2011.See link
#035
Lynne Sullivan awarded an OBE
Lynne Sullivan, founding Partner of Sustainable By Design LLP, was awarded an OBE for services to Architecture in the New Years Honours List 2011. Lynne was delighted to accept this Honour after three decades of practice, as recognition of her unique contribution to the built environment, her profession, and UK sustainable buildings policy. Amongst many mentions in the press, the AJ's Hattie Hartman recorded her reaction on hearing the news on 4th January,(see attachment on AJ footprint article).
#034
Top Floor and Roof Conversion to Duplex Apartments in Clerkenwell
sustainableBYdesign are commissioned to take forward the detailed design and delivery to Passivhaus standard of new residential apartments on top of a locally listed late Victorian industrial building. The project involves the development of a distinctive yet sympathetic design which also meets the low-energy aspirations of the developers, taking advantage of open views to the City skyline to the South.
#033
Passivhaus development in the Isle of Man
sustainableBYdesign are finalising proposals to be submitted for Planning approval early in 2011 for a semi-rural development of private houses on the Isle of Man. The design features generous open plan living space and bedrooms with balconies taking advantage of the open views to the sea, whilst also providing sunshading to the South elevations. sustainableBYdesign have used PHPP as a design tool to ensure the massing, fabric specifications and fenestration design can meet the requirement for Passivhaus accreditation, which meets the aspirations of the developer client to create design distinction to the agreed precedent standard.
#032
Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality conference
Lynne Sullivan of sustainableBYdesign chaired a recent conference for Good Homes Alliance on Health and Wellbeing for Occupants, where developers, RSLs and others shared experiences of the occupant impacts of different ventilation systems homes built to low air leakage standards. Lynne also chairs the recently formed Zero Carbon Hub/NHBC Foundation Taskgroup on Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality, examining whole life, health and user behaviour implications of more airtight homes and the design and operational issues which need to be addressed in low carbon buildings.
#031
Phoenix Community Education Centre
sustainableBYdesign are finalising proposals for the new centre for Phoenix Community Garden to be submitted for Planning approval early in 2011. The Phoenix Garden is a community garden based in Covent Garden in central London and is a registered charity, managed by volunteers, set up to provide a green retreat from the stresses of London's West End and a vital habitat for urban wildlife. The garden is maintained using sustainable techniques and an innovative approach to wildlife gardening, creating many different habitats to encourage as many species as possible. The new centre will provide project and community facilities and a new education resource to support the charity's stated aim to act as a resource for garden advice to local community and school groups. The building extends integrated habitat potential by incorporating horizontal and vertical planted surfaces, a habitat wall and a mesh screen providing support for climbing plants and nesting sites for birds.
#030
Carbon Compliance for Tomorrow's New Homes
Lynne Sullivan of sustainableBYdesign was a member of the TaskGroup which worked on the Zero Carbon Hub's recently published report making recommendations for the Carbon Compliance regime for Zero Carbon homes. Lynne also Chaired and authored the Working Group on Future Climate which was one of five topics considered by separate groups reporting to the main TaskGroup, also available on the Zero Carbon Hub link. See link
#029
Carryduff Code 5 Competition
SustainableBYdesign were runners-up in the open competition organised by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. This competition called for on-site renewable energy to meet Code 5 standards, and we organised the masterplan for excellent solar access for roofs, as well as ensuring house plans met Lifetime Homes requirements and excellent energy demand reduction through passivhaus-level U-values, window area/ orientation and sun-shading. Our design featured community courtyards with play and recreation areas, and a demonstration willow plantation with a willow `maze` and viewing platform.
#028
Passivhaus homes on the Isle of Man
Work is underway to design homes to Passivhaus standard on a site with sea views and open views to South.
#027
Bubble-Rap by sustainableBYdesign
Forgotten Spaces is an ideas competition run by RIBA London in collaboration with Design for London to propose innovative ways of taking advantage of under-utilised sites in the city. SustainableBYdesign's proposal for a virtual storyboard streaming information through unused communal space, facilitating a reinvented character and functionality for each space, powered by on-site renewable energy, was featured in the AJ review alongside the public exhibition of all entries. See link
#026
FARM:Shop
sustainableBYdesign have made a voluntary contribution of some 3D visualisations to FARM:Shop run by Something & Son LLP, a project transforming a run-down shop in Hackney to become a demonstration and ideas centre for food growing and biodiversity in cities to be opened in September 2010. See FARM:shop website
#025
sustainableBYdesign at Ecobuild
sustainableBYdesign's partner, Lynne Sullivan, chaired a seminar session in the RICS theatre on 'Connecting Passivhaus, SAP, standards and Regulations', part of the 'Simplifying Standards, Guides and Tools' series. To open the session, Lynne delivered a presentation on The Design Challenges of Low Carbon. On the main conference stage, Lynne participated in a session hosted by Edward Stourton of the Today programme on reviewing Codes and Regulations.Download Presentation
#024
sustainableBYdesign exhibited Passivhaus works in the AECB stand at Ecobuild
sustainableBYdesign were included in the AECB stand at Ecobuild as founder members of Passivhaus Buildings Org, showing some of their schools and houses designed to Passivhaus standard in the rolling presentation. Link to Ecobuild
#023
Welsh Passive House 2010
SustainableBYdesign were finalists in the open architectural competition to design the ultimate Welsh Passive House - a prototype sustainable, affordable home incorporating innovative measures for energy efficiency, construction and environmental design. Commissioned by The Works in Ebbw Vale, a major regeneration project transforming the 200 acre redundant steel works into a thriving, mixed use development, some of the finalists were selected to be built as prototypes for the 2010 Eisteddfod, but none from SustainableBYdesign's category. We are now developing the concept elsewhere for RSL clients.
#022
Planning permission granted for Code level 6 and Passivhaus in a conservation area
2009 saw the approval of one of our first Zero carbon schemes in a conservation area in Hertfordshire. Link to project
#021
Sustainablebydesign's affordable prototype code level 5/6 Passivhaus
sustainableBYdesign recently completed the design of a prototype house that was developed in detail for potential mass production for two applications in a variety of locations - a 2-bed and a 3-bed house, with energy prediction using Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP).
#020
Lynne Sullivan is member of the National Energy Efficiency Standard Task Group.
In order to provide further clarity and confidence for industry the Housing Minister announced in July 2009 that the Carbon Compliance level would be set at 70% reduction in regulated CO2 emissions and that a definition of 'minimum energy efficiency for zero carbon dwellings' would be announced before the end of 2009 after receiving advice from a specialist task group, which Lynne was invited to be a member of.
The Task Groups' recommended minimum energy efficiency standard for zero carbon homes has been the subject of a recent consultation and the Minister announced the recommendations along with other news including the launch of a consultation on new non-domestic buildings at the UKGBC conference at Kings Place London on 24 November 2009. weblink.
#019
sustainableBYdesign to design new community centre
sustainableBYdesign are working with Phoenix Garden on the next phase of a new community centre near Covent Garden in central London. The sustainableBYdesign proposal, which was won in competition against a shortlist of architectural practices, incorporates facilities for the local community with an education resource, along with offices for the garden warden and volunteers. weblink.
#018
We are now members of the Good Homes Alliance
sustainableBYdesign have become non-developer members of the Good Homes Alliance: a group of housing developers, building professionals and sustainability experts whose aim is to build and promote sustainable homes and communities and to transform the whole of mainstream UK house building and renovation into a sustainable endeavour that improves well being. weblink.
#017
sustainableBYdesign joins 10:10 campaign
sustainableBYdesign have signed up to the 10:10 campaign to help reduce the carbon emissions produced by our business practices: see link http://www.1010uk.org/ We already run an efficient, low-carbon business operation - working to the eight principles of our Sustainability Knowledge Map - incorporating modern, flexible practices like working from home, sharing office facilities and equipment with other organisations and cycling to work and between meetings across London. weblink.
#016
Part L Seminar, RIBA London
Lynne Sullivan recently presented a seminar at RIBA London on the proposed changes to Part L of the Building Regulations: Conservation of Fuel & Power organised by Hoare Lea Engineers. Lynne's seminar titled "Design Impact from an Architectural Perspective" outlines the integrated, environmental design required to achieve the greenhouse gas emission reductions identified in the UK Government's Low Carbon Transition Plan - see the brochure available through the Hoare Lea weblink.
#015
sustainableBYdesign on Welsh Passive House shortlist
sustainableBYdesign has been shortlisted in the architectural competition to design the ultimate Welsh Passive House - a prototype sustainable, affordable home incorporating innovative measures for energy efficiency, construction and environmental design. The winning designs are to be built in 2010 as part of The Works in Ebbw Vale, a major regeneration project transforming the 200 acre redundant steel works into a thriving, mixed use development.
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.showbriefdetail&newsid=327
#014
Footprint: Architects' Journal Sustainability Guest Blog
Lynne Sullivan has written three pieces for the AJ's Sustainability Blog: titled Thoughts on Copenhagen, Part L Consultation and Zero Carbon Definition. See the Footprint weblink
#013
UK Green Building Council Report: Pay As You Save
sustainableBYdesign has been contributing to the UK Green Building Council PAYS taskgroup which published its report on 06.08.09: http://www.ukgbc.org/site/news/showNewsDetails?id=173. This is referred to several times in UK Governments Low Carbon Transition Plan as a mechanism for helping people meet the costs of energy upgrades to existing homes. It also says if such incentive measures alone do not achieve the reductions in energy use required by 2012 "The Government may need to consider stronger regulatory measures as part of its strategy"
#012
Daylight design for Passivhaus Primary School
Three dimensional Revit modeling and environmental analysis has enabled us to predict and visualize the daylighting and solar access required for a prototype primary school, designed to Passivhaus energy efficiency principles.
#011
Advancing research and innovation for the built environment
Lynne Sullivan has been contributing to the Strategic Research Agenda for the construction industry through her membership of the National Platform sponsored by UK Government's BIS. The National Platform have produced research priorities defined through the European roadmap, and are inviting industry to engage to secure funding, see brochure available through the Constructing Excellence weblink
#010
Integrated Masterplanning with Sustainability Mapping
sustainableBYdesign has teamed up with Forum for the Future, BPS Chartered Surveyors and Planning Perspectives to provide an integrated Sustainability Strategy and Masterplan for a large employment centre near Gatwick Airport. The proposals use our Sustainability Knowledge Map to ensure that sustainability is placed at the heart of the development process.
#009
Passivhaus Family Homes for Uttlesford, Essex.
We have recently completed outline designs for 14 Homes for a rural housing association, incorporating 5 new house types designed to the Passivhaus energy efficiency standard and achieving Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
#008
Lynne campaigns for better building regulations.
Partner Lynne Sullivan is speaking at the forthcoming Part L seminar at RIBA in September. Lynne chairs the Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (Ventilation) committees and will be reporting on the groups work. The event is by invitation and is being sponsored by Hoare Lea. Please email us if you are interested in attending. For more information about BRAC (Building Regulations Advisory Committee) visit their website
#007
Design of a New Primary School in West London
sustainableBYdesign have completed a proposal for a new 2 Form Entry Primary School incorporating a feasibility study of site re-location options. The project included site sustainability analysis, brief development, concept massing and energy and environmental strategies, and the proposal creates flexible classroom areas, optimum daylight for classrooms and flexible space for specialist teaching. The school's aims for inside/outside teaching, an excellent learning environment, and low running costs are prioritised.
#006
Feasibility study for a new community centre in the idyllic Phoenix Garden, hidden behind Tottenham Court Road in Central London
sustainableBYdesign has been successful in winning a limited competition to design a new community and education centre in the idyllic Phoenix Garden. Work is ongoing.
#005
sustainableBYdesign bucks the trend by opening new design studio.
Download the press release
Read the Building Sustainable Design article
#004
sustainableBYdesign has moved to the new office in Putney.
We have just moved into our new office in Putney, South-West London. The location is around the corner from Putney Bridge, next to the beautiful Wandsworth Park overlooking the River Thames.
Beautiful view on our way to work everyday.
#003
sustainableBYdesign is born.
Thank you everyone who visited the stand at Ecobuild 2009 and kept us busy. We loved it and met some great people. If you haven't heard from us already we'll be in touch over the next week or two.
#002
The finished stand - it's time for change.
John and Lynne putting the final touches together.
Just spent the day putting the stand together at Ecobuild. Very fun and chaotic. Earls Court transformed in a night. Gavin starting work on our stand below.
#001
And the first clocks are in.......thank you Anne.
