Sustainableurbanism
SUSTAINABLE URBANISM
DAVE HOPKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WOOD FOR GOOD, ARGUES THE CASE FOR INCREASING THE USE OF TIMBER IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
UNDER PRESSURE TO DELIVER LOW- CARBON, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS FIT FOR THE FUTURE, THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR ARCHITECTS TO QUANTIFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THEIR DESIGNS.
Construction is one of the UK’s most carbon- intensive industries, contributing just under half (47 per cent) of total emissions according to government research. It’s little wonder, then, that the sector is being challenged to adopt more environmentally-friendly practices and use materials that will lower its carbon footprint to meet building standards. Yet having to meet robust carbon reduction targets does not eliminate other considerations for delivering new developments. Ongoing austerity measures have resulted in a continued focus on cost, while the recovery is fuelling demand for new developments
46 Architects Choice July 2014
following a prolonged period of reduced activity during the recession. Sustainability is often seen as an expensive add-on, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Timber systems can offer both value for money and speed, while also meeting carbon reduction objectives. Its growing popularity is set to continue gaining momentum as modern methods of construction allow for the creation of ever more elaborate and taller designs.
THE ARGUMENT FOR WOOD To understand why timber boasts such good environmental properties, think back to GCSE science lessons and the process of photosynthesis. As they grow, trees emit oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, storing it in their branches and trunks, and stopping it from re-entering the atmosphere. While the idea that chopping down trees can be good for the environment might seem counter-
intuitive, it’s actually true. Sustainable forestry, from which almost 90 per cent of UK timber is derived, helps to optimise the carbon cycle by harvesting trees when they have passed their peak carbon processing capability, replacing every felled tree with at least one younger, more ‘efficient’ sapling, causing no net loss of material or habitat. The operational performance of a property will also be a consideration in efforts to meet building regulations. Again, timber performs particularly well here. Its lack of conductivity makes it a superior insulator, five times better than concrete, 10 times better than brick and 350 times better than steel. From a commercial perspective, in lending itself to prefabrication timber helps to control costs. Timber frame solutions are engineered offsite, with the product brought to site ready to be erected. Not only does this help to significantly reduce build times and labour
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52