insights
‘The Building Biology (‘Bau-biologie’) movement says its science-based research shows that buildings made from natural materials are healthy, green and create a sense of well-being’
anti-static, natural building materials are viewed as the ideal solution within Building Biology for the same reason. Following the Building Biology concept, wall materials
are selected for their capacity to allow for the passage of vapour without deteriorating but this does not mean that additional synthetic vapour barriers will not be needed. In light weight constructions they will be an absolute must. The result is a comfortable interior climate from moderating natural conditions including the removal of outdoor pollutants. The concept is unique in that it considers a variety of
environmental quality parameters. According to followers of Building Biology, an ideal home environment should achieves a natural balance of ionisation, reduce the influence of human-caused electromagnetic fields, and avoid building over naturally occurring geopathic (subterranean) disturbances. Heat should be radiant without creating heat monotony, dust, noise or heat stratification, light and colour should be as found in nature, humidity should be balanced with natural heat and cooling provided – to name only some of the factors. Building Biology principles are enshrined in the SBM
2015 standard which provides measurable targets for a healthy, risk-free living environment and allows clients to specify a certain environment and have it tested before practical completion.
The Green standards context
But there are of course other green building standards and rating systems in the marketplace to help guide, demonstrate, and document efforts to deliver sustainable, high-performance buildings. Among the better known are the BRE’s BREEAM and the US Green Building Council standard Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), as well as Energy Star, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, and the new international WELL people-focused standard. They each aim, in different ways, to mitigate the impact of buildings on the natural environment through sustainable design. With nearly 2.3 million buildings certified over its 25 year
history, BREEAM is the most widely-established global sus- tainability standard. LEED has continued to grow in promi- nence and now includes rating systems for existing buildings and entire neighbourhoods. Others who have also responded to the growing interest and demand for sustainable design including the Green Building Initiative (GBI), which was created to assist the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) in promoting its Green Building Guidelines for Residential Structures. Based in the UK, the Building Biology Association is an
independent organisation whose purpose is to promote the awareness, understanding, design, construction and use of healthy buildings. And to promote the subject it recently
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launched an English-speaking IBN Building Biology Consultant course (see below). Working closely with the association, and one of the leading
proponents of Building Biology in the UK, is Gale & Snowden Architects, based in Exeter. Established in 1992 by David Gale and Ian Snowden, the award-winning practice focuses on “regenerative design based on permaculture principles” and designs for all scales and types of projects. Its multi-disciplinary team provides architecture and mechanical engineering services and includes experts in sustainable, low energy and healthy building design. Projects combine principles of ecology, Building Biology, physics and landscape design principles with elegant, efficient architecture. The practice’s designs focus on a fabric first and optimal ori-
entation approach based on Passivhaus principles to first min- imise the energy demand of a building, reducing its carbon emissions, before adding renewables where appropriate. The result is low carbon solutions for the commercial, residential, culture and leisure, community and education sectors that respond to a changing climate and tackle fuel poverty at the same time. Commercial sector projects include the restoration of
Hallsannery country mansion near Bideford, Devon, to its former glory, and an outstanding recent education example is the Peter Buckley Learning Centre at RHS Rosemoor. The practice is also developing a series of ecological kit houses for self build or for complete prefabrication. The practice is just one of many noticeable examples of the
industry’s increasing focus on healthy buildings. As this contin- ues to grow, so the focus on Building Biology is likely to increase as clients demand greener, healthier environments.
An online course offers professional certification as a Building Biology Consultant, registered with the IBN Building Biology Institute in Germany. For more information visit
www.buildingbiology.co.uk
www.architectsdatafile.co.uk
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