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on building with such materials. Taking an evolutionary perspective on the material, he noted that “flint has changed from a functional material to an aesthetic material.” RIBA House of the Year 2015 – Flint House – designed by architects Skene Catling de la Peña and built by Smith’s team, was used to illustrate the material’s significant aesthetic versatility. Smith stated, in defence of the craftsman’s role in construction; “once you respect and understand the properties of a material, you can then understand what its potential is”, advocating a profoundly material approach to design. In his talk ‘Expanding possibilities’,


Sheffield Hallam University’s Professor Andrew Alderson hypothesised on the potential of ‘auxetic’ materials, whose physical properties change in use – broadening as they are stretched – and their possible application in architecture. Such a material “gives us a way of controlling light, heat or sound in buildings,” Alderson said, adding: “you could also have a thermally responsive material”. Chris Coonick of BRE National Solar


Centre explored the latest advances in solar photovoltaics, followed by Hector Archila of Amphibia BASE, who mined his experiences building structures from bamboo as the fodder for an enthralling technical talk on the material’s properties, possibilities and limitations. ECAlab’s Amanda Wanner and Dr Rosa Urbano Gutiérrez talked about the recent innovations and future possibilities of ceramics for sustainable architecture, and technologies thereof. ‘Pushing the envelope’, a discussion led by Neil Dobbs of Multiplex, considered the innovation in materials for facades with a number of the contractor’s cutting-edge case studies, including “the largest closed-cavity facade installed in Europe” at 22 Bishopsgate. “Our role was to ensure that what we were developing was robust,” he told delegates. “It’s a sealed system with dry air pumped into it, giving very clear glass – the challenge was to ensure it performs. We could not access the cavity once it was on the building.” The evening reception gathered experts from industry, academia, and design to hear a fascinating series of presentations in a competition organised by Northumbria University to reward innovation in materi- als. Student researchers pitched their creations to judges, ranging from recycled mineral wood geopolymers and 3D printing drones, to explorations into the use of


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different supplementary cementitious materials for concrete constructions. Following talks from judges and architects Cezary Bednarski (Bednarski Studio) and Chris Loyn (Loyn + Co) on their Manser Prize-winning projects, the panel awarded Ehab Sayed, PhD student at Northumbria University and founder of biomaterials start-up BIOHM, the £500 first prize. His team has been developing bio-based materials such as self-growing self-cleaning mycelium panels, and fibreboard composed of recycled organic refuse. Alalea Kia, PhD researcher at Imperial College London, was awarded a runner-up prize of £200, donated by judge Elaine Toogood of the Concrete Centre, for her research into clog-resistant permeable concrete paving. Thursday’s lineup continued to offer


informative and technical content on materials to delegates, starting with director at Ramboll Simon Groves’ enigmatically titled talk ‘Let’s make brick great again’. He delved into the history of brick cladding as well as concrete composites, and looked at some of Ramboll’s own groundbreaking projects such the Tate Modern’s 25 storey load-bearing brick facade. Elaine Toogood’s second appearance at


the conference updated delegates on the progress made in sustainable concrete,


focusing on how the material’s environmental performance is actually measured in the industry. She explained how BREEAM supports an all-encompassing approach: “BREEAM is looking at the performance rather than just the sustainability of the material itself.” Illustrating how light can be conceptualised as a ‘material’ of sorts in design, Luis Montero of Studio Seilern Architects showcased Wellington College which demonstrates Montero’s theory of “structural lightness”. Next, Patrick Usborne of dRMM, winners of the 2018 Stirling Prize, recounted the story behind Maggie’s Oldham, a cancer support facility constructed from tulipwood cross- laminated timber (CLT). PLP Architecture’s Kevin Flanagan and the University of Cambridge’s Dr Michael Ramage combined to examine the potential of CLT to build tall structures. The premise for the discussion was laid out by Ramage, who asserted, counter to many preconceptions, that “the strength for weight performance of timber is very good, and we don’t give it enough credit. It’s as good as steel and better than concrete.” Timber tower proposals in Canada, the


Netherlands and Norway were displayed along with the prospect of Oakwood Tower, an 80-storey tower concept for London’s Barbican, raising a barrage of questions from visitors around fire, insurance, and the ability of the material to stand up to wind and seismic shocks. He explained how the proposals


followed new advances in engineered timber technology, and how the practice “took this to heart with a material that offers a lighter touch than concrete or steel.” Flanagan added: “In Holland there is an appetite for these types of projects from insurers, and building code is changing in Canada.” He closed by challenging the audience: “We just need to create a new language.” Later, Paolo Vimercati of Grimshaw and


Anthony Morgan of the Carbon Free Group presented a new highly collaborative approach to affordable carbon-free modular housing – Atelio – which makes use of a highly stable yet ecological glass ceramic composite panel material. “Can designers save the planet?” was


the big question asked by speaker Duncan Baker-Brown of BBM Sustainable Design. Ending the two-day conference programme was Mark Dawson of Buro Happold, who discussed how phase-change materials can offer “ultimate thermal efficiency” to buildings of the future.


ADF JULY 2018


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