HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES 49
Ventilation is no longer in the background
Dave Harding of Gilberts Blackpool looks at the raised profi le of ventilation systems, which is leading to a better appreciation by architects of their importance.
I
t’s refreshing to see how the means of heating and cooling a space are now being considered an integral part of the design aesthetic. No longer integrated into the background as far as possible, but proclaiming its existence loud and proud. Ventilation is, after all, an invisible yet fundamental element of the building design, be it new build or refurbishment. It makes a building that works well for its intended purpose, one where occupants enjoy spending time.
The commercial reality is that it can make or break a business, for example poorly ventilated offi ces impact staff morale and performance and therefore profi tability while inadequate ventilation in a leisure venue means odours and a drop in visitor numbers and spend. As architects, you have to include it. So make it work for you!
The detail of the aesthetics comes down to talking – communicating with building services consultants and manufacturers. You’d be surprised at what design features can be incorporated to enhance your design concept, whether it be to conceal the ventilation or make it stand out. For example, we’ve helped specifi ers conceal air supply and extract within wooden panelling, disguised it as corporate branding and helped it stand out both internally and externally by coating it in a primary colour or designing a bespoke face plate that features the company name. None of these would have been possible without that initial conversation. However, before you reach that level of
detail, you have to determine the strategy. Pushed by the demand for sustainable strategies, there is a rise in natural ventilation, using planned air paths through the building with air being drawn in and exhausted through the facade- usually through vents in the windows or
ADF MARCH 2026
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