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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

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Advice Centre

Welcome to our Advice Centre, a comprehensive resource for architectural industry insights covering key topics such as the Planning System, Building Control and common misconceptions surrounding Passivhaus design.  Whether you’re seeking expert guidance or exploring innovative approaches, our centre offers valuable information to support your project.

From the Age of Exploration to the Industrial Revolution, our world has been transformed forever. Its not just the Passivhaus movement that is shaking up the architectural world, we’re living in the middle of a modern Green Revolution - and it’s not just about organic farming or plant-based diets. It’s about how we rethink our cities and towns, from the ground up (and sometimes the roof down). If you’ve ever seen a lush rooftop garden or seen the iconic Wimbledon main building covered in vibrant greenery, you’ve already seen this revolution in action. READ MORE

The Green Revolution: Building a Sustainable Future

There are several misconceptions surrounding Passive building, such as opening windows and doors, ugly box-style buildings, and extreme costs. We are often asked simple questions about building to Passivhaus standards so we have listed the most common ones here to put you in the picture, officially! READ MORE

Myths Busted: Passivhaus Questions and Misconceptions Explained

France has recently enacted legislation requiring all commercial buildings to incorporate solar panels or green roofs by 2024. Additionally, Europe has long adhered to the NZEB building regulations. In comparison, UK building standards appear to be lagging behind as other countries adopt the Passivhaus Standards as mandatory regulations for new constructions. Learn more about global advancements and explore notable projects in Chile, Japan, China, and India. READ MORE

Passivhaus: The Global Scale

Masonry construction has long been the go-to method for centuries by our builders, providing a tried and tested result since the Georgian era. Brick facades are typically ‘British’ but in our world of sustainability, more and more developers and builders are changing their lifetime habits to use our MMCs - the Modern Methods of Construction. Built off-site in factories or using giant “Lego” blocks, we explain the options that are open to anyone building from scratch or extending including SIPs (the Structural Insulated Panel) and ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork). READ MORE

Modern Methods of Construction: The Choice is Yours

 Constructing to the Passivhaus Standards creates a home that is ultra-efficient and resilient to the extreme weathers that are increasing due to Climate Change. Whether building from scratch or carrying out a deep retrofit, it is your choice to have the works inspected by a Certified Passivhaus Certifier or not. We explain the route to certification and the pros and cons of this quality assurance. READ MORE

Passivhaus Certification: Should I have my home Certified or Not?

You can’t escape it, ithe ‘Climate Crisis’ is everywhere. Scientists have been talking about global warming for decades, warning that we were heading towards a climate crisis. As the term Global Warming became Climate Change and now recently Climate Crisis we have simplified the changes to our planet and explain the differences between Carbon Zero, Net Zero and Carbon Emissions and discussed what we can all do to our individual lives to help repair the planet for our future generations READ MORE

The Climate Crisis Explained

The buildings we live and work in contribute to over 39% of the country’s carbon emissions. From plugging in a phone to recharge it, taking a hot shower or turning up the heating to keep warm, we are increasingly burning fossil fuels that are sending carbon into the atmosphere where it can’t escape. In this Blog we explain the role our built environment is playing in the Climate Crisis, the effects of our daily lives and what will happen if we continue on the same path READ MORE

The Climate Crisis and Our Built Environment

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding contract that requires all countries to decarbonise by 2050. The UK has predicted that over 25 million of our current homes will still be in use at this time. Without a Retrofit, these homes will still emit carbon at their current rate putting the UK in default of the Agreement. Every homeowner and building owner needs to Retrofit their property by 2050 to reduce carbon emissions and energy bills. READ MORE

Retrofit Explained: Part 1 - Why?

As energy bills soar to the highest levels ever recorded, we take a more detailed look at how to upgrade our existing buildings. Retrofit measures are expensive but don’t need to be carried out all at once, they can be done in a phased approach over the next 20 years but knowing what you should be doing and in which order to do it can be a minefield. We detail the work required, the options available and the correct sequencing it should be done. READ MORE

Retrofit Explained: Part 2 - How?

The Biodiversity Net Gains legislation is now in force for the construction of all new buildings. This game changing planning requirement will change the face of how we build our new homes and employment spaces.  Gone are the days of concreting over everything, the new laws will now create leafy tree-lined avenues, corner ponds and wildflower meadows in a bid to restore our lost habitats.  We discuss the legislation, the route to obtain planning permission and how it will change the face of our towns and cities.    READ MORE

The Biodiversity Net Gains Legislation - What it means to our new build homes

After the Industrial Revolution of the 18th Century, the UK saw a housing boom larger than any other country. Cities, towns and suburbs were created to make way for the increased wealth and population growth. Today, more than 20% of our housing stock was built over 100 years ago, many are now Listed Buildings or in Conservation Areas, but many have few constraints and homeowners are unaware that they should be using specific materials in any renovation work. We explain the details. READ MORE

Retrofitting our Traditional and Historical Buildings

You want to build a simple extension but don’t know where to begin.  You have permitted development rights but don’t know what they are or what they mean.  Obtaining planning permission in an ever-changing system can be daunting to many - with over 25 years of submitting planning permissions throughout England and Wales, we help explain the regulations to help you get approval.   READ MORE

The Planning System: What You Need to Know

Check back soon for more!

Under the Buildings Act, all building works need to be assessed and certified by an independent Building Inspector to ensure that the design and the workmanship are up to the current standards in force, that your architectural designer and builders are knowledgeable and have carried out the work correctly.  We explain the new rules regarding Principal Contractor, Principal Designer and your role as the client.  

Building Control: Inspecting your Project

In 2015 the government introduced the Self-Build & Custom Homes Act as a way of increasing the number of individually-commissioned homes for the housing market. For those wanting a home that is a bit more than the typical mass built ‘cut and paste’ on offer, the Act requires local councils to promote the ability to ‘build your own home’ and make land available for residents to do so.

The Self-Build & Custom Homes Act

Working on any Passivhaus is like working in a large team.  By adopting the Passivhaus blame-free culture, everyone from the Design Team to the Second-Fixers work together to ensure that the building is constructed as it should be.  Things go wrong, always, but it is not about finger pointing, it is about understanding the trades before you, the trades after you, and putting things right before its too late.  

Toolbox Talks Series: Passivhaus - A Blame-free Culture

With so many products and so many options it can be confusing to many trades which membrane goes where.  Here is a handy blog detailing the reasoning for the membranes and which one goes where!

Toolbox Talks Series: Passivhaus - Vapour Control vs Airtight Membranes

Frank Lloyd Wright was probably the most influential architect in history.  75 years on his ideas, put aside for the second World War and then lost, are now being used to combat Climate Change on a tremendous scale throughout the entire world.  We discuss his career, his theories and show how the ‘Mid-Century Modern’ is having a revival on an unprecedented scale with lots of images for inspiration.  

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: The Icon, The Visionary and His Principles Today