Too often the ‘now’ trumps the ‘future state’.. We know construction costs have spiralled and variable costs have made the industry think too short-term.
An excerpt from 'Design to Value: The architecture of holistic design and creative technology' book by Mark Bryden, Professor John Dyson, Jaimie Johnston MBE and Martin Wood.Published by RIBA Books.
To purchase this book, visit.Engineered timbers such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glued laminated timber (glulam) are made from small pieces of wood glued together, without knots or other imperfections, resulting in a better and more reliable product than natural timber.These products have been available for decades but have gained popularity in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like steel and concrete.. At Bryden Wood, we’re continually exploring the use of sustainable materials and are committed to the delivery of ‘honest’ buildings where all technical challenges are well-known, and thoroughly analysed and addressed to avoid unwanted architectural or environmental impacts in design and operation.. Our design approach supports construction systems where each component is designed for purpose, without the need for additional redundant materials that generate unnecessary waste or additional embodied carbon.Engineered timber fits this approach as it can perform as a structural element as well as an architectural finish.
Engineered timber is a sustainable product due to its low carbon footprint.It’s also lightweight, strong, stable, easy to handle, suitable for prefabrication, has thermal properties, as well as great aesthetic appeal..
Extract of data published by Price and Myers for the embodied carbon of superstructures in projects with 2 to 10 storeys and excluding basements.. Today, engineered timber is a suitable solution to reduce embodied carbon in buildings but this may change in the future once the construction industry moves towards new materials as an alternative to standard concrete and steel.. Constructing with timber presents its own technical challenges, but using a science-based approach to find the best solution means we can deliver not just an honest building but a resilient, high-quality asset.. End of life global warming impact.
Although timber captures carbon, if left to rot naturally in an open-air landfill, it releases the stored carbon as well as methane, which has a greater global warming impact than CO2.• amenities and outdoor space for an active lifestyle..
Healthy architecture: building design for a post-COVID world.With a new model for office-based working, the current design of buildings will play a very important role in the transition to a ‘new normal’, with a focus on providing adequate support for the physical and mental re-adaptation to new work-life scenarios.
The growing importance given to wellbeing means that post-pandemic buildings need to be adaptable, healthy design spaces, and address the following key challenges:.Rethinking the status quo for more sustainable building design.