Category: Sustainability

The project was part of an extensive Gloucester City Council Urban Greening initiative. Amenity and biodiversity value has been increased along a mile long section of the Wotton Brook corridor through wildflower meadow seeding, hedgerow planting, and woodland habitat creation. Re-profiling earthworks were carried out to the brook banks to improve waterside access, and increase the channel capacity to attenuate flooding adjacent to the University Campus.

Catherine Cosgrove (Associate and A-S:L Sustainability Champion / RIAS Accredited Sustainability Architect) named as Chair of Scottish Ecological Design Association, Anna Blamire-Brown and Oliver Goddard accredited as Certified Passive House Designers and Emily Harper became a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) through the International WELL Building Institute dedicated to supporting human health and well-being in the built environment.

Designed to Passive House Standard, this innovative school will provide high quality, ultra-low energy learning spaces with excellent levels of thermal comfort. The project includes specification of low embodied carbon construction materials as well as integrating sustainable drainage and biodiversity-enhancing outdoor learning environments.

The Wellness Village has been developed for a sustainable, multi-generational community designed to WELL Standard Principles, and to achieve BREEAM Excellent. The scheme is designed using fabric first principles, with MVHR to all housing units, and the potential to connect to the District Heating Network, to achieve high levels of energy efficiency. The landscape scheme includes natural play, communal courtyard gardens and a community allotment / growing area. Active travel connections are improved, with new routes provided through the site.

Co-designed with communities, visitors and end-users the transformation of the external Clyde quayside environment at GSC has adopted a ‘grey to green’ approach to urban landscaping. The project features outdoor interactive science exhibits, a Fibonacci garden at the building entrance, new segregated cyclepaths connecting in to the national network, enhanced biodiversity with aquatic planting in the former moats, new soft landscaping and street trees. Existing materials were reused and upcycled including upcycled security bollards reimagined through community art projects with local schools, communities and disability groups. GSC secured a Green Tourism Award in 2021 and is host to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference Green Zone.

This retrofit and refurbishment of ground floor to UWE B-Block achieved SKA Silver Rating for the refurbishment of the Student Services, Information Services, Art Shop and facilities. Careful selection of materials and reducing waste on site through use of standard sizes, alongside an audit of how to repurpose and retain existing features were integral to reducing waste.

BREEAM Excellent accredited 5,000 sqm building featuring a full height atrium providing natural light and natural ventilation, alongside super-insulated external built envelope and heat recovery to minimise heat loss and achieve energy efficiency. The landscape scheme included the transformation of ecologically low value amenity grass areas to species rich wildflower meadow, wetland, and native scrub habitats. Sustainable drainage is integrated in naturalistic aquatic landscape enhancing the biodiversity of the existing brook corridor.

Masterplan for Welsh Government to create 375 zero energy in use new homes, educational and community facilities. The 22 ha masterplan, partly encompassing former quarries, retains 4 ha of existing landscape corridor and woodland and further prompts a modal transportation shift through a focus on active travel, enhancement of green travel alternatives and a significant reduction in car spaces. A parallel study was completed in conjunction with the Welsh School of Architecture to explore the delivery of zero carbon development at scale and test the development plan through energy and solar modelling.

Austin-Smith:Lord were named the inaugural BREEAM / EcoBuild Champions for Architect in 2018 in recognition of our track record in achieving high performance and positive impact in sustainable design working on behalf of BREEAM clients.

Design of enhance visitor management facilities at Loch Lubnaig, Loch Venachar and Loch Chon including creation of ‘wild’ camping nestled within established woodlands and provision of lochside cafe and visitor facilities powered by biomass boiler and photovoltaics.