Adaptive re-use: retrofit architecture & the climate emergency

Bryden Wood designed Circle Reading Hospital and Circle Birmingham Hospital, and collaborates closely with NHS England.

Pablo highlighted Passivhaus as a rigorous standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint.It represents a robust model for achieving extreme energy efficiency and comfort via airtight building envelopes, high-performance windows, and ventilation with heat recovery.. 4.

Importance of early integration of sustainability.Pablo stressed the necessity of embedding sustainability discussions early in the design process to ensure these principles are deeply rooted in the project.By doing so, teams can leverage collaborative workshops and iterative processes to refine sustainability goals continually.. 5.

Data-driven and science-based approaches.The discussion underscored the importance of a data-driven approach in the field of sustainable design and construction.

By utilising advanced simulations and analytics, teams at Bryden Wood can optimise designs to achieve higher sustainability standards, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of reducing the industry’s carbon footprint..

These insights provide a deeper understanding of how we are integrating sustainability into our projects and the importance of DfMA and interdisciplinary collaboration in driving these initiatives..The layered nature of engineered timber can improve acoustic compartmentation and if properly designed, does not need the same mass as concrete to achieve the same airborne sound resistance.

However, detailing is the main challenge and if not properly resolved it can generate sound flanking at the joints which is difficult to resolve without the use of wet trades.Creating reliable diaphragm action through slabs when trying to achieve acoustic separation and control movement is also fraught with issues.. Other acoustic considerations include the noise from building services and potential increased reverberation time due to smooth surfaces.. Our response is to:.

- Engage in early discussions with specialist timber contractors and acoustic engineers to address all potential acoustic difficulties.. - Use additional mass (increase the thickness of the slab) and acoustic ceiling and wall panels.. - Decouple floor finishes from the slab with additional insulation.. - Use alternatives to wet screeds, slab breaks above partitions, and resilient strips between CLT panels.. - Coordinate with engineers to reduce noise transmission caused by HVAC systems.. - Use in smaller size, lower buildings to reduce acoustic transmission and complexities.. Durability, rotting, installation in wet conditions.Significant volumetric changes can occur to timber exposed to changes in moisture, including swelling perpendicular to grain direction, warping, and bending of straight elements.