Different kind of living

The RIBA Journal published an article about cohousing and it includes our Cannock Mill Cohousing Colchester project. 

Exciting times getting to grips with the details!!

Cannock Mill has also been featured on the UK Cohousing Network :
http://cohousing.org.uk/news/spotlight-cannock-mill

Fran delivers RIBA CPD on retrofit & building physics

Yesterday to Exeter for first of Robert Prewett and my joint RIBA CPD on retrofit and building physics - trying to cram the half day workshops we did for FLASH into a couple of hours!  It's really interesting to find out what architects are looking for; at Exeter some were focussed on cost of retrofit initiatives, while others on solutions to the difficult details of internal wall insulation. Airtightness was a good area to examine in more detail because it isn't really the money, but the detailing and communication with contractor which is the point - I hope they found some of it useful! Next dates below

Building physics and retrofit design
22-Jan	Exeter	2pm - 4.30pm
13-Feb	Manchester	1.30pm - 4pm
14-Feb	Liverpool	10am-12:30pm
21-Feb	Cambridge	2pm - 4.30pm
27-Mar	Birmingham	2pm - 4.30pm
23-May	Crawley	2pm - 4.30pm
11-Jul	Gateshead	2pm - 4.30pm
18-Jul	Bath	2pm - 4.30pm
12-Sep	Reading	2pm - 4.30pm
18-Sep	Leeds	2pm - 4.30pm
12-Nov	London	5.30pm - 8pm
27-Nov	Nottingham	2pm - 4.30pm
04-Dec	Cardiff	2pm - 4.30pm

London 2012 sustainable design by Hattie Hartman

Went to Hattie's book launch last night - it's a great guide to what is really interesting about the olympics. For those who are looking for good design and longterm sustainability she highlights how targeting, one planet 2012, and carbon footprinting have helped to keep a sustainable design in people's minds.

John Lyall spoke about his thoughtful and charming pumping station and other sewage related projects - one of which we can only see from the train, and Chris Bannister from Hopkins about the Velodrome. These might be the best of the buildings for the long term.
Fran

the principles of retrofit

On 4th November Bob Prewett and Fran Bradshaw did a workshop for the Flash programme on 'The Principles of Retrofit'.

Delightfully organised for the RIBA by Emma Livingston Jones, at Bere Architects inspiring Mayville Community Centre, participants were lucky to be given a guided tour at the end, and even see inside the engine room - the most beautifully neat plant room!

The participants were asked to join in and do some hands-on calculating, measuring and guessing, and what a great response! It was fun, and all learnt lots about what's most useful for architects.

Another workshop - improved on the basis of what worked best - coming in the new year.

Green Sky Thinking

'Green Sky Thinking' took off this week with breakfast launch in splendour at Carlton House Terrace, home of the Royal College of Pathologists - as Paul Morrell pointed out in his address, their strapline 'the science behind the cure' is entirely appropriate to describe our work.
It then moved (I hope significantly) nearer Westminster to the Energy Saving Trust, focussing on 'Engaging People in the Retrofit process'  where Peter Rickerby introduced the Institute for Sustainablility retrofit guide sequence. These look as if they are going to be really useful, obtainable through the FLASH programme.

I and Matt Bush from Metropolitan Housing Trust spoke about joint 'Retrofit for the Future' and other projects, and getting residents to get the best out of low energy houses through understanding how the building works. The design of heating controls seems like a perfect challenge for some really creative 'green skies thinking'.
FB