This blog post was written by the Architecture Centre’s Creative Intern, Lottie Morris
On the 22nd October the Shape My City group met
for their fifth session. This month’s focus was on sustainable architecture and
the group welcomed Shankari Raj-Edgar, architect, founder of Nudge Group, tutor
at UWE and Cardiff University, consultant and researcher.
To warm up, the group did a short activity - the task was to
think about insulation and buildings and sort different cards into the ‘best’ – lots of
insulation and ‘worst’ – very little insulation. The group thought straw
bales, earth ships and cob houses belonged on the good side, whilst
portacabins, made of chipboard, 1980s houses and Victorian houses went on the
bad side, hence why some people retrofit their homes to become more
sustainable. Concrete was in the middle as, whilst it does have good thermal
massing, the process of making it is not that environmentally friendly.
It was then time to hear all about Shank’s advice and
practice. She started by talking about Nudge Group’s objectives: how they always
strive to make the delivery of a project very holistic. Nudge Group do in depth
research to really understand a brief and see how the project can have an
impact on the community, make a positive contribution to people’s lives and be
environmentally friendly. Nudge reduces construction waste on site, and by using
locally sourced materials, local labour and fittings, they put money
back into the local economy. They are passionate about health and wellbeing,
Shanks believes that if things are designed well people will be happy.
She went on to speak about how we can all help in the
mission to live more sustainably, recycling, healthy eating, adjusting travel
habits can all help. She says it is important to think about the future and how
we can make a behavioural change in the city.
Talking about how she got to where she is now, Shanks
shared how she studied architecture & the built environment at UCL, then a worked for a year in Sri
Lanka before doing a Masters in Sheffield. She felt architecture was a natural choice
after having done work experience in an aeronautical firm and a graphic design firm;
she felt architecture sat in the middle - a nice combination of art and science. She explained how architecture encompasses a
lot of different things, so it's important to have life experience and accept
your strengths and weaknesses. Some people may enjoy drawing the specific stage of the design processor on CAD, whereas others might look prefer to look the whole picture.
Shanks explained that
she enjoys the people side of architecture, meeting lots of people and thinking
about the client’s needs. Going on to describe the downsides, Shanks said you
can’t do architecture part time, as job you have to dedicate your life to it,
and it is hard to get back into if you leave.
Shanks’ one piece of advice for the Shape My City-ers was do
what you’re passionate about and do it now! If you give it your all and enjoy
what you’re doing, you are more likely to succeed - very sound adviceechoed by some of our other Shape My City professional mentors.
With new knowledge, and now knowing the importance of
environmentally friendly, sustainable architecture, the challenge for the Shape
My City participants was to create a compact home/living space for1/2 people – a
snug home (inspired by the Ecomotive Snug Home project on display on the Architecture Centre gallery). Amy explained that more affordable houses are urgently needed, and in the future there
maybe be less land available, so smaller homes (which generally have a smaller carbon
footprint) will be required.. The 'snug' home had to be no bigger than 6m (length) x 3m (width) x 4m
(height). It was a tricky brief, as the groups had to consider: internal layout,
adaptable/moveable furniture, lifestyles of inhabitants, sustainable
building materials, renewable energy generation and how multiple snug homes
could fit together in a modluar way.
The groups came up with some really good ideas, paying extra
attention to detail. Team one came up with lots of adaptable
furniture, including a sofa bed and desk with integrated storage, with windows
located at the ends of the snug homes, they came up with a clever interlocking
system which would save space and keep the housing modules warmer.
· Team two had put their stairs outside, to save
space inside, as well as meaning people would spend more time outside, thus
being healthier. They also included sliding doors to save space and a window wall to get maximum
sunlight were also features.
·
Team three didn’t have any open areas; they
closed off the bottom and top floor to keep things warmer. Thier design also contained a
roof with a garden space and sky lights. The homes could be made constructed back to back.
·
Team four thought about which part of the houses
could have a lower height, as well as designing a bed that turned into desk, foldable
chairs, lots of south facing windows and wet room (with no bath - to save space).
·
Team five thought about converted shipping
containers on top of high rise buildings, with cupboards on the celling and
plumping all in one area.
There was a great mix of ideas, and all brilliant ways of
saving space and energy in the future. Ideas like this could really help the
future of sustainable cities, the teams did well, the design brief was specific
and the homes that were designed were innovative and practical. Another great
session!
Useful links:
University of the West of England (School of Architecture and Built Environment)
Cardiff University (Welsh School of Architecture)
Sheffield University (School of Architecture)
University College London (Bartlett School of Architecture)
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