Materials and Design

Natural materials such as stone and clay have been used for construction throughout history, drawn directly from the earth. As civilisations advanced, the processes of material extraction and manufacturing became more sophisticated. With the rise of industrialisation and increased energy availability, the new materials, steel, glass, and concrete,  emerged, defining 20th-century construction.

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While these materials have defined modern architecture, the embodied carbon required to produce them is significant. Although it’s not always possible to avoid their use entirely, we can reduce their consumption and explore alternatives. Below are some thoughts on how we can rethink the use of carbon-heavy materials and consider more sustainable options.

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• Making use of timber structures (FSC Certified) instead of steel is often a viable alternative and can bring warmth to interiors. Most timber, if from a renewable and managed source is a sustainable and versatile material.

 

• Concrete foundations can sometimes be replaced with new piled solutions and less thick reinforced raft foundations. Perhaps due to building control regulations, of which the foundation design is a major aspect, reducing the use of concrete underground for foundations is the larger challenge compared to other easy-win substitutions.

 

• Gypsum plasterboard derived from cement can be replaced by the use of other sheet materials, often saving on construction costs in the process, and as with timber sheet materials, can add much to the ambience of the home.

 

• The use of rockwool mineral insulation and wood fibre insulation boards instead of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or (PIR) rigid insulation boards. Natural insulation materials will cost slightly more than PIR and are usually slightly less thermally efficient meaning they must be installed thicker, taking up slightly more wall space.

 

• The re-use of materials makes so much sense. Architectural salvage companies have many beautiful wooden floors from demolished buildings and using reclaimed bricks is also a good way to reduce carbon impact and give new buildings character and ambience.

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• Glass: There is not a viable alternative, and we make no apologies for, sometimes extensive, use of glass. Glass plays a crucial role in our well-being at home, connecting us to the external environment, to nature, and providing light and depth of space. We need to compensate for large areas of glass with extra insulated parts of the building as glass transfers heat/cold far better than insulated walls, cellings and floors. We suggest the use of triple glazed units, much more affordable than you might think. Vacuum Glass is more expensive but has a far superior U-value that the void between panes that are gas filled in standard double glazed units.

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