Southampton - Finch Macintosh Architects
Well loved by locals for the quality of design and materials this project utilised an abundance of natural wood and wood fibres in its construction. The durable oak has been left untreated, the tannin in the wood acting as a natural preservative.
Credit: Finch Macintosh
A raised steel floor provides a covered play space for children, providing a cool, shaded area and water can be drawn from the local Solent. One of the most revealing aspects of the construction, is the lack of graffiti, perhaps showing off the local pride for the adventure playground.
Project architect, Kate Macintosh said that: "We try to implement sustainable principles in many of our projects, but ultimately it comes down to the client."
Cambridge - Ellismiller Architects
"It's not all tea cakes and Jerusalem", says Jonathan Ellis-Miller from Ellismiller Architects. "We were really happy to work with the Women's Institute as they have some excellent policies on sustainability."
The emphasis on recycling this pre-existing pig shed was on re-ordering all that is inherently sustainable. By using natural ventilation, which is also easy to use, the building retains a constant temperature throughout the year, with all of its thermal mass on the interior of the structure.
As well as the 'inactive' measures of eco-friendly architecture, the building also implements some 'active' measures such as a rainwater harvesting system, used to flush the loos as well as some solar panels.
"Overall, a building that states simplicity and accessibility", states Jonathon Ellis-Miller. As an added bonus, there's also a bus stop at the end of the road, making the most of public transport.
Perthshire - Arc Architects
The Department of Trade and Industry Partners in Innovation project and Communities Scotland funded this unfired-earth brick building as part of a three-year research project to see if a low-cost building could be constructed using unfired earth as the main construction material.
As well as being a thermally efficient building, the building passively controls the relative humidity, benefiting allergy sufferers and natural light prevails over the use of artificial lighting, reducing the pull on electricity resources.
The architects wanted to see how eco-friendly a building could be, sticking to the limitations of low-cost housing. They used natural local materials, resulting in a low-cost, well-finished property that has a low impact on the environment.
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