What usually happens is that the
architect will come up with a design
and the engineers and contractors
then have to make that work. We
think about orientation, form and
materials, all of which needs to be
energy efficient, from the start. So, we
embed environmental considerations
in everything we do. And because we
have in house expertise it enables
us to challenge the engineers and
contractors while we are working with
them on the job. Architects normally
don’t have that expertise but because
we do it enables us to push back a
bit when contractors perhaps tell us
something can’t be done in a particular
way.
3:- As some people may or may
not be aware of your current
zero-carbon residential scheme
for East Wick and Sweetwater
could you tell us a little bit
about this project and surely
this particular project must have
come with a few challenges?
East Wick and Sweetwater were large
housing schemes with 6 different
architects designing different buildings
to create a rich atmosphere. The
client here set very stringent fabric
performance targets, i.e. the facades
had to perform very well, before we
considered the internal heating and
energy system.
In other words, we needed to get the
form and orientation right and to
ensure the buildings had a good air
tightness level.
This was probably the greatest
challenge we faced: maximising
daylight, while ensuring the building
didn’t overheat in the summer or was
too cold in the winter, while designing
and using lightweight materials to
deliver zero carbon.
The great thing about the site is
because it’s an Olympic legacy site
it has a great decarbonised power
network, that’s a great first step.
Ultimately it was good design that
enabled us to ensure it also maximised
sunlight without being too “leaky”.
We used 3D modelling to test the
design to ensure that what we were
building would work.
The good thing about that 3D
modelling and testing was that we
have been able to learn from the design
principles used at East Wick and adapt
them at our new site at Barking and
Dagenham.
4:- With a lot of people looking
for products that reduces cost,
time and ones that have added
environmental benefits would
you say that Astudio have the
products that meet these needs
because obviously Astudio have
a wealth of knowledge and
experience but at the end of it
all it’s the product that needs to
speak for itself.
That’s always been the case for
architects. Everyone has always aimed
for lower cost higher quality building
materials. But we invested four and a
half years of our time in researching
the right materials to use and the right
design principles to follow, rather than
wait for the market to come to us.
So, we have done lots of testing and
re-testing to come up with materials
that the market needs. It’s taken a lot
of investment and time to get to the
position we have.
5:- Using off-site construction
technology seems to be one of
the key elements to your success
but could you tell us why you
think this gives you such an
advantage?
Yes, off site technology is great. And
we now have a system that can be
repeated which gives us a great level of
efficiency.
But we had to invest the time and
effort in the technology first.
Having spent all the time working
on this we can now do it in a really
cost-effective way. But it’s only a part
17
of what we do. What we are offering
to local authorities is a new way of
providing the homes they need. We
are essentially now a supplier of high
quality truly affordable homes. We
design the homes, secure the planning
permission and build the properties
for the local authority, and the local
authority gets to keep the land rather
than selling it to a property developer.
It’s ultimately a completely new way of
working. It’s quicker, cheaper and gives
the local authority more control.
6:- In the current financial state
providing low-cost homes with a
high-quality effect is something
that is going to be of high
demand if done well and there
will be a lot of people out there
that say they can offer the world
but maybe not deliver on price
or quality. Could you tell us why
Astudio is a key Architectural
practice for this market and
what really separates them from
the competition?
It would be very easy to stand on a soap
box and say we have all the answers
but we have to deliver. We have taken
our design and services through local
authority procurement, legal and
financial committees to make sure
everything is delivered correctly. So
we know what we are offering is good
value for money. We are now talking
to several more local authorities
about how modular can work. There’s
absolutely nothing stopping others
doing modular too, there’s plenty of
room for everyone.
In fact, I would encourage people to
get out there and do it themselves. But
if they are going to do it please do it
well, otherwise it will tarnish the whole
market.