Environmental

01 Environmental

Environmental

The Architects role has always had a direct impact on the Environment. As servants to Societal and Political masters we continue to Imagine, Define and Realise (in collaboration with the wider Construction Industry) the delivery of Human Habitat; Built Environment, Landscape and Infrastructure that we all need, desire, enjoy and rely upon. The relatively recent confirmation that cumulative, human habitat provision has negatively affected our environment, has led to a new legislative, regulatory, economic and moral context within which the Construction Industry must operate and comply.

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02 Environmental

Environmental

These influences have heralded an era of new architectural designs, macro-planning arrangements and construction methods. In parallel, National and World population statistics indicate increasing numbers (8.0billion+) of people all of which will need to be effectively and safely housed (UN Human Right), employed in fit-for-purpose facilities, given respite in leisure environments – all of which need to be adequately infra-structured. Identifying and harvesting the resources necessary to satisfy this increasing demand will lead to further supply chain cost rises and further environmental stress from the ever-decreasing, finite natural resources available.

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03 Environmental

Environmental

Therefore, the combination of our increased need, in-use emissions and space requirements will inevitably worsen Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss. Meanwhile, our Political leaders are struggling to agree or commit to acknowledged benchmarking standards in order to slow global temperature rises. These standards (agreed at COP26 and previous/future COP summits) directly inform and influence the designs and constructions we are asked to deliver. Because these agreed standards are inherently flawed (as they simply slow the pace to catastrophe – not halt or reverse) we are inadvertently “Complicit – yet Compliant”.

Furthermore, the now universally quoted Carbon Footprinting awareness and statistics directs attention away from the more legitimate approach of Ecological Footprinting which if aligned with Behaviour Change encouraging policies would address both Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss.

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04 Environmental

Environmental

Therefore, as Agents of Change our manifesto for the future would Reimagine, Redefine and Realise a rebalanced Planet;

• Stipulate that all Planning Permissions (in the UK) must increase a development site’s existing Ecological Footprint (measured prior to development) by a factor of 10. This accepts that the UK has a current Ecological Footprint of 2.9 (ie. uses approximately 3x our available resources), with a nationally developed land area of 10% and that undeveloped land should also increase its Ecological Footprint over a set time-frame. Cumulatively, this will rebalance the UK towards becoming a net Ecological contributor - not burden.

• The traditional harvesting and use of natural materials for construction should be reassessed for its [total degradation impacts] on natural habitat, climate change and biodiversity loss.

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05 Environmental

Environmental

• Predicate all energy, heating and cooling needs on passive design principles and renewable sources.

• Alternative construction supply chain materials should be identified which do not deplete the natural environment – indeed conversely should positively contribute to its cleansing (Govt. Environment Pledge). Plastic exChange : Transforming Waste into Valuable Assets Strategy

• Establish a new Research and Development Unit to develop advanced and high value Constructional and Manufactured Plastic Products. CAMPRADO (Constructional and Manufactured Plastic Research and Development Organisation)

• Incorporate Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss into the National Curriculum – and initiate Behaviour Nurturing programs in our 21,000+ Primary Schools. FootPrints - Art Installation Strategy.

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