METHODOLOGY

Our aim is the practice of architecture which works towards social progress and environmental sustainability whilst finding increased value through design. We apply these intentions at a practical level, with a co-operative and open relationship between consultant, client and industry.

BBM Sustainable Design were formed around a deeply felt wish to pursue a more environmentally benign architecture with a rigorous methodology and high aesthetic standards. We aim to maintain this ideal whilst operating a commercially responsible office. The practice works at the theoretical level in helping to define new directions in building science, town planning and architectural aesthetics whilst maintaining a growing portfolio of built projects which have effected considerable influence towards sustainable development within the industry.

From Inception to Completion

Most of the projects which come into the office whether it be a large and complex building brief or a small residential proposition normally commence with a feasibility study. The aim of this initial phase of work is to establish the financial, technical and design parameters involved so that the best way of developing the project can be established before any significant expenditure on consultant design fees is required.

During the inception and feasibility stage we are able to advise the client on the brief, often being able to add value to the overall concept, making suggestions which might ultimately reduce the running costs of the facility and scoping opportunities for funding. We also offer a survey of ambient energies which can be used towards a more exacting low energy design development. At concept stage we also discuss the project’s ‘lines of defence’ against the extremes of site climate, beginning with surrounding buildings and landscape, to the building fabric itself and how it modifies internal conditions, through to how the building’s internal zoning can be arranged to minimise artificial cooling or heating loads. Perhaps uniquely, BBM also discourse with Clients on how changes to lifestyle or working practices can ultimately lead to the biggest savings in a building’s energy and resource profile, such as harbouring teleworking suites to cut down on commuting, examining methods of recycling waste, promoting bicycle parking and implementing interactive occupant comfort control.

During the detailed design stages, BBM are able to offer a complete ‘umbrella’ consultancy service or act as the lead design team member within a team of consultants. We have worked with many of the country’s leading specialist firms.

BBM’s trend setting work with materials and suppliers has innovated the use of products with low energy life cycle costings. Some of which are resurrected technologies from pre-industrialised society whilst others are exciting developments made possible by advances in modern fabrication and energy and waste management.

Part of our working philosophy is to ‘design for demolition’ and ‘to touch the ground lightly’. It follows that what we specify is as reusable or recyclable as reasonably achievable. For instance we try to minimise the use of insitu cast concrete, being difficult to recycle and proven to have one of the biggest impacts of resource waste and manufacturing pollution of the common building materials (Berge, The Ecology of Building Materials).

During the site working stages BBM can serve as the Contract Administrator or in support of another consultant performing this role.

We have used an in-house developed checklist since 1996 to evaluate the environmental impact and fitness for purpose of our design work:

•    Human Systems - Identifying energy savings in the manner in which buildings / environments are used.

•    Ambient Energies - Identifying possible sources of ‘free’ natural energy available to the site.

•    Form And Orientation - Identifying the optimum orientation and form for the proposed structure to minimise needs for artificial energy input.

•    Thermal Capacity / Occupancy Requirements / Heating - Identifying the optimum relationship between the occupancy criteria of the building, the thermal capacity of varying choices of construction and the appropriate heating system.

•    Choice Of Materials - Identifying materials which are ‘fit for purpose’, non-toxic, from renewable stocks or of recycled or reused materials and sourced as close to the site as practicably possible.

•    Site Management - Identify means to reduce materials wastage and ensure correct and efficient disposal is practiced.

•    In-Use Monitoring And Feedback - Identify faults and successes of projects in use and feed back information into subsequent design work.