Tag Archives: sustainable materials

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED FOR NEW-BUILD HOUSE KINGSTON, LEWES

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BBM Sustainable Design received a grant of planning permission for Beechwood House, a proposed 215 square metre new family home on a subdivided plot of land.

Beechwood House is cut into the steep site and terraced over two levels. Sitting comfortably in the landscape, the timber-clad first floor blends in with the surrounding trees.

The proposed layout accommodates a multi-generational family with an emphasis on privacy and generous shared living spaces. Direct access outside is provided from both storeys. The lowest storey of the proposed house, sunk deep into the slope, contains the sleeping quarters. Bedrooms all have access onto an external balcony and views towards the South Downs.

The first floor level contains the main living spaces, including the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Housed under the monopitch roof and with dual aspect views to both the back garden and the South Downs, the living spaces feel lofty and well-connected to the landscape. The open-plan kitchen/dining/ space has direct access to the back garden.

BBC NEWS ARTICLE

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Climate change: Prince launches ‘Waste to Wealth’ summit

The ‘Waste to Wealth’ summit was held in London today, bringing together over 200 leaders including the Prince of Wales and the Environment Secretary Michael Gove along with members of government, businesses, volunteers and university groups from all over the country. The summit targeted reducing avoidable waste by 2030 and to double the nation’s resource productivity.

According to BBC News One of the most remarkable events of the summit was a speech given by Prince Charles in which he stated:”Making goods (like polyester duvets) uses energy and releases greenhouses gases – and the Prince and the politician both say we can’t tackle climate change unless we use materials more intelligently.”

The University of Brighton’s Waste House, built from waste material and using innovative waste materials as insulation has been further acknowledged in the article.

“The Waste House is almost entirely made from thrown away materials most of which were heading for landfill or incineration. Materials used in the construction include toothbrushes, denim jeans, dvd cases, floppy discs, carpet tiles and construction waste. These materials have now been joined by used duvets from The University of Brighton’s halls of residence which are being used as insulation. Whilst oyster shells from the critically acclaimed English’s oyster bar have been mixed with waste aggregates from a neighbouring building site (Preston Barracks) to form wall tiles.”

On the subject of managing resources and reducing avoidable waste, Duncan Baker-Brown – Director of BBM and the project architect of the Waste House, told BBC News: “You pay 20% VAT to refurbish a building, but zero VAT to demolish and rebuild. There is a tax incentive to knock buildings down, which is frankly insane.”

The full article can be found here.

Architect Duncan Baker-Brown with wall tiles made from crushed waste oyster shells