Environment

News of sustainable architecture and design where the primary focus is on minimising negative impacts on the environment, and also news of events and exhibitions demonstrating how to achieve this.

Habitat: vernacular architecture for a changing climate. Book Cover

Environment | Publications

Habitat: Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Climate by Sandra Piesik

Thames and Hudson has published a compact edition of architect and scientist Sandra Piesik's 2017 book, Habitat: Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Climate. The book demonstrates how local buildings have withstood the test of time and explores lessons for the future.

It is organised by climate zones (tropical, dry, temperate, continental, polar) and explores regions within each zone to demonstrate how buildings styles have evolved according to climatic conditions and vegetation. The appendix features case studies of contemporary vernacular architecture from around the world. Thames and Hudson

RIBA Long Life, Low Energy: Design for a Circular Economy

8 November 2022 - 29 April 2023.

The RIBA 'Long Life, Low Energy: Design for a Circular Economy' shows how the principles of the circular economy can help develop net zero architecture. The exhibition follows RIBA's Built for the Environment report which concludes that 38% of the global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the built environment. RIBA

Ateliers O-S Architectes Frédéric Joliot-Curie high school

Architecture | Environment

Ateliers O-S Architectes restructure an obsolete school building in a suburb of Paris

Paris-based Ateliers O-S Architectes have restructured an inefficient asbestos-ridden catering building, which is part of the Frédéric Joliot-Curie high school in the town of Dammarie-les-Lys. The updated 1960s building opens up a view of the forest from a 1,200-capacity dining room, and a large 'roof' volume brings in light through lateral windows while forming a generous canopy under which pupils can gather. Photo Cyrille Weiner. Ateliers O-S Architectes

Henning Larsen Feldballe Schoo Carbon Capture

Architecture | Environment

Henning Larsen designs school in Denmark that captures more carbon than it emits

The Feldballe School extension in Rønde, Denmark has been designed by architects Henning Larsen using almost entirely bio-based materials such as wood and straw. The building uses natural and passive ventilation systems, together with solar panels, which are expected to eliminate energy consumption daily. The architects are now scaling up the model for a 13,000-square-meter project. Photo Rasmus Hjortshøj. Henning Larsen

Design | Environment | Lighting

MVRDV and Delta Light use discarded aluminium profiles for their High Profile lighting

Dutch architect studio MVRDV has designed the High Profile range of lighting for Delta Light using their discarded products. MVRDV utilised Delta Light's aluminium profile offcuts allowing for the design to be adapted according to the range of profiles using real-time data. MVRDV / DELTA LIGHT.

Environment | Events | Exhibitions

Design Museum’s Waste Age: What Can Design Do?

23 Oct 2021 to 20 February 2022

To coincide with COP26 the Design Museum's exhibition 'Waste Age: What Can Design Do?' demonstrates how design can tackle the issue of waste and its environmental consequences. The exhibition confronts visitors with the scale of global waste, educates them about raw materials in everyday objects and then explores visionary designer's proposals for a circular method of production. Design Museum

Architecture | Environment | Interiors

Europe’s first underground restaurant by Snohetta

Europe's first underground restaurant, Under, was designed by Snohetta in collaboration with the owners and marine biologists. The concrete structure is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment and will also be used for marine research. The restaurant is located on the south coast of Norway. Photo Ivar Kvaal. Snohetta