How to Source Reclaimed and Salvaged Building Materials in the UK
# How to Source Reclaimed and Salvaged Building Materials in the UK I’ve watched too many builders skip past the salvage yard on their way to the timber merchant, then…
The Science Behind Why Biophilic Design Works and What the Research Actually Shows
# The Science Behind Why Biophilic Design Works and What the Research Actually Shows You know those moments when you walk into a space and immediately feel calmer? Maybe it’s…
ACROS Fukuoka and the Building That Disappeared Under a Green Roof
I’ve been working with green roofs for fifteen years, and I’ve seen every variation you can imagine. Sedum carpets that look brilliant for six months then turn into brown matting.…
Why Recycled Steel Is One of the Most Sustainable Structural Materials
# Why Recycled Steel Is One of the Most Sustainable Structural Materials I’ve been in countless meetings where the architect presents their “sustainable” design featuring timber from questionable sources, exotic…
Katowice Passive Office and Low Energy Design in a Cold Climate
Here’s the thing about passive buildings in Poland: most people think they’re a nice idea that might work in Germany’s mild climate, but surely not in the industrial heartland of…
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and Biophilic Design in Hospitality
# 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge: When Biophilic Design Actually Gets It Right (Mostly) I’ll be honest, I approach most hotels claiming to be “sustainable” with the same enthusiasm I reserve…
Green Roof Drainage Layers and Why Getting This Wrong Causes Leaks
# Green Roof Drainage Layers and Why Getting This Wrong Causes Leaks Green roofs fail catastrophically when water cannot escape. I have seen too many projects where someone thought they…
Hockerton Housing Project Nottinghamshire and 25 Years of Off Grid Living in England
I’ve spent most of my career watching developers slap solar panels on conventional houses and call it sustainable building. Then I visited Hockerton Housing Project in Nottinghamshire, and realised I’d…
Cork Insulation and Why Portugal Leads the Way in Sustainable Homes
I first encountered cork insulation while working on a green building project in 2019. The client had specifically requested “no synthetic materials whatsoever” for insulation, which immediately ruled out the…
Trent University Nottingham and Green Roofs in UK Higher Education
I spent fifteen years watching universities throw money at green credentials that looked impressive in marketing materials but delivered questionable environmental outcomes. Then I visited Nottingham Trent University’s Newton and…