T.H. (presentation)

Environmental Physics & Design
Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Sustainable Urban Architecture:
urban design and community
Professor Tim Heath
University of Nottingham

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‘The Life and Death of Sustainability:
long live contextual sensitivism’

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What is the motivation?The Challenge…
We are now very aware of the causes and
consequences of global climate change and
the impact upon this of our cities, buildings and
their construction:
• buildings and their operations account for
over 40 per cent of worldwide carbon
emissions;
• all of those involved in the procurement and
operation of buildings have a significant role
to play in ensuring we design and operate
greener more energy efficient buildings.

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Climate Change…
For a number of years, the Earth’s temperature has been rising
and to limit catastrophic outcomes, the international scientific
community has set a challenging goal of no more than a 2o
Celsius average temperature rise.
To put this into perspective, research has shown that the average
temperature in Alaska has risen by 4oC in the last thirty years.
It currently takes 1.3 years for the earth to
replenish what we take out of it in 1 year!

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The Current
Impact:

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WHY SUSTAINABLE CONTEXTUALLY SENSITIVE
ARCHITECTURE, URBAN DESIGN &
COMMUNITIES?
In 1900, just 10% of the world’s population
lived in cities, today, in little over a hundred
years this has risen to over 50% and is
estimated to reach 75% by 2050.

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How Fast Cities are Growing (persons per hour)
Source: Burdett & Sudjic (2011)
Living in the Endless City
+10
+30
+50

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The life of sustainability!
The World Commission on Environment and Development’s
(WCED) Bruntland Commission definition of sustainable
development in the paper Our Common Future is the most
frequently cited definition of the concept:
“Sustainable development is the kind of development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
(WCED, 1987)
How many of us have quoted this in our lectures, papers, etc.?

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The life of sustainability!
The first known European use of the word sustainability
(German: Nachhaltigkeit) occurred in 1713 in the book
Sylvicultura Oeconomica by German forester and scientist
Hans Carl von Carlowitz. Later, French and English foresters
adopted the practice of planting trees as a path to "sustained-
yield forestry”.
The word “sustainability” was first used in the context of
man's future in 1972, in a British book, Blueprint for Survival.

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The Situation…
…the life and death of sustainability!
We regularly hear terms like ‘green’, ‘eco’, ‘energy-efficient’,
‘sustainable’, ‘low-carbon’, and ‘low-energy’, etc.
In many cases, however, the reality is a ‘marketing ploy’ with
little substance or evidence to back up the use of these terms.
Hopefully, these terms will soon become redundant and we will
just need to use words like “designed” or “planned” to describe
buildings, communities or cities that are contextually responsible
and have not just a neutral but a positive impact on society and
our planet.

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Whilst countries, leaders and politicians fight, we
need actions that the public can understand.
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Paris

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Whilst countries, leaders and politicians fight, we
need actions that the public can understand.
2016: …UK Brexit; President-elect Donald Trump; China; etc.; etc.; etc.

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Whilst the debate and arguments continue, we
desperately need 7.4 billion ‘little footsteps’.

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The Situation…
"Think global, act local” attributed to Scots town planner
and social activist Patrick Geddes (Cities in Evolution, 1915)
The first use of the phrase in an environmental context is
disputed. Some say it was coined by David Brower (The Daily
Telegraph, 8 Nov. 2000) founder of Friends of the Earth as a
slogan when it was founded in 1969.

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The Situation…
Traditionally a top down approach:
International Organisations (1992 United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change; Kyoto Protocol 1997;
The Government (politician)
The Official (urban planner)
The Developer (investor)
The Professional (architect, engineer, etc.)
The Community (user)
Time for a re-think: “Think local, act local, impact global”

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The Situation…
…long live contextual sensitivism!
(…is this any easier to understand than “sustainability”?)
Contextual: adjective defined as relating to, dependent on (the
‘things’ around us).
Sensitivism: to be sensitive (responsive to and aware of).

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One of the most important
dimensions of in practice is
understanding the
contexts:
• physical;
• cultural;
• heritage;
• social;
• economic;
• environmental;
• microclimate;
• infrastructure;
• time;
• etc.
Dalston Area Action Plan, London
Defining “Context”:

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Importance of
Research:
Sustainable design
principles should be
established at the outset
of the design process
and should continue
through to the
construction and
commissioning of the
building.

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7 homes designed and constructed with innovation and flexibility to allow
testing of methods of construction, energy efficient design and renewable
energy systems.
Creative Energy Homes Project, Nottingham, UK

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The Creative Energy
Homes Project showcases
innovative energy efficient
homes of the future.
The project aims to
stimulate sustainable
design ideas and promote
new ways of providing
affordable,
environmentally
sustainable housing that
are innovative in their
design.
Creative Energy Homes Project, Nottingham, UK

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BASF house – 3 key design criteria
to inform the design process:
1. house had to be energy efficient
and it is designed to achieve an
annual heating load of 12.5
kWh/m2;
2. materials had to be affordable
and enable a fast construction
method requiring low-skilled
contractors.
3. house had to be designed so that
it could be easily reproduced as a
terrace or as a multi-storey
solution.
BASF House, Nottingham, UK

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A lot of the housing
stock we will be living
in at the middle of the
21st century is already
built and was built
before we became
aware of the need to
be more
environmentally aware.
In 2050, 25 million
existing UK homes will
still account for
between 70 and 90%
of the housing stock.
E-ON House (1930s house), Nottingham, UK

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Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED), London
• UK’s largest mixed use sustainable
community.
• Energy: 81% reduction in energy use for
heating, 45% reduction in electricity use
(compared to local average).
• Transport: 64% reduction in car mileage
(compared to national average).
• Water: 58% reduction in water use 72
litres/person/day (compared to local
average).
• Waste: 60% waste recycled.

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Approach to (Holistic) Design:
1. Analyse the context(s);
2. Understand the user(s);
3. Design to maximise all potential natural
resources;
4. Maximise integration of renewable resources;
5. Introduce relevant technologies;
6. Design for flexibility and adaptability;
7. Cradle to cradle approach to materials;
8. Consider construction methods;
9. Prepare building management plan;
10. Undertake life-cycle analysis and post
occupancy analysis.

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Design Tools + Computer Technologies

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Site Planning

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Thermal Design Strategies

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Ventilation Design

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DEFINING THE CONTEXTUALLY SENSITIVE
COMMUNITY...
‘The symbiotic relationship between humanity and
earth that facilitates social, economical, political,
cultural and environmental prosperity, so that
quality of life, efficiency and fairness is continually
enhanced, whilst simultaneously ensuring all forms
of life and resources on earth may be sustained for
the enjoyment and creativity of future generations.’

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SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES
EFFECTING CONTEXTUALLY
SENSITIVE COMMUNITIES?
…need for an holistic approach!

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A Sustainable
Community is well
organised and
efficient in terms of
its:
• Governance;
• Transport;
• Services;
• Environmental
factors;
• Equality;
• Economy;
• Housing; and
• Social aspects.

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KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITIES
The 4 requirements of the ‘urban system’ are the resources which provide
the building blocks and potential for different forms of land use, which
become the outputs. For the system to be sustained it requires an efficient
transport/communication network to manage the inputs and outputs. All of
which is powered by energy.
1. Resources
2. Land Use
3. Transport / Communication
4. Energy

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ANALYSING CONTEXT SENSITIVE URBANISM
Each main input can be broken down into 5 sub-issues:
1. Social
2. Economic
3. Political
4. Environmental
5. Cultural

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What Criteria can we use to Design
and Assess a Contextually Sensitive
Community?

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• An holistic measurement of environmental, social and
economic sustainability;
• A framework for collaboration on key masterplan issues.
BREEAM Communities Assessment Model

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BREEAM Communities…
Addresses global challenges through masterplanning:

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BREEAM Communities Categories
Five Categories and 40 Assessment Issues:
1. Governance
2. Social and Economic Well-being
2.1 Social Wellbeing
2.2 Local Economy
2.3 Environmental Conditions
3. Resources and Energy
4. Land Use and Ecology
5. Transport and Movement

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BREEAM Communities Assessment
Five Categories and 40 Assessment Issues each with an individual weighting:

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Masthusen (and Bo01), Malmö, Sweden
175 hectare artificial island
of Västra Hamnen (Western
Harbour) was bought by the
Municipality of Malmö in
1996, with the idea of
developing an entirely new
eco-district.
Västra Hamnen is now a
sustainable urban
development with the inner
city as its model with
density and greenness as
key words.
Bo01

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Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
The regeneration of the former
industrial area, is an important
part of Malmö’s drive for
sustainable city development.
Over the last 10 years, it has been
transformed from a polluted
industrial area to an environment-
conscious district with homes,
businesses and recreational areas
- an area for knowledge and
sustainable living.

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Malmö University opened its
campus in 1998.
European home fair Bo01
was held in 2001.
The Masthusen area will be a
central living and working
destination.
It will include 700 residential
units, 70,000 m2 of offices,
and 20,000 m2 of shops and
services.

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• Network of narrow streets and lanes designed to provide shelter from
the prevailing winds and to reflect the traditional Malmo streets.

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The Masthusen development includes the following sustainability attributes:
• mixed-use community
providing housing,
offices, retail and
education facilities;
• range of tenures and
occupational uses,
creating vibrancy and
supporting existing and
new small businesses
and restaurants.

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• sustainable building
materials;
• strong emphasis on
designing the area to be
adaptable to the impacts
of climate change;
• vehicle-free transport
solutions, with extensive
fast and safe cycle paths
that are well connected
to the rest of the City of
Malmö.

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• reduced building
energy use;
• strong focus on
urban biodiversity
providing places for
wildlife and
ecologically suitable
habitats.

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“BREEAM
Communities
provided us with an
ideal opportunity to
review how we
develop sustainable
communities in
Sweden.”
Anders Nilsson
(Architect & BREEAM Assessor)

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British Council/Newton Fund Workshop –
University of Nottingham and UII (Dec 2016)

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Why is ‘community’ important?
• Communities meet deep human needs for integration, identity, and
mutual support.
• Architects and planners want to reconstruct cities in ways that would
revive local communities. Promote social inclusion and local
participation.
• Acting responsibly, equitably and participating in community life
brings about well-being:
– ‘happiness’, ‘quality of life’, ‘life satisfaction’
– healthy (including physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health).
• Well-being is a “balance of social, economic and environmental health
in individual and community life that engenders respect from others
and the environment” (Dolan et al. 2006).

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Context Sensitive / Low Carbon Communities
• UK Government Policy defines ‘sustainable’ communities as
“places where people want to live and work, now and in the future.
They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are
sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of
life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and
offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.”
• Low-carbon communities are defined as “forms of co-operation
and collaboration that aim to reduce the carbon intensity of their
members’ lifestyles by providing amenable contexts and
mechanisms that encourage behaviour change.”

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• Located in Björkhagen;
• 10 minute walk to
subway and local
amenities;
• 15 minute journey to
city centre;
• adjacent to Nacka nature
reserve.
• It is a sustainable
community comprising:
•44 homes;
•placed in five
‘gardens’;
•and a common house.
Low Carbon Community:
Understenshöjden - Stockholm

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• Began in 1989 with an
architecture student attending a
lecture on ecological living
• Student relayed the story and
eventually it attracted
significant interest.
• All interested parties created
the Ecological Development in
Björkhagen association.
• A shortlist of potential residents
was created, these residents
forming groups.
• Potential residents set up a series of
research groups investigating issues
such as:
• Health and home (such as materials,
community functioning etc.);
• Financing;
• Sustainability (ecological measures,
renewable technologies, planning
etc);
• In summary, it was a resident driven
programme that took a bottom up
approach where the client had
extensive input.

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• the natural landscape (ecology of the habitat) was
to be disturbed as little as possible.
Prerequisite:

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• Great care taken positioning the
houses on the site so as to
minimise the damage or
upheaval of existing trees and
plants.
• Paths around the site are
permeable, that is they allow
water to pass through them:
• cuts down the need for
extensive surface drainage
commonly associated with
pavements;
• maintains the water table
whereby water naturally goes
to ground;
• surface does not flood or
require any special design flow
calculations - that is it will not
overburden any piped drainage
system.
Footprint

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• Wildlife corridors were
encouraged… fruit
trees and bushes were
planted to encourage
the integration of
wildlife such as elk and
reindeer, as well as
decreasing exposure
to the elements
through the reduction
of wind impact.
• The ‘site’ is therefore a
sanctuary for wildlife
amidst human activity.
Integration into existing
landscape

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• The 'Common House'. Used
as a central community
forum for meetings,
parties, playroom.
• It has a:
• laundry (minimises
number of washing
machines / tumble driers
purchased...also provides
drying facilities and forum
for people to meet);
• office;
• large shared kitchen for
catering;
• wood-working shop.
Community infrastructure – the ‘Common House’

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• The safe play of
children was an
integral part of the
ethos behind this
sustainable
community.
• The tree house is
overlooked by
several houses and
provides a strong
focus for child play.
Children - Play

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Throughout the project, particular
attention was paid to aesthetics:
• Glazing was a top priority with double
glazed wooden multi-pane windows
adding to the attractiveness and
quality of light entering each room
• Light penetration was optimised
through careful design of glazing area.
• Ceilings were specified at 2.7m to
provide a sense of space and make the
space feel lighter.
• No direct solar protection was
designed in. Protection is via the
deciduous trees within the natural
habitat letting sunlight in during
winter and omitting it during summer.
Aesthetics

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• Choice of materials was
exceptionally important:
• All buildings were timber
framed and well insulated
using wood cellulose allowing
good vapour permeability.
• Cellulose coupled with an
adequate ventilation strategy
in order to reduce moisture
movement through the
building fabric.
• Bathrooms are enclosed in
brick thus acting as a good
humidity barrier and
temperature regulator
(thermal mass).
Materiality

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• External wood treated with
ferrous sulphate-based
paint.
• Roofing is traditional terra-
cotta tiles.
• Interior paint treatments
chosen to ensure minimum
environmental.
• Woodwork is treated with
linseed oil-based paints.
• Floors are made of fir and
coated in either lye and soap
or oil. All wet areas are tiled.
• Materials chosen to have
minimum impact on the
environment.
Materiality

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• Each roof is
equipped with 7.5m2
of solar thermal
array for supplying
hot water.
• The community has
several heat sources
including:
• district heating
• central furnace
(biomass) heating.
• electric heating.
• solar thermal.
Solar thermal

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• Sweden extensively uses
district heating to heat
homes and other sectors.
• The large-scale housing
surrounding the site taps
into this.
• Additionally, the
construction of these large,
multi-unit housing
promotes energy efficiency
by minimising external skin
construction and quantity
of building materials.
Surrounding neighbourhood – district heating

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• Large fully enclosed storage
area.
• Separated into ‘rooms’ for:
• Recycled elements such as
paper, glass, plastics, card.
• Materials that cannot be
recycled.
• Reuse / free-cycling –
includes toys, books, games
etc.
• Organic waste is composted
in compost bins situated
close to each dwelling.
Recycling / re-use / free-
cycling

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• Car sharing
established within
community.
• 2 common cars
shared on a booking
basis.
• Very close to public
transport
infrastructure that
takes residents
direct to Stockholm.
Public transportation and
car pooling

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Importantly let’s remember to be:
…‘holistic’ in our approach;
…sensitive to our context(s); and
…remember the importance of a ‘bottom-up
approach’.

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As well as the bigger picture, let’s remember to:
“Think local, act local, impact global”
…little steps can lead to great journeys!
Thank You
Professor Tim Heath

T.H. (presentation)

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