2016 Sustainable Building Awards Build 27 AS work primarily in the housing, domestic and commercial sectors, and the firm’s work is characterised by a strong emphasis on well designed, energy efficient and sustainable buildings. As the housing and architectural markets continue to turn their focus towards sustainability, Nigel outlines how his firm aims to integrate it into their projects. “Sustainability for us is about making our buildings, and lifestyles, more comfortable, while using less energy. Done well sustainable design can generate savings in both construction and running costs. “As a firm we have the experience and knowledge to help our clients to make informed decisions about design, construction methods, materials, and energy consumption, so that they can have the building that they want, that works well, and that looks good.” Currently the firm have a wide range of projects based in the UK, France, and Ireland, ranging from a six-star Code for Sustainable Homes housing project and barn conversions, to small extensions. MAS provide a full range of the architectural services needed for its clients to transform their initial ideas into a finished building, as Nigel is eager to emphasise. “Good Architecture should fulfil a need, work well, and look good. Here at MAS, we have the experience and the skills to recognise when a building is working well spatially, to design a building so that the details simultaneously work well and look good”. “These skills include communicating well with the clients and the contractors, and are supported by study and objective information. For instance, the detailed computer aided thermal analysis we provide that enables us to make cost- effective decisions to match our client’s budgets.” Clive Place was one of the firm’s recently completely projects which highlights the firm’s dedication to supporting its clients in creating sustainable outcomes which will provide long term benefits. “The refurbishment of Clive Place has been a great success. The house was in poor condition when purchased with a very old and inefficient gas boiler, clock timer controls, micro bore distribution pipes running through the un-insulated attic, and single panel radiators. The old Aluminium double glazed window units had all failed and were incredibly leaky, and there were air bricks everywhere open to the cavity, which had no insulation. “One key challenge we faced was that there is very little financial assistance available to make the improvements that are required to meet the CO2 reductions targets to which the UK Government is committed and nearly all the assessment methodologies that apply to existing domestic property require renewable energy to be produced on site if it is to be counted as zero carbon”. “It is very difficult to produce significant amounts of renewable energy in urban locations, and lowering the building energy load to match the energy available requires extensive and very expensive modifications to the building”. “Despite these challenges, I deliberately set out to reduce the heat load as effectively as I could with available grants, for wall and loft insulation, (Wales only), and what are now fairly conventional levels of insulation. By paying close attention to infiltration, (cutting out the draughts), installing a very efficient heat source, distribution system, and controls, and by allowing imported renewable energy, (with REGO certificates), we have arguably achieved the desired zero CO2 standard. This is a big achievement considering the age of the house and the scale of the project in proportion to its budget.” Looking to the future, Nigel outlines his predictions for the UK architecture and construction markets and how this will affect both his firm and its clients. “The present Governmental legislative void with regard to Energy Policy, Planning, and Housing policy, will result in a poorer built environment and will have detrimental social and economic consequences”. “Assessment methodologies such as the CfSH were very useful tools to promote good design if used well. I hope to see this, or something similar, revived, and I hope to see the return of good Planning for sustainable communities as defined in PPS1, as these will help us and our clients to provide good architecture.” In his final comment, Nigel discusses the future of his firm, and his keen interest in undertaking larger projects in order to integrate more sustainable services into their work. “Moving forward, I hope that the future holds some larger projects, with greater variety, similarly perfectly proportioned and with a strong sustainability emphasis. The Boathouse project is Cwmtydu on the Ceredigion coast has had a long gestation period and nicely satisfies our definition of good architecture, and we look forward to seeing it through to completion.” Eco-Architectural Design Practice of the Year – Wales & Best UK Eco-Residential Project 2016: Clive Place MAS Architectural Design is a small architectural practise based in Penarth which works on a variety of sustainable projects. We invited Nigel Humphrey to talk us through what sustainability means to his firm and how it works to achieve it through its projects. M AR160005 Company: MAS Architectural Design Name: Nigel Humphrey Email:
[email protected] Web Address: www.mas.eu.com Address: 51 Clive Place, Penarth, CF64 1AX Telephone: 02920709565 MAS Architectural Design