Existing buildings are the largest depositories of embodied energy - demolition and re-construction should only ever be considered as a last resort. Instead, emphasis needs to be placed on the careful and creative adaptation of existing buildings to ensure longevity.

 

Until recently the construction industry’s sustainability focus has been on reducing the energy consumption of buildings themselves rather than the consumption of the industry as a whole. Building Regulations along with rating standards such as BREEAM and LEED have encouraged and enforced an increase to the performance of building fabrics and the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. These changes have reduced the emissions relating to the running of buildings but problems associated with emissions embodied in the construction of buildings remain.

 

Retrofit is a key element of ensuring our current building stock is future proof whilst saving the embodied carbon from material wasted in demolition and used in new build. 

 

As a result we specialise in the retrofit and refurbishment of existing commercial and domestic buildings to meet modern standards. We do this by the following principles:

1. Celebrate the 'as found'

2. Strategic Intervention
3. Whole Life Cycle Design

4. Operational energy consideration