Architecture as social and environmental activism

Richard Hyams, Founder and Director of astudio, espouses the importance of future-proofing our built environment and highlights how people and the planet can benefit from new approaches to architecture.

As England is in another national lockdown, initiatives that prioritise wellbeing, community and sustainability are high on the agenda for urban planners looking ahead in 2021. Our built environment reflects our values as a society — and in that sense, the design, quality, and distribution of our buildings are more than aesthetic considerations, but social and even political ones too.

Architecture that reflects a social and environmental conscience will help build a better future for our communities and our planet. Innovative construction methods, for instance, will better equip school buildings to provide for our younger generations, while public realm design projects will benefit from communities’ collaboration. Moreover, new approaches to space will improve access to housing, and cutting-edge technologies will breathe sustainability into our built environment.

Building better education

Schools have had to adapt to a fluctuating situation throughout the pandemic, and with the latest lockdown seeing doors close, governing bodies are exploring new ways to evolve estates. Modular construction is one solution being explored to deliver timely long-term solutions to curriculum disruption

Embracing modular construction is able to make schools more resilient against future closures, for example, as temporary classrooms can be erected quickly to keep capacity high and disruption low. astudio’s modular building programme saves more than 75% of building time by delivering prefabricated structures directly to site. Moreover, these structures can then be disassembled and relocated, enabling local authorities to adopt a flexible approach to varying demand.

Furthermore, factory construction of modular buildings is more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly than traditional processes through reduction of waste. A factory setting, where supply chains can be more closely controlled, facilitates easier procurement of sustainable materials. Moreover, reducing building time by three quarters minimises air and noise pollution onsite, protecting the health of pupils and the planet.

Read the full article here: International Perspective | Architecture as social and environmental activism - labm (labmonline.co.uk)