Bryden Wood's kit-of-parts for lab design.
Published by RIBA Books.To purchase this book, visit.Engineered timbers such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glued laminated timber (glulam) are made from small pieces of wood glued together, without knots or other imperfections, resulting in a better and more reliable product than natural timber.
These products have been available for decades but have gained popularity in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like steel and concrete.. At Bryden Wood, we’re continually exploring the use of sustainable materials and are committed to the delivery of ‘honest’ buildings where all technical challenges are well-known, and thoroughly analysed and addressed to avoid unwanted architectural or environmental impacts in design and operation.. Our design approach supports construction systems where each component is designed for purpose, without the need for additional redundant materials that generate unnecessary waste or additional embodied carbon.Engineered timber fits this approach as it can perform as a structural element as well as an architectural finish.Engineered timber is a sustainable product due to its low carbon footprint.
It’s also lightweight, strong, stable, easy to handle, suitable for prefabrication, has thermal properties, as well as great aesthetic appeal..Extract of data published by Price and Myers for the embodied carbon of superstructures in projects with 2 to 10 storeys and excluding basements.. Today, engineered timber is a suitable solution to reduce embodied carbon in buildings but this may change in the future once the construction industry moves towards new materials as an alternative to standard concrete and steel.. Constructing with timber presents its own technical challenges, but using a science-based approach to find the best solution means we can deliver not just an honest building but a resilient, high-quality asset.. End of life global warming impact.
Although timber captures carbon, if left to rot naturally in an open-air landfill, it releases the stored carbon as well as methane, which has a greater global warming impact than CO2.
If incinerated, it generates energy and does not release methane but still releases the stored carbon along with other pollutants.The price of land, especially in cities like London, has pushed developers to build deeper and taller buildings without much space for green infrastructure.
Deep plan buildings do not prioritise design for wellbeing, as they reduce daylight availability and visual connection to the outdoors, and also limit the possibility of opening windows, making them unsuitable for creating healthy indoor environments.Moving office hubs to the urban periphery, where prices and density are lower, can create an opportunity for healthy architecture, as narrow-plate spaces provide better and healthier environmental conditions.
Lower land prices also facilitate the development of open green spaces between buildings, bringing the added benefits of biophilic design.. Lower occupancy densities and the adoption of flexible working hours also mean new spatial requirements; reducing individually assigned spaces, more hot desking and creating flexible office spaces with adaptable layouts.These adaptations will require innovative HVAC design which can address changes in local environments with suitable sensors and control systems..
(Editor: Powerful Calendars)