Peter's summary of Bennetts' position in sustainable design published in Australian Architecture magazine

16.01.2020

An insightful overview of our approach to sustainable architecture by director Peter Fisher has been published in the magazine of the Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA). Climate change is real and as a practice in the built environment sector, we want to share how we tie our environmental strategies to our projects as we move forward. Titled 'Sustainable architecture in practice: A UK perspective', Peter has shared his view on sustainability within architecture in the UK and how this interweaves with Bennetts Associates' past and present projects:

'Far from sustainability being a restriction on good architecture we think quite the opposite – sustainable architecture and good architecture are synonymous. Buildings that relate to their ambient climate and readily available resources are rooted in their locality in a profound way that isn’t simply a sentimental vernacular... Viewing sustainability as largely a technological issue reduces it to being something that is applied to architecture rather than something that is at the core of what architecture is. If the passive form of a building is rooted in human comfort within the prevailing ambient climate, then we are less likely to use mechanical systems.'

The passive strategy applied in our commercial office projects dating back in the 1990s and 2000s is still applicable in the buildings we create today. Our project Five Pancras Square at Kings Cross had the highest BREEAM rating in the world on completion and Facebook’s new London HQ is poised to be a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ office topped with verdant rooftop gardens.

'Recently we have started work on a major commercial project that is using Science Based Targets to explore what net zero carbon for both operational and embodied impacts will mean...Designing for sustainability continues to oblige the architect to pursue complete integration of space, structure, fabric and services. Not only do such buildings have more integrity and lower environmental footprints, but – importantly – we think it simply makes for better architecture.'

The release of this magazine article comes at a period where the destruction by the Australian bushfires has been prevalent in international news. To receive as much support as possible, we've linked to several charities below who are welcoming donations in aid of these devastating bushfires.

Red Cross Australia
Wildlife Victoria
Adelaide Koala Rescue