GUEST BLOG: Sustainable Design – Looking Towards the Future

Today we are featuring a guest blog from Lynda Smith of Denovo Design, an architectural practice based in Liverpool.

Here at Denovo design we have had an ongoing commitment to sustainable design over a number of years, and so were thrilled when in April 2012 this was formally endorsed with an NQA of ‘Sustainability Assessed’ accreditation.

 We view sustainability in its widest sense, with the three main drivers, Planet; People and Prosperity being integral to our design process.  Future-proofing the build by specification of durable and environmentally friendly products and technologies, along with interaction at all stages with a host of Stakeholders, before, during and after the build process is, therefore, crucial.

 Indeed, development of good partnerships is the very essence of sustainable design, and helps to contribute to the positive transferability of not only the environmental products, but also best practice in terms of neighbourhood in the short term, and more importantly in the long term - strengthening community backbone by encouraging social interaction.

 At our recently completed affordable housing project at Halton View for Halton Housing Trust, collaboration began even before inception with local resident and school children, and with families and Occupational Therapists, who advised on the specification of the bespoke bungalows with specialist disabled provision. 

 Such relationships are critical to the evolution of the design and to maximize its lasting effectiveness. At the end of the day, architecture is about people.

 We were therefore delighted to have an opportunity to work again on a social housing project with Mobilane, fellow like-minded professionals, sustainable champions, and suppliers of green ivy screens and living walls.

 Landscaping and ‘greening up’ of the development was a key element of the design concept, providing an uplifting aesthetic, beneficial to social health, and also providing essential ecological habitat. A first for Denovo was also the creation of a communal allotment to be managed by local school children, creating the opportunity for them to learn about healthy living and eating from an early age.

 It was fitting that a development with such environmental credentials should be showcased with a sizeable 180cm high green ivy wall, which, as well as acting as an attractive anti-vandal boundary for the two bespoke bungalows, spectacularly spans the main access to the site, making a strong environmental statement to residents and visitors alike.

 The ivy, as well as being low maintenance is also effective in absorbing harmful microscopic particles generated by vehicular traffic, and is therefore also valuable in terms of helping to combat pollution, especially in urban areas.

 The green screens, therefore, tick all the boxes ecologically, environmentally and sustainably, and contribute towards the points for the 'Code for Sustainable Homes'.

 It seems there can be no other way but onwards and upwards.....and, of course in growth terms ... outwards!

Denovo Design Limited, 89 Wood Street. Liverpool, L1 4NU   T: 0151 708 4999   F:  0151 708 5335
Follow Denovo on Twitter @DenovoDL

'The Green Organisation Built Environment and Architectural Heritage' Award-Winning Practice 2006-2012

Radisson Blu goes green!

When Radisson Blu opened its £22 million luxury 218-bedroom hotel at East Midlands Airport, it was keen to have some eye-catching and innovative features.  To help achieve this, the hotel became the first building in the country to feature a Mobilane LivePanel Indoor system, which they installed in their reception area.

The attractive living wall has helped the building achieve the highest ever BREEAM sustainability rating for a commercial hotel in the UK. BREEAM evaluations consider a whole host of desired sustainable features and take into account not only energy-saving factors but also look at the interior environment.  By installing the LivePanel Indoor system in the reception area, not only is the hotel ticking all the right boxes for the assessment criteria but it has also introduced a beautiful talking point that makes it stand out from the crowd.

The panel used by Radisson Blu is 10sqm and contains a variety of plants which were grown off-site and delivered ready for installation. The aesthetically pleasing centrepiece of the hotel reception took just one day to install and the only work needed prior to its installation was the fitting of some growing lights.  Among the many advantages of the wall is that it has its own integrated irrigation system and is self-contained, cutting out the need for any damp proofing behind the system.  The panel contains a specially developed substrate which helps the plants to establish themselves and thrive. The irrigation system is powered by a standard 240v supply and the wall requires minimal maintenance. Any work that is required is done by Hedera Screens, which installed it.

We have been given some great feedback from the hotel on the views that staff and guests have had about the living wall, all of which has been positive.  Our hope is that the LivePanel Indoor system will fire the imaginations of more interior designers and architects, who will be inspired to incorporate one into their latest project designs, whether offices, call centres, health centres, gyms, retail or business centres. Their potential application is immense.

LivePanel Living Wall features in Waitrose Greenest Store

When Waitrose opened its Bracknell store at the end of last year it was announced as their greenest yet.  It is a remarkable example of how sustainable and environmental design is truly at the heart of all new developments.  A key feature at this store is one of our beautiful LivePanel Living Walls which, at 49 square metres, is hard to miss when you arrive to do your shopping.

It truly is an array of colour.  The plants chosen to feature in this wall are from a large variety of colourful and variegated plants to ensure that it remains an attractive feature all year round.  Our plants were specially grown off site and delivered ready for the installation so that all in all it took our contractors, Hedera Screens, only 3 days to install on site.

The beauty of our LivePanels is not just in there aesthetic value it is also in that they are extremely flexible in  design and offer extensive environmental benefits.   In terms of scale and size there really are no boundaries and we can create bespoke designs to suit the topography and weather conditions of each site.  We can even build in company logos, choose specific colours and ensure the wall stays green through the winter months.

Historically, there have been issues involved with planting and maintaining living walls however the design and systems we use overcome any failure problems.  Put simply, we use a modular construction system meaning that the panes can be easily adjusted to fit any space.  The sections have a specially developed substrate which is designed to enable the plants to easily establish themselves and thrive.  There is an integrated automated irrigation system which provides the plants with essential water and nutrients to ensure that they are kept in the best condition and mitigates against the human error of forgetting to water them!   The panels are installed onto the face of the building and secured by an aluminium frame. 

One of the most advantageous benefits about our LivePanel system is that it is extremely low maintenance leaving it a hassle free addition to help enhance the appearance of buildings.