UKGBC Material Ecosystems

Following on from rersearch for the RIBA on the Circular Neighbourhood I joined the UKGB’s Systems Change in the Built Environment programme that enabled individuals from across the built environment to collaborate to explore their role in the system and how to affect change.

The programme identified key issues and worked as six fractals to develop thinking:

‘Our Fractal delves into the fundamental physical elements essential for constructing the built environment, from their origins to the process of building. Our primary objective is to deeply contemplate, within the framework of Materials Ecosystems, the most effective ways to realize a sustainable and regenerative built environment. For us, this entails first leaving landscapes in a better state than initially encountered, working with nature, and encompassing its ecosystems, improving the socio-economic well-being of communities, and achieving a just and equitable transition, for everyone to thrive. We are committed to circular economy principles, minimizing embodied carbon and respecting where materials come from.’

The key areas of exploration for prototyping include materials leasing, localisation of materials, used materials market (no new materials), natural (biogenic) materials, what needs to be true to scale a take-back approach?’

The process is also documented in these journal posts:

Five Material Prototypes

What if you can only source locally?

Fractal Group:

Cressida Curtis

Gregor Haran

David Nichols

Sagar Sumaria

Sam Burdett

Simon Mathews

Macarena Cárdenas

Laura Baron

Big Ending Film; See an extract of how our play looked here, and hear from Juliet’s and Simon’s highlights here and here.

Diagram: Laura Baron

Juliet Bidgood - architecture / urban design
Juliet Bidgood - architecture / urban design

ARCHITECTURE / URBAN DESIGN