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In terms of
achieving
global
sustainability,
time is
certainly
not on our
side, but
technology
and many
smart and
enthusiastic
minds are
European, we would need three planets
to sustain us.
These statistics are enough to
make even the most blasé amongst us
to sit up and take notice, but when we
consider that the size of this global
middle class club is in the process of
exploding, the prospect of managing
a hugely unsustainable planet rears
its head. Most of us are intuitively
aware that the global middle class
is expanding rapidly, but the actual
figures are quite astonishing. Between
140-170 million people are joining
annually, adding approximately 20%
to the current 3.2bn total by just 2020.
The prospect of the potential
consumption levels from this enlarged
group is daunting. It is therefore vital
that the way in which this section of
the world lives changes dramatically
if we are to avoid significant global
issues. While re-thinking practices
within the property and construction
worlds can only ever offer part of
the solution, it is clear that we are
contributing significantly to the
current problem, and it is incumbent
upon us to devise solutions.
However, Pooran doesn’t leave
us with challenges; he offers
demonstrable solutions in the form
of his One Planet Living concept.
Starting with the BedZED eco-village
in south London, Pooran and his team
have helped deliver schemes from
California to the Serengeti using his
guiding principles of sustainable, zero
carbon development. These include
features such as car clubs, roof-top
allotments, renewal energy, the cultural
induction of construction workers, and
self-sustaining communities.
Beyond the clear environmental
benefits Pooran points to: community
benefits (the average resident in
BedZED knows 19 neighbours by
name) and health benefits (weight
loss is encouraged through a focus on
walking and healthy eating options).
However, importantly he also cites
strong financial performance,
describing ‘latent demand’ for
sustainable products as underpinning
the price point, and driving pre-
sales / take-up rates beyond that of
conventional developments. There
is perhaps an underserved market
segment here, which has previously
been ignored due to cost issues.
With the backdrop set by Pooran,
we moved on to Andrew Waugh’s
presentation about Cross Laminated
Timber (CLT) and how his company,
Waugh Thistleton Architects
is helping to build increasingly
impressive and sizable structures
using this ecologically sound material.
CLT is a strong and durable
material made using the same
secondary grade timber that is used
in paper production. And it was this
relationship that provided one of
Andrew’s most remarkable statistics:
the amount of secondary grade
timber used to construct Waugh
Thistleton’s 121 unit Dalston Lane,
CLT built development is equal to that
used for just one day’s worth of free
newspapers handed out in London.
Perhaps someone should issue a
challenge to Messrs Osborne and
Young along these lines, as I’m sure
we could all survive without our free
paper for a day.
Other quite remarkable statistics
followed regarding decreased build
time, shallower foundations, CO2
savings etc, which will certainly
be of interest to those appraising
the financial viability of schemes.
Andrew’s passion for the subject
was evident in his detailed responses
to questions regarding supply-
chain provenance and lending/
insurance issues. However, it was
the one question that was on most
of our minds that provided possibly
the most important response –
flammability. Andrew described
how the slow burn-rates, the
predictable behaviour of a CLT fire,
and the favourable fire fail point
of a CLT built structure compared
with steel and concrete equivalents,
combine to make building in CLT an
incredibly safe option. His response
comprehensively put to bed any
lingering worries a number of the
audience would no doubt have had
regarding this issue.
The growth in using CLT as a
construction material appears rapid,
with mainstream adoption of this
practice sure to accelerate once more
schemes of this nature are built out
and analysed. This will allow us to
further understand the benefits from
both an environmental and occupier
perspective. Of equal importance we
can also then clearly establish how
the latent demand for ethical and
healthy buildings will fuel demand,
whilst saving cost.
In summary, what was clear from
the whole event is that in terms of
achieving global sustainability, time
is certainly not on our side, but
technology and many smart and
enthusiastic minds are.
Andrew Waugh at The Future of Living
Pupils at Credo High School in California, which is working towards becoming the world’s
first One Planet School.
Pooran Desai at The Future of Living
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
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FUTURE OF LIVING