AFTER WORKING FROM HOME FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE QUESTION OF RETURNING TO THE OFFICE PROVOKES A MIXED RESPONSE.
As more people have the choice of whether they commute to the office or not, the question of how the building itself performs, both as a flexible, social and collaborative workspace and as a safe, healthy environment, becomes paramount.
Moreover, with the climate crisis firmly on business owners’ minds, the need to reduce carbon emissions, through material choices, energy sources and construction methods, is climbing up the agenda.
A growing number of developers, structural engineers and architects are focusing on creating low carbon, healthy buildings that use structural timber at their core.
One such example is 6 Orsman Road in Hackney. Designed by Waugh Thistleton for Storey with sustainability and low carbon emissions in mind, the building was constructed with a prefabricated cross laminated timber (CLT) and steel frame that can be fully dismantled and re-used at the end of its life.
By using pre-cut CLT panels for the core and floor slabs rather than a concrete build of the same design, the embodied carbon for the build was reduced by more than 80%.
Every element of the building was designed to improve occupant wellbeing, encompassing the principles of biophilic design and using natural materials, daylight and plants to create a calm environment which also boosts wellbeing and productivity.
A multi-functional space breathes new life into old buildings
With the aim of creating a low carbon workspace, developer General Projects combined old and new to create Technique from the extension and refurbishment of two historic buildings. Using CLT to add additional floors, the proportions are designed to be generous and light-filled throughout.
Moreover, the ground floor space is multi-functional and will be used for performances and events by the wider creative community, breathing more life into the building out of office hours. Calculations show that by choosing CLT over steel or concrete for the additional structure resulted in a reduction of 43% in carbon emissions in the building’s construction.
Inviting the office worker back