Episide 30. Retrofit expert Bob Prewett describes how a client’s brief for an ‘extreme retrofit’ in 2008 gave him ‘something bigger than architecture to think about’. Divided between London and Wells, the ten-strong Prewett Bizley Architects has a portfolio of completed retrofit projects that achieve upwards of 70% energy savings and regularly monitors its buildings to understand how they operate over time.
Although a founder member of the Passivhaus Trust, Bob observes that ‘we rarely push all the way to Passivhaus which is a bit strong for many heritage buildings’. Self-taught when retrofit resources, training and exemplar projects were scant, Bob explains the many ways architects can upskill today.
Thamesmead Waterfront and Home of 2030, two competitions wins where ‘landscape is the glue’
Landscape architect Jo Gibbons on why trees matter, urban forestry and greening our cities
Barnabas Calder revisits architectural history through the lens of energy and climate
Guy Shrubsole on rewilding Britain and greening our cities
Steve Webb & Wilf Meynell: ‘We’re brainwashed into steel and concrete mode’
Harry Paticas on empowering communities through the low-carbon retrofit of primary schools
Owen Hatherley on Modernism + Will Hurst explains RetroFirst (bonus episode)
Anna Heringer: 'You can build with clay in a very modern way'
Sarah Wigglesworth: 'Sustainable architecture is fantastically creative'
Haworth Tompkins' Diana Dina: 'We want to share ideas with other practices'
Sofie Pelsmakers: 'Sustainable architecture is "architecture on steroids" – it needs to perform'
Annalie Riches: 'We need more projects that show sustainable design isn't ugly'
Maria Smith: 'It's depressing how much architects are the problem'
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