The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
In this episode, Bellew explains that post-pandemic ventilation rates in commercial offices have tripled with radiant solutions replacing blown air systems and how this can be done while still controlling energy use. He notes that supply chains have pivoted ‘eye-wateringly quickly’ to drive carbon down, observing that 70 per cent of design team meetings are now focused on this issue.
He also describes the various interpretations of sustainability in different global markets, explaining the enormous challenge of switching away from fossil fuels to electric systems without ‘cluttering buildings with grey boxes hanging outside’. He favours urban greening, citing Singapore’s achievements.
Bellew remains an advocate of thermal mass to attenuate diurnal and nocturnal temperature swings. While he acknowledges that lightweight buildings can achieve similar energy performance, he observes that comfort may be better in a thermally massive one. If he were to design his own home, he would opt for a well-insulated thermally massive Passivhaus design, with a firm eye on embodied carbon.
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About Patrick Bellew
Patrick trained as a building services engineer at Bath University under Ted Happold alongside architecture and structural engineering students. In 1990, he founded environmental engineering consultancy Atelier Ten, which now has 11 offices around the world. Key projects include Google London at King’s Cross, Kroon Hall at Yale University, and Gardens by the Bay and Jewel Changi Airport, both in Singapore. Atelier Ten joined the Surbana Jurong Group in 2020.
Patrick was one of the founding members of the UK Green Building Council where he was a trustee until 2017. He has taught at Yale University School of Architecture since 2000.
Show notes: Projects and resources mentioned in this episode
NEW: Heatherwick Studio's updated plans for Google's King's Cross HQ
WWF by Hopkins. Photography by Morley von Sternberg
In association with
Climate Champions is produced in association with ACAN, the Architects’ Climate Action Network
Podcast produced and edited by Simon Aldous
Music: Edmilson do Pífano, Forró de dois Amigos. Interpretation: Felipe Tanaka e banda Balaio de Baião