Block 11 : Progress Image No 1 : 11 June 2004

Ochre Yards is the site of the former Greenfields Railway Works overlooking the Tyne.  When complete the site will accomodate 11 apartments blocks by P + HS Architects for Bellway Homes and a separate commercial development by Faulkner Browns. 

Block 11 is the third block to be constructed and, at 180 meteres long, screens the site from railway lines at the rear.  111 apartments are accomodated, which are reached via open decks at the rear served from three towers. 

The structure comprises a reinforced concrete podium, built over a ground floor carpark, which supports 3 and 5.5 storey timber frame assemblies above. 

The image is of the timber frame under construction to the east tower and infill block.

 (There are 7 more images below; apologies that they are out of order - I’ll get it right next time.)

Block 11 : Progress Image No 7 : 10 December 2004

External finishes comprising render/ brickwork/ cadding sheets/ polished blockwork; east tower complete.

Block 11 : Progress Image No 9 : Completed Building in Context
View west along boulevard – Block 11 on the left facing block 5 under construction.

Block 11 : Progress Image No 8 : Detail of Completed Building
The central tower with a polished blockwork plinth and render above; each tower is coloured differently.  The horizontal movement joints in the render are to allow for settlement of the timber frame.  The balconies are constructed in steel to comply with NHBC requirements and had to be supported on an independant frame tied back to the timber frame only for lateral restraint (because the timber frame settles and the steel frame doesn’t).

Block 11 : Progress Image No 6 : 25 October 2004
Looking west towards the central and west towers.  The timber frame is complete and the external finishes are underway.

Block 11 : Progress Image No 4 : 21 July 2004
View of the central tower.  The timber frame is completed to the east and is progressing west.

Block 11 : Progress Image No 3 : 21 July 2004
View east showing the completed timber frame to the east tower and infill block.

Block 11 : Progress Image No 2 : 11 June 2004
View west showing timber frame assembly to the west tower and infill block.

GREEN GRANTS FOR HOMES

Funding to subsidise domestic installation of renewables has failed to meet demand, leading the government to divert cash set aside for other programmes.The DTI set up the Low Carbon Buildings programme to replace its Clear Skies programme. The programme allocated £80m over the next three years to boost the use of technologies such as solar and wind power. However, the £3.5m allocated for homes over the 2006-07 financial year was fully allocated within just five months.

BIOMASS

The greatest CO₂ saving is from CHP fuelled by biomass
This second part of the AJ renewables series explores biomass and combined heat and power (CHP). Today, CHP is typically gas-fired, while a biomass boiler usually generates just heat, but there may be an overlap in multi-fuel projects and also in the future we may see biomass-fired CHP, operating at a larger scale with the heat going to district heating. So looking at them together now seems sensible.

Low and zero-carbon technologies, such as CHP, and renewable energy sources, such as biomass fuels, will increasingly be used to improve building performance beyond the current Building Regulations.

Architects Journal. 16 November (Pg. 38-40)

Ground Source Heat Pumps

The third part of the AJ renewables series looks at ground-source heat-pump (GSHP) systems and their rising popularity.  The rapid increase in the use of ground-source energy for building heating and cooling systems in the UK is a relatively recent phenomenon; however, there are more than 900,000 installations in the US and 500,000 on the continent.

The fuel efficiency of a GSHP system in heating mode can be 50-70% higher than the most efficient gas boiler and cooling efficiency can be 20-40% greater than alternative air-cooled technologies. This produces corresponding year-round carbon emission reductions and accounts for the current intense interest in GSHP systems.

Installation costs tend to be higher than with more conventional systems, hence the historic market resistance to the technology, but the value equation has recently shifted considerably as legislators have moved to target CO₂ reduction.

Article looking, in depth, at this method of achieving a reduction in CO₂ generation.
Architects Journal. 23 November (Pg. 44-46) 
 

CIBSE green guide
‘TM38: Renewable energy sources for buildings’, gives guidance to developers, planners, designers and building owners to enable them to consider integrated renewable energy systems at this early stage. The guidance helps to identify the most appropriate low or zero carbon (LZC) energy solutions for buildings and/or developments based on users requirements.

TM38: Renewable energy sources for buildings. CIBSE, 2006. http:///www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=publications.view&PubID=348&S1=y&L1=0&L2=0

Plot 4 ,  Court Barton Clifford: 

The first of the timber frames for the four new plots at Court Barton, Clifford is up and still standing.

The scheme comprises four new build residential plots, two barn conversions / extensions and the complete remodeling of the existing Court Barton house.  All set within 1.2 hectares of conservation area, complete with TPO trees, bat mitigation and flood plain

Following the challenges of the site conditions and restrictions imposed by the Environment agency, a system of greywater recycle tanks have been introduce, combined with  surface ditches to take any overspill. The Client is also currently looking into the prospect of Heat reclamation to feed the under floor heating.

The Developer is Lewcombe properties (Clifford) Ltd, who are also currently developing the Bridge water development in Holbeck, Which when complete will be the tallest skyscraper in Leeds, standing at 32 storeys. 

The four timber frame plots have provided plenty of challenges in adapting traditional stone work details, with a more contemporary and fast track construction method. This has led to the introduction of stone clad ‘dummy’ chimneys, capable of taking Class 1 flues,  GRC coping details over the non-loading bearing timber frame gable ends, not to mention the conflict between basic radon protection and the buildings integral breather membrane.

All four plots are due for completion in July 2007 and do come in other colours apart from blue!

• Let’s talk about some buildings we like
• Venice house, Paris social housing, Paris art gallery
• Do buildings need to look like their function?
• Sonia, Steve – Design review and technical review
• CABE design statement as the format – good way to present schemes
• Technical design review
•  
• Walkergate
•  
• Timetable
• Financial close July 2007 – no steel frame designed
• Project team structure
• Review process – CABE
• Site background
• What was the purpose of the Aedas PSC – did it work?
• Non-institutional domestic feel – up to 35 years there
• Challenged space standards – esp bedrooms
• Basic strategy – get it right first then deal with detail
• Look at the site and listen to the planners [trees]
• Fire strategy
• Failure to understand drawings – codebook not enough – use 3D sketchup?
• Although different colours by department, all clinical whbs same colour throughout
• Early sign up to design by client
• Early sign up to materials by contractor
• Colour as wayfinding
• Audit of design – cost penalty if the building didn’t perform within defined limits
• Use of natural light aids healing, “suncool” glass, overheating etc
• Flexibility – steel frame and metal stuff – sound?
• [look at piling rig]
• External envelope mad up of different systems
• Roof not resolved – better design?
• [anti-lig design guide]

• Design goes off-grid – why cranked? Addresses road side and easterly light, but most beds face west
• New part L – lots of external wall etc? SBEM done – won’t meet Part M with conventional boilers, but will with boimass boilers – otherwise more solar thermal on roofs and walls
• Alternative construction – talking to Yorkon and others
• How do you clean high level windows?
• How do you maintain some high-level facades?
• Height for access/safety – off-set double pitch helps and maintains domestic appearance
• Mono-pitch – more emphasis on road side
• Cedum roof – within pitch constraints – reduces water run-off
• Render to gables etc – prevents completion of lower roof
• UPVC v aluminium
• Steel frame needed for traditional construction
• Timber frame – not considered
• Heating – concrete slab with heating in waffles –Thermocast?
• Underfloor – not flexible enough and not enough user control
• Modular – will the design change? No
• Circulation? About 38%
• Service walkways? How do you get around the corners? Safe egress?
• Basements – why not?

As part of our commitment to ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems, we are monitoring the progress of the Significant Environmental Aspects that are listed within the EMS booklet. By way of an update, I would like to identify the actions that are currently taking place and the progress being made: 

Sustainable Building Design - By far the most important aspect for us and where we can make the biggest impact! This is an element that ties in the Vision and Strategy of the Company and is being overseen by Chris Dennis. A workgroup is being formed and lead by Cath Kidd, to ensure that environmental issues are at the forefront of our designs.

Use of Electricity - Electricity use is being monitored across both Offices. I will be comparing the meter readings, on a 6 monthly basis, with last years readings. We all need to maintain our discipline and ensure that all electrical items are switched off when not being used.

Use of Gas - Gas use is being monitored within the Leeds Office. A reduction can be made by locally monitoring the heating controls on individual radiators. It is up to you and your colleagues to be sensible and agree a suitable radiator heat output. 

Use of Oil - Oil use is being monitored within the Stokesley Office. A reduction can be made by locally monitoring the heating controls on individual radiators. It is up to you and your colleagues to be sensible and agree a suitable radiator heat output. 

Use of Cars - The challenge is to reduce company mileage by 10% over the next two years. Please consider your next car journey; is it necessary? can I use the Train? can I cover a number of sites visits/meetings in one journey? Mileage should be monitored and reduced, but without any detrimental effect to our projects. 

Use of Paper / Recycling - The idea of a paperless office is not an unfamiliar concept. However, it is accepted that, at present, this is not feasible, but we can do more to reduce the amount of paper we use. Please give careful thought before printing. Also, please use the Planning Portal, this omits the need for submitting paper copies. With respect to paper recycling - the Leeds Office have a good recycling system and the Stokesley Office are currently reviewing their procedures.