Verical Gardens - Patrick Blanc :   Musée du Quai Branly  in Paris

Something a little different thats been around for a few years, but I’ve only just found myself. These Vertical landscapes for internal and external use,  are both stable and weatherproof. Two layers of felt are attached to plastic sheeting (which also acts as a root barrier), which is in turn attached to a metal framework providing an airspace between the wall and the plant layer. The felt layer retains water fed from a drip irrigation system and provides a good micro-environment for plants. A gutter at the bottom collects any runoff.

These fully functional ‘dummy’ chimneys are being used on Court Barton, Clifford.  The Client and Contractor wanted to avoid building free stand masonry stacks to carry chimneys in the timber frame houses.  One of the solutions put forward and accepted was the combination of offsite pre-manufactured chimneys and a Class 1 Pujoulat flue. The chimney fabricator collects facing material samples from site, then cuts slips and fixes these to the main GRP body.  These are then lifted into place and dressed with leadwork to hide the join.

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!

[Synopsis of RNID speaker Mr Simon Robinsons lecture]

Access to healthcare is a key right for all people. RNID’s concern is that the NHS is not ensuring comprehensive access for all deaf people. The focus was on two main issues:

Why you need to ensure accessible healthcare and the simple but effective ways that NHS organisations meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Key points where:

• Lack of comprehensive accessibility to many NHS organisations, even newly built hospitals. 9 million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, that’s 1 in 7 of the population.
• This has serious consequences for you and for the safety of your patients.
• If you are not meeting your obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (see notes at bottom), you run the risk of litigation (including clinical negligence claims) and bad publicity.
• You need to do something about this now. However, although you should be concerned, you should not be scared. You can make a number of simple adjustments to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing people receive an equal service.

The presentation drew on RNID’s report: A Simple Cure (2004) which estimates that the healthcare services failing to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people, has costs the NHS £20m every year.

This lecture focused on the new Disability Equality Duty. Where as the DDA can only be used after the (discrimination) event. The DED is pre-emptive and intends to tackle institutional discrimintion.

This was mainly focused on the specific needs of Deaf people and asks us as designers to look at the needs of deaf people. less in a simple “put a hearing loop in.” as the DDA asks to look at others needs beyond “put a ramp in!”.

A usefull amount of information can be found at the RNID site, and courses are available at: www.dotheduty.co.uk