We are pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) Healthy Building Conference 2023. The Alliance is a non-profit organisation, with a membership of over 100 member companies and organisations, spanning the built environment sector including architects and construction contractors.
Through championing the use of sustainable building products, the organisation aims to help transform the UK’s built environment into a more healthy, low carbon one.
The event will include sessions on biophilic and human-centred design, materials toxicity, fire protection, the insurance of mass timber buildings and why buildings made with timber are good for our health. The keynote speaker will be Oliver Heath, a leading biophilic design expert and author.
The online event will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 9 February 2023. There is an early bird discount available until 31st December. You can find more information about the event and register here
Natural Design and Our Spaces
Biophilic design is based upon integrating the power of nature and natural processes into the way our buildings are designed and built. Using this concept to improve the spaces we live and work in, can include introducing more natural light, living roofs, and using bio-based building materials such as wood. This all helps connect the environment to construction and makes us think in a different way about our surroundings.
Research increasingly demonstrates that incorporating wood and other natural materials into our buildings helps provide a calming atmosphere, reduce stress, and contributes to improved mental health and wellbeing.
The use of exposed interior mass timber – especially in the education and healthcare environments – are simple contributors to a biophilic environment. Additionally, materials such as glulam, LVL and CLT offer aesthetic, structural and wider environmental benefits. The good news is that much of this timber is PEFC-certified, so built environment professionals choosing timber can be assured that it has been responsibly sourced from well-managed forests.
Image: PEFC-certified CLT was specified for the Ickburgh SEN School in Hackney. Its natural, biophilic qualities give the building a feeling of richness and warmth.
