LSI Architects wins RICS Innovation Award 2007 for Broads Authority Sustainability Guide
News release from LSI Architects
LSI Architects’ Sustainability Design Guide for the Broads Authority was announced an RICS Award Winner in the regional heat of the RICS Awards 2007 last Thursday, 17 May at an awards ceremony at Ickworth House in Suffolk. Regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the built and natural environment, the RICS Awards recognise excellence, value for money and a commitment to sustainability.
Although the RICS Awards are for built environment ‘projects’, LSI Architects still entered the Sustainability Guide under the ‘Sustainability’ category as the Guide would have an important impact upon the design of future buildings. Hoping that the Guide would capture the imagination of the judges, the practice submitted the Guide.
The panel was so impressed with LSI Architects’ submission for the Sustainability category, they created a new ‘Innovation Award’ specifically for the Broads Authority Sustainability Design Guide. It is hoped that judges will review the entry from the Broads Authority for the international final of the RICS Awards for the elements of special innovation, worthy of national recognition.
The Broads Authority commissioned the Sustainability Guide to help property owners and developers in making planning applications to meet the requirements for sustainability. It is so successful that other National Parks may well use the guide. Yet another example of the East of England leading the way for innovative thinking.
Trevor Price, Principal Member of LSI Architects commented: “Environmental Sustainable Design is a complex, technical subject that covers a range of issues such as land use, restriction of CO2 emissions and pollution, minimising waste and transportation, water efficiency, biodiversity, and the promotion of user health and well-being. These issues affect us all, and with the advent of global warming, this subject is hugely important. LSI Architects gained the commission for a Sustainability Guide for the Broads Authority because of our knowledge and expertise on this subject. A major objective of the Guide is that it can be read by lay people as well as design and construction professionals.”
Mr Price concluded: “The Guide covers all aspects of Sustainable Design, and was developed through research (funded by the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund) and consultation with key stakeholders from The Broads Authority. The Guide is tailor made for the Broads Authority, relating to the topography, location and needs of The Broads. It is therefore written and graphically designed to be clear and easily understood. The Guide is incorporated in a DVD case, in a brochure form, and on a CD. The CD enables the Guide to be read in A4 format, and printed if necessary. As a package the Guide is a precious, accessible source of reference, which is intended to bring about an essential cultural change in the whole Building Design Process. We believe the Guide is unique, innovative, and should continue to make a positive contribution to the environment and the community in The Broads for many years to come. “
Gillian Morgan, Broads Authority Director of Planning and Strategy, said: “The Broads is an unrivalled, naturally functioning wetland ecosystem of international natural and cultural importance. The risk of flooding is likely to increase in the light of climate change, sea-level rise and the gradual sinking of Eastern England. Despite the droughts we experience, our climate has become unpredictable and developers cannot ignore the risks of flooding and climate change. Buildings need to be designed with this in mind.”
Gillian Morgan continued:”The Broads Authority Sustainability Guide aims to suggest positive ways in which the built environment can compliment the sustainable balance of the local environment. It also aims to educate, informally through the media, and formally through traditional building workshops. It has successfully raised awareness in Norfolk and we intend to spread the message to the rest of the UK. It is vital that we raise awareness not just in the local community but in the entire construction industry. This includes building procurers, contractors and architects. Integration with local schools and their curricula means that sustainability will be seen as a priority by the next generation. The Broads Authority, in association with LSI Architects, is eager to promote this Guide to all sectors of the community.”
RICS East of England Operations Director, David Potter commented: “The quality of entries from the East of England is very high this year, and they celebrate the diversity of built environment schemes in the region. The winning schemes demonstrate excellence within their specific category, and that their projects have made a positive contribution to people’s lives. The quality of the 2007 entries reaffirms the RICS Awards as the leading awards programme in its field.”
The Guide’s objectives are both practical and ethical and demonstrate that buildings can contribute to biodiversity and a sustainable future by using natural, local resources and by creating suitable inventions within the landscape. The Guide provides a useful checklist to use when commissioning or designing buildings to be sustainable with helpful icons which relate to specific topics such as ‘energy efficiency’ and the cost of the technology – from cheapest to most expensive.
Four case studies are illustrated in the Guide which demonstrate how the strategies of the Guide can be implemented in four specific Broads topographies, namely Waterside, Hillside, Marshland and Boat Yard. The case studies highlight how combinations of sustainable technology can be used sensitively in different locations. The Case Studies include the new, cutting edge Cley Marshes Visitor Centre, a sustainable Norfolk Wildlife Trust scheme designed by LSI Architects.
The Broads Authority has received considerable positive feedback for the Guide from the wider community, and articles about the Guide have been written in the local press. Dr Charles Beardall, Area Manager for the Environment Agency has said: “We are delighted to support the initiatives outlined in the design guide and would like to see more developers adopt the principles you describe”, and added that “…the information is presented in a way that is easy to use…”
Entries for the RICS Awards were judged across four categories: Building Conservation, Regeneration (sponsored by English Partnerships), Sustainability (sponsored by the Electrical Contractors’ Association) and Community Benefit (sponsored by Inspire East). Marianne Suhr of BBC Two’s Restoration programme presented the Awards, alongside Simon Pott, past President of RICS.
The Sustainability Guide was recently submitted by The Broads Authority for a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award and has been shortlisted for this prestigious national award.
23/05/2007
