ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY BESPOKE DESIGNABSOLUTE LUXURY

Within the last two decades, environmentalsustainability has become one of thecore concerns for the construction

industry, and all those involved in the complexprocess of planning, designing, constructing,maintaining and operating buildings.

The drivers for this can roughly be divided into 3main categories: ethical, relational, and competitive.

The ethical driver relates to an awareness andacknowledgement of the built environment’snegative impact on pollution levels and use ofresources, and a shared responsibility to minimisethose vectors; the relational motivator refers tothe desire among firms to improve their brandrelationship with different stakeholder groups,including regulators, clients and the public; andthe competitive driver concerns the manycommercial advantages that can be gained throughthe implementation of a sound environmentalmanagement system (EMS).

Taking the ethical driver first, there is an ever-increasing awareness within the industry of thesignificant impact that the construction of buildingsand infrastructure has upon the environment –both through the creation of pollutants and waste,and consumption of resources.

According to a report by the construction companyWillmott Dixon Group, the industry accounts for asmuch as 50% of global energy usage, nearly 50%of water usage, and about 60% of the total usageof raw materials – making it one of the leastsustainable industries in the world.

At the same time, it is accountable for more than20% of air pollution, around 50% of climatechange gases and 50% of landfill wastes. Otherimpacts include drinking water pollution, noisepollution and land contamination.

It is only right, therefore, that the industry shouldtake a lead in mitigating its environmentalfootprint to the greatest extent for the sake ofboth local and global communities, and thefuture generations who will have to live with thelegacy of our industrial activity.

Thankfully, construction companies of all sizes frommulti-nationals to SMEs are now incorporatingenvironmental responsibility into their corporatemanifestos – focusing on the minimisation ofwaste and pollutants, the maximisation of recyclinginitiatives, and in general working towards thegoal of creating sustainable built environments.

BM TRADA explains why over the lasttwo decades, environmentalsustainability has been a core concernfor the construction industry…

Embracing environmental sustainability

This is an internal driver, but there are alsoexternal factors involved in pushing sustainabilityhigh up the list of today’s business priorities –namely social pressures, and the need to remaincompetitive.

Construction companies do not operate within avacuum, and the relationships they forge with keystakeholders on the issue of sustainability areimperative to growth and continued success.

In today’s environmentally-conscious market,clients want to align with contractors whodemonstrate a firm commitment to environmentalresponsibility, and recognised environmentalcredentials – primarily ISO 14001 certification –are increasingly becoming a pre-requisite whentendering for new contracts, especially in thepublic sector where documented environmentalmanagement is expected and UKAS accredited ISO14001 certification is a must.

Having certification in place, therefore, brings withit a reputational enhancement that can help put acompany ahead of its rivals through the openingup of new markets, the retention of existing clientsand the development of long-term relationships.

This is backed up by a number of surveys. A 2012study published in Quality World revealed that84% of UK organisations believed ISO 14001 hadimproved their reputation, while separate researchfound that over 40% of organisations had wonnew business as a direct result of becomingcertified to a standard.

There is also the corporate governance perspectiveto consider, with construction companies needingto be compliant with current environmental lawsand prepared for future legislative, and regulatory,requirements.

Having an ISO 14001 certified environmental management system in place has been shown tohelp improve relationships with regulators, withcompanies that implement an ISO 14001 oftenreporting improved relations with governmentregulatory agencies, which are said to be quickerto provide technical support and much moresupportive generally.

Integrating environmental sustainability standardsand systems, then, offers significant potential forimproving both internal and external relations, andattracting new business.

Although these benefits may take time to becomeapparent, embedding environmental sustainabilitycould also deliver immediate wins – throughmonetary savings.

An environmental management system canimprove an organisation’s operational efficiency,and lower its operating costs through a reductionin waste, the consumption of energy and otherresources, and an increase in recycling.

Referring back to the 2012 survey above, thestudy found that since implementing ISO 14001,63% of respondents had reported a positiveimpact on cost saving.

Similarly, it also showed that 80% of respondentshad reported an increase in legislative compliance,minimising the risk of regulatory and environmentalliability fines such as the CRC (Carbon ReductionCommitment) Energy Efficiency Scheme, whichrequires organisations to monitor and pay tax oncarbon emissions in the UK.

The best way to establish and maintain anenvironmental management system is through ISO14001 certification.

Recognised world-wide, ISO 14001 is the internationalstandard of choice for the environmentalmanagement of business. According to recentfigures, it is now used by over 220,000organisations in more than 150 countries.

This voluntary certification is suitable for businessesof all sizes and addresses the way companiesmanage their impact on the environment, and themeasures they take to improve environmentalperformance.

The standard does not specify levels of environmentalperformance – which means it can be used byorganisations at any stage of environmentalmanagement – but instead provides a frameworkfor a whole-systems approach to the organisation’spolicy, plan and actions, which can be used to meetinternal and external objectives for environmentalmanagement.

By having ISO 14001 in place, it shows allstakeholder groups that a company is taking itsenvironmental responsibilities seriously and thatit is committed to continual improvement andcompliance with applicable regulations andlegislation.

Furthermore, ISO 14001 is compatible with, andcomplementary to, other management systemstandards such as ISO 9001 Quality Management,OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety Management, andISO 27001 Information Security.

By embracing environmental best practice and ISO14001 certification, businesses operating withinthe construction sector are not only workingtowards a sustainable built environment, but alsotheir own long-term sustainability in the marketplace.

For more information about ISO 14001 EnvironmentManagement certification, visit www.bmtrada.com

BM TRADATel: +44 (0) 1494 569700certification@bmtrada.comwww.bmtrada.com

Baufritz is passionate about creating a luxurious living environment that’s designed just for you. All our homes use an abundance of high quality, natural materials that are completely free of toxins, creating a harmonious atmosphere that looks beautiful, protects the environment and makes you feel good.

Find out more about Baufritz and contact our UK office: enquiries@baufritz-pb.co.uk | 01223 235632

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This contemporary timber-framed family home issituated on a secluded plot in the former groundsof a stately home in Twyford – a small village nearWinchester. It was built and designed for the Smithfamily, who had been looking for a home that wasclose enough to London yet with a rural character.After a long search this plot became available andBaufritz were commissioned to design and buildJill and Lloyd’s dream home.

On arrival, the house appears as a single-storeyModernist pavilion, whose quiet architecturallanguage responds respectfully to the nearbymansion. The simple portico structure features adark zinc-clad frieze running beneath the flat roof,supported by slender columns. Beneath deepeaves, elegant horizontal timber cladding iscombined with zinc panelling and full heightwindows. Moving around the site reveals asecond wing – here white render develops thearchitectural language and a second storey isrevealed as the slope of the garden falls away.

The house is arranged as two distinct areas – anopen plan living wing with more private andintimate spaces organised over the two storeys ofthe second wing. On entering, a large kitchen givesway to a spacious dining and living area, with longbeautiful views through a series of floor to ceilingwindows. A deep timber verandah runs aroundthis level, offering sheltered and shaded spacesfor relaxing and entertaining beneath the eaves.A short run of stairs down to the main mastersuite and a second ensuite bathroom, while a twofurther bedrooms and a study are arranged onthe first floor – all with elevated view across thegarden and surrounding landscape. Finally, acompact basement area contains a private musicand cinema room where the family can relax, andlisten to music or watch favourite films.

The logistics of building a house on this constrainedsite were always going to be a challenge. BecauseBaufritz houses are prefabricated at the company’sfactory in Germany and use timber frameconstruction, building traffic and time on site waskept to a minimum with prefabricated panelstransported by HGV to a nearby location andshuttled to the site on smaller vehicles. Structuraljoins were concealed by carefully-applied renderand cladding on site, allowing the house to readas a precisely detailed and beautifully craftedpiece of design.

Wildwood is a large new house in a semi-rurallocation in West Hausley, Surrey. It was designedfor Liz and Mike Hauck, who wanted acontemporary and sustainable home to replace anunattractive and dated house on the site.

Building a contemporary house on the site was achallenge, given the sensitivities of the location.Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, andin a conservative neighbourhood characterised bylarge traditionally-styled houses, Baufritz were setthe challenge of designing a contemporary homethat could nevertheless sit respectfully in itssurroundings.

The design response was a ranch-style house,inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Houses.The house occupies a low position within its site,offering a gentle and relatively modest presencedespite its size and allowing it to sit comfortablywithin the landscape. A key external feature is aseries of elegant and overlapping hipped roofs,covered with beautiful dark slate – a traditionalmaterial that brings together the house’sunmistakably contemporary design with its richnatural landscape. Grey larch cladding to theupper level again softens its visual impact, whilewhite render elsewhere emphasises its clean,contemporary profile.

Inside, the house plan steps in and out accordingto the views, aspect or function of each room.Downstairs, the main room is a generous open-plan kitchen and dining area – a light-filled andairy space thanks to floor to ceiling windows

facing the garden and high ceilings above. Acomfortable living area is focused – like LloydWright’s houses – around a fireplace, and can beopened up to the main space with beautifullycrafted sliding doors. Both these spaces open ontoa large veranda beneath the eaves – bringing theoutside in and providing additional space forrelaxing and entertaining.

Three large bedrooms upstairs each have ensuitebathrooms, with two bedrooms also positioned onthe ground floor – important for Liz and Mike whowant to be able to continue living in the house asthey get older. In the basement there is a largegym and spa room alongside a well-equippedlaundry room. Outside, in the garden, an art studiois a perfect retreat and creative space for Liz.

Liz and Mike chose Baufritz as the company’senvironmental credentials attracted them. Thanksto its timber frame structure, construction of thelarge house was relatively quick, with the shell ofthe house complete in only a few days. Naturalmaterials – even down to paint and floor finishes –are used throughout. A key feature for Liz wasBaufritz’s carbon-shielded envelope, installed asstandard and designed to minimise electronicradiation. Much of the house’s energy is generatedon site by a ground source heat pump and solarpanels, while highly efficient natural insulationminimises heat loss. The deep eaves of the houseminimise solar gain during the summer whileallowing sunlight to penetrate the interiorthroughout the year. As a consequence, Liz andMike report that, despite the size of their house,their energy bills are minimal.

www.baufritz.com