Prioritising sustainable building designs

Have you ever seen a film about travelling back in time? Often the characters are very concerned with how altering the past might affect the present. But, nobody stops to consider how what we do in the present can change the future.

What we build today, is built to last. A building that isn’t durable is not seen as an investment worth making. So, we put all our effort into creating something that will outlast us. Most buildings will remain for a minimum of 60 years. Many will last well over 100 years unless struck down before their time by a fire or another disaster. But, this means if we are building an unsustainable present, we are building an unsustainable future.

20th June 2018

By Paul Mills

Prioritising sustainable building designs

The UK is not short of impressive, historical buildings. The history of the UK has not always been sunshine and roses. But, it has left us with some remarkable architecture that has stood the test of time. Some buildings have managed to hold for hundreds of years, even though they were built using archaic, time-consuming, and strenuous construction techniques. With modern technology, and increasingly innovative designs for structures, a well-constructed building created today could last centuries.

But what is our point? Have you ever seen a film about travelling back in time? Often the characters are very concerned with how altering the past might affect the present. But, nobody stops to consider how what we do in the present can change the future. What we build today, is built to last. A building that isn’t durable is not seen as an investment worth making. So, we put all our effort into creating something that will outlast us. Most buildings will remain for a minimum of 60 years. Many will last well over 100 years unless struck down before their time by a fire or another disaster. But, this means if we are building an unsustainable present, we are building an unsustainable future.

Cities are always developing, and new buildings never stop cropping up. But, buildings that were constructed decades ago, before the words ‘global warming’ had even been uttered, are still make up a huge proportion of our infrastructure. They were designed to fit seamlessly into cities whose thirst for productivity and entertainment could only be quenched by fossil fuels. These buildings took the place of nature as urban sprawls when the population grew rapidly, and our innate connection with nature was replaced with over-consumption. But, no one knew the damage this was causing to the environment and our health.

Today, most of us understand the environmental chaos our actions cause. There are ways to mitigate this damage. Building for a better, more sustainable future, won’t be fast, but there is no time like the present. The buildings we need in our cities in 60 years time are low-carbon, or in an ideal world, zero-carbon, and nature-friendly. This means these buildings need designing and constructing now. Bringing a sustainable structure into a city doesn’t have to be expensive, despite the unique, experimental fittings and construction materials that are often required for their development. Money should not stand in the way of you prioritising greener, more environmentally responsible construction projects.

The long-term costs of running a sustainable building are likely to be much lower than the average structure of the same size and usage. Savings made on energy consumption and tax breaks as a result of sustainable architecture and structural engineering will make green buildings a desirable purchase for any business. The construction costs can be kept low by hiring a manufacturing company that works with you at every stage of the construction process. Helping you communicate across departments and minimising the risk of missing deadlines and getting hit with costly fees.

The consultants, manufacturers, and installers at Inscape pride ourselves on our ability to provide you with one convenient port of call. From the initial construction concept to the final hand-over of your project, we have your back. With over 25 years experience in providing bespoke building interiors, Inscape is the company you need on your team to make your project run as smoothly as possible. To enquire about our services, contact us today on 0845 230 8565.