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Sustainable Construction
- Projects like this…
- Sustainable Construction CPD
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The onward march of Ecominimalism
- Projects like this…
- Eco-minimalism
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Kijiji
For much of October the office was supporting activity on the Kijiji project for ‘Children of Songea’..
www.childrenofsongea.org.uk This is an Edinburgh based charity that supports Children in Songea, Tanzania who are victims of HIV/ Aids. Specifically Gaia staff and their families have volunteered their time to develop a Masterplan and building design of new accommodation including a pre-school– Kijiji - for the Trust and raised finance to fund and to participate in the construction activity. We will not be sending Xmas cards this year but will be donating to the Kijiji Trust. Please consider donating yourself and click here for a Kijiji brochure .
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Glentress
Our work at Glentress is now at the half-way stage on site with the superstructure construction getting under way.
- Projects like this…
- Glentress Visitor Centre & Masterplan
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Xmas present list
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New Gorbals MacNeil St
GAIA is partnering with Austin-Smith, Lord on a housing development for New Gorbals Housing Association.
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University of Strathclyde
Sandy has been developing and overseeing the sustainability strategy for the £350 M development of the city centre campus. This has involved working with six design teams for the new sports and health and faculty buildings, research facilities and major refurbishment. Policy, standards and management guidance has been developed which will be available to guide future development when the University publishes its future development plans.
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The Passive School - Acharacle
Acharacle Primary School – opened in May - is proving popular with the local community – and the 2-year Post Occupancy work is now under way. Both the technical (AJ, CIBSE Journal,etc) and the general media have been eager to engage with and report on the innovative aspects of the design. Sam Foster presented the project to Camden Borough Council who are investigating radical design of their schools.
- Projects like this…
- Primary School, Acharacle, Ardnamurchan
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Hartwood
Gaia are working closely with the Macaulay Land Research Institute on the design development of a Central Belt Centre at Hartwood Farm.
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Shropshire Schools
Shropshire Council is about to embark on a programme, known as the Primary Capital Programme (PCP), which will result in the amalgamation of existing Infants and Junior Schools to provide single, unified Primary Schools. Gaia is assisting the Council to ensure that its commitments to sustainable development are met throughout all stages of the PCP.
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Sustainability Advisor – Fife Council
Gaia assisted Fife Council Architects in developing the brief for a number of new schools.
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National Health Service Scotland – Meridian Ct
Gaia Research is providing NHS NSS with guidance on the affordable and healthy refurbishment of a 90’s office block. The work involves providing real time guidance to the client and design team to include a healthy specification. A smoke test to examine issues around energy efficiency and indoor air quality is available at….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JpY8spuMc4
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Port of Leith Housing Association (POLHA)
Gaia is helping POLHA write a sustainability policy and develop design standards. The work should be completed before Xmas and will assist them in raising future standards.
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Energy Efficiency and indoor climate
Historic Scotland have published Gaia’s scoping study on research into energy efficiency and indoor climate.
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Refurbishment of Laboratories for Scottish Enterprise & EU
Gaia wrote the brief for an affordable, sustainable upgrade of a building comprising 60’s 70’s, 80’s and 90’s elements. The brief focused on an ‘eco-minimalist’ approach - making the building an exemplar of passive design. This was to set a context for the affordable LZTC regeneration of stock from the latter half of the 20th C.
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Sustainability Guidelines and Training for Fife Council
Gaia has finished guidance for Fife Council on the requirements of sustainable places and sustainable communities.
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Ingrebourne
GAIA is partnering with Stirling Prize winners Macreanor Lavington on the development of a visitor centre in East London.
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New Dwelling, Plummer’s Knowe, Cardrona, Borders
Gaia Architects have been commissioned by a private Client to design a new dwelling on a site overlooking the river Tweed in the Borders. The new dwelling is to provide space and facilities for at least the forthcoming century and take account of the requirements of future generations of the family.
The site for the new dwelling occupies a previously wooded area on a steep east-facing slope with stunning views giving opportunities for an interplay of levels and spaces and connection to the landscape.
The client for the project is very interested in the architectural design process, and the running of the house once it has been completed. On this basis the house is to be constructed from Brettstapel - a glue-free form of massive timber construction pioneered in the UK by Gaia on Acharacle Primary School - and has been designed to meet the internationally-recognised Passivhaus standard.
The house will be designed to take full advantage of its semi-exposed site, excellent vista, and the dynamic and adventurous nature of the Clients.
- Projects like this…
- Tressour Wood, Weem, Perthshire
- Primary School, Acharacle, Ardnamurchan
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land reclamation to sustainable leisure
Activities Centre, Golf Club, Educational Facilities
Client: Wigan Council and English Partnerships.
2007- current
Gaia were invited by MacCreaner Lavington Architects to engage in a joint venture at Bickershaw Park, a former opencast mine being reclaimed for recreation and seeking to meet the highest criteria for sustainability in both the landscape and the building complex.
Gaia are sustainability consultants for both the parkland and the building design and actively engaged in the design, specification, environmental modelling and value engineering of the project.
The parkland comprises an 18-hole golf club and driving range, an outdoor activities centre including water activities, and general recreation ground for horse, cycle and pedestrian users.
The building acts as a hub for all of these and is conceived in a courtyard form with different uses articulated such that the opportunity to remain separate or to mingle with other site users is maintained.
The project is seeking to achieve zero carbon through both the materials selection and the Passivhaus standard approach to the design. Modelling is employed to ensure that the design is optimised for daylight, sunlight, heating, humidity control and natural ventilation. The whole design is being vetted for its indoor environmental quality, and all materials and construction methods are selected accordingly.
The project commenced on site in 2008 and will be completed in 2010.
- Projects like this…
- Glentress Visitor Centre & Masterplan
- Primary School, Acharacle, Ardnamurchan
- The David Douglas Pavilion