Build Better Now, COP26 Virtual Exhibition, Beyond Zero Buildings, Scottish Eco Architecture 2021
Build Better Now, COP26 Virtual Exhibition in Glasgow
2 November 2021
Location: Glasgow City, Scotland, United Kingdom
The Natural Capital Laboratory, Scotland, by AECOM, University of Cumbria, Lifescape Project, NatureMetrics, Emilia and Roger Leese – image © AECOM
Build Better Now
Virtual pavilion for COP26 opens to the public, showcasing pioneering building projects and tackling global sustainability themes
Build Better Now, a virtual reality online exhibition demonstrating the opportunities for tackling the Climate Emergency and limiting the environmental impact of the buildings and cities we inhabit, has opened to the public.
Singita Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri, Rwanda, by Rwandan Development Board, Singita, Milton Group LLC, GAPP Architects SA, FBW Architects and Engineers Rwanda, TRPalmer, ASA Rwanda, Seyani Brothers, Grumeti construction TZ, Milton Group LLC, Bioregional UK, Earth Systems Africa, GAPP Architects SA, Ecolution Consulting SA – image © Adriaan Louw
• 17 exemplary sustainable projects and a centrepiece installation feature in Build Better Now, a virtual pavilion developed by AECOM.
• Exhibition and events programme showcase the urgent role that buildings and cities can play as a solution to the climate and ecological emergency.
• Central 3D installation by Make Architects highlights the potential for a circular future to restore our natural world.
TECLA, Massa Lombarda, Italy, by Mario Cucinella Architects, SOS – School of Sustainability, WASP – World’s Advanced Saving Project – image © Iago Corazza
The virtual pavilion, designed by AECOM in collaboration with Install Archive, features a series of dome-shaped exhibition spaces amongst treetops and connected by walkways. The exhibition showcases 17 exemplary sustainable built projects from around the world, selected from an international Open Call. Build Better Now also features a new 3D installation and accompanying film conceived for COP26 by Make Architects.
University of East Anglia Enterprise Centre, Norwich, England, by Architype, BDP, Morgan Sindall, Churchman Thornhill Finch) – image © Dennis Gilbert
The built environment has a central role to play in supporting the world’s transition to a net zero carbon economy. Globally, buildings consume over a third of energy produced, and are responsible for 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. Build Better Now acts as a global call for climate action and is supported by a coalition of over 100 partner organisations from the built environment industry.
Bridges of Laminated Timber (BoLT), Amsterdam, Netherlands, by Arup, Schaffitzel, Heijmans – image © Arup
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at the UK Green Building Council:
“With COP26, the world is ready to tackle climate change and the built environment has a crucial part to play. We know why we must accelerate climate action and Build Better Now shows how we can get there. Everyone on the planet has a stake in our buildings and cities. I invite everyone to take inspiration from Build Better Now as a global showcase of pioneering solutions to climate change and hope that it supports the industry to create more sustainable buildings, places and cities of the future.”
The 5 Systems Programme: Nga Kāinga Anamata, Auckland, New Zealand, by Kainga Ora, Context Architects, Resilio Studio, Robert Bird Group, Holmes Fires, Aurecon, Ortus International, BRANZ – image © Context Architects
Alongside the exhibition, Build Better Now hosts an events series comprising a programme of tours and talks, keynotes, panel discussions and other downloadable content, to educate and inspire the built environment industry and public to act now to identify and deliver climate solutions at scale.
Hope Rise, Bristol, England, by ZED PODS Ltd, Bristol City Council, Avie Consulting Ltd, Vale Consulting Ltd, Below Ground Ltd – image © ZED PODS Limited
Following the Open Call, which was launched in June 2021, a rigorous and transparent selection process was undertaken to find projects for the exhibition. A judging panel comprising industry leaders from across the world, with insight into the complexities of built environment sustainability issues on a regional and local level, selected projects that are making an immediate positive impact on the planet and people’s lives.
Powerhouse Brattørkaia, Trondheim, Norway, by ENTRA ASA, Snøhetta, AsplanViak, ZERO, Skanska Norway – image © Ivar Kvaal
These projects are both scalable and replicable – giving the potential to deliver far-reaching impacts. Exploring themes such as natural resource use, climate mitigation and adaptation and nature and biodiversity, Build Better Now will showcase some of the most innovative solutions from across the globe.
Pioneering a Mass Timber Market in East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, by BuildX Studio, Gatsby Africa, AKT II, Arup, Timberliving SA, X-LAM, Autodesk Foundation, DOEN Foundation – image © BuildX Studio
Make Architects was selected to design a sustainability focused 360° installation and accompanying film that acts as a centrepiece within the pavilion. ‘The Fountain of Circular Recovery’ highlights opportunities for recovery, reuse and recycling in the built environment to establish a truly circular economy.
Milan Innovation District, Milan, Italy, by Lendlease, Arexpo, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, E.ON, Carlo Ratti, Mario Cucinella Architects, Piuarch, Beema, LAND, MAD Architects, Obr, Arup, Deerns, Milan Ingegneria, J+S, Italian Department of Justice, PlusValue – image © artist impression
Sara Cultural Centre, Skellefteå, Sweden, by Skellefteå Municipality, HENT AS, White Arkitekter, Florian Kosche, TK Botnia, WSP, Incoord, Martinssons AB, Derome – image © Patrick Degerman
Pioneering projects include a cultural centre in Sweden that will be one of the world’s tallest timber buildings; the largest Certified Passivhaus building in the Southern hemisphere in Australia; a 100-hectare innovation district in Italy digitally mapped and powered by 100% renewable energy sources; and the largest new build energy-positive office building in Norway, which supplies surplus renewable energy to neighbouring buildings as well as powering electric buses.
Modulus Homes, Karachi, Pakistan, by ModulusTech, Reall Limited, Open Door Design Studio, Trellis Housing Finance Limited, ConnectHear, Spaces PK – image © ModulusTech
Buildings constructed using natural local materials range from a UK university building utilising thatch and reed; a school in Indonesia built with bamboo and the first 3D-printed sustainable homes made entirely from raw clay – perfectly balancing ultra-modern construction techniques with historic, traditional materials.
NCH2050 Homes, Nottingham, England, by Melius Homes, Nottingham City Council, Focus Consultants, Studio Partington, Energiesprong UK, Nottingham Trent University, Lincoln University – image © Tracey Whitefoot/Melius Homes
Projects protecting and enhancing nature include a government-led eco-tourism initiative to restore a national park in Rwanda and a high-tech rewilding project, restoring native forest and peatlands and reintroducing locally extinct species to 100 acres of land in the Scottish Highlands, which will form a template for similar nature regeneration globally.
107 Niddrie Road, Glasgow, Scotland, by John Gilbert Architects, NBM Construction Cost Consultants, Design Engineering Workshop, Graham Drummond, WARM, CCG Construction, Glasgow University, University of Strathclyde – image © John Gilbert Architects
As well as government-funded research into retrofitting Scotland’s iconic but hard-to-heat tenement homes, the exhibition features a favela in Brazil and affordable sustainable housing solutions in the UK, New Zealand and Pakistan. Also included are an adaptable cross laminated timber bridge concept designed for a circular economy, as well as an initiative to develop a sustainable mass timber building market building in East Africa.
The Fountain of Circular Recovery (central installation) by Make Architects – image © Make Architects
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council, speaking at the launch of Build Better Now said:
“We are coming together for COP26 to spotlight the built environment as a solution to climate change. This is the most visible and coordinated the industry has ever been at a climate summit of this calibre. Build Better Now provides us with an opportunity to learn how sustainable building practices are having a positive impact on people’s lives. We must ensure that the world listens to the steps needed to create sustainable buildings, which means building and renovating with Whole Life Carbon principles, embracing a circular economy and creating people centric, healthy buildings that are resilient to the effects of climate change.”
Heart of School, Green School Bali, Bali, Indonesia, by John Hardy, PT Bambu, Heru Wijayanto, Joerg Stamm, Gadjah Mada University – image © PT Bambu
The COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion has been designed and developed by the Visualisation and VR team at AECOM in collaboration with exhibition designers Install Archive.
Favela da Paz, São Paulo, Brazil, by Favela da Paz Institute – image © Favela da Paz Institute
The international judging panel for the COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion included:
• Dr. Anna Braune, Head of Research and Development, German Sustainable Building Council
• Chris Brown, Executive Chair, igloo Regeneration
• Tor Burrows, Executive Director – Sustainability & Innovation, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland
• Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia
• Elizabeth Wangeci Chege, Vice Chair of World Green Building Council: Africa Regional Network
• Christina Cheong, Green Buildings Lead, Global Green Growth Institute
• Hastings Chikoko, Managing Director of Regions and Mayoral Engagement & Regional Director for Africa, C40
• Felipe Faria, CEO, Green Building Council Brazil
• Jane Findlay, President of the Landscape Institute and Director of Fira
• Sunand Prasad, Principal, Penoyre & Prasad
• Sue Riddlestone OBE, CEO and Co-Founder, Bioregional
• Diba Salam, Founder and Creative Director, Studio DS London
• Amanda Sturgeon, Regenerative Design Lead, Mott MacDonald
• Peter Templeton, is President and CEO of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
• Wei Yang, President, Royal Town Planning Institute
Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design, Melbourne, Australia, by Grimshaw, Aurecon, ASPECT Studios, BSGM, Minesco, Root Projects, Six Ideas, Bollinger Grohman – image © Michael Kai
The Natural Capital Laboratory, Scotland, by AECOM, University of Cumbria, Lifescape Project, NatureMetrics, Emilia and Roger Leese – image © Chris Coupland/AECOM
Build Better Now, COP26 Virtual Exhibition images / information received 021121 from v2com newswire
Scottish Architecture News 2021
Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list
COP26 Scotland Architecture News
Time to Act
image courtesy of architects office
Route to zero carbon by FCBStudios
Zero-carbon COP26 House opens its doors to the public, Glasgow
photo courtesy of architects office
Zero-carbon COP26 House Glasgow
COP26 Timber Conference
photo courtesy of architecture office
COP26 Wood for Good conference
Climate Change Events in Scotland
Climate Change Events in Scotland
COP26 is located in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Scottish Architecture
Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list
Cairngorms National Park Authority’s HQ, Grantown-on-Spey, Moray, Northern Scotland
Design: Moxon Architects
image courtesy of architects studio
Cairngorms National Park Authority HQ Building
Spyon Cop, Cairngorms National Park, Northeast Scotland
Architects: Brown + Brown
image : Touch 3D
Contemporary Property in Cairngorms National Park
Scottish Architect : Contemporary Studios – Scottish Architect Listings
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