Commentaries

Pandemics: Why Buildings are Hazards

Wastewater systems in tall buildings are a transmission pathway for pathogens. Despite robust evidence (and clear solutions), standards, codes and regulations have failed to respond and present a public health risk.

Michael Gormley (Heriot Watt University) explains a neglected area of public health and building design: the plumbing systems for wastewater.  What can building designers and regulators can do to reduce the hazard of disease transmission in tall buildings?

Design Professionals Challenging Disasters

Disasters are not natural occurrences. The design of cities and buildings can exacerbate or eliminate most disasters.

Ilan Kelman (University College London & University of Agder) explains why disasters are caused by humans - disasters come from a society's decisions and actions, not nature. Many disasters can be eliminated through design, regulation and social practices. Built environment professionals have a significant role in tackling disasters involving risk identification, assessment, and management. Vulnerability takes a long time to create or eliminate due to the slow evolution of most cities.

From SARS to COVID-19 and Beyond: Public Health Lessons for Buildings

The built environment has a fundamental role in maintaining public health. What lessons has Hong Kong applied to reduce the spread of contagion?

An important function of the built environment is providing a safe place for its inhabitants.  Edward Ng (Chinese University of Hong Kong) recalls the spread of SARS in Hong Kong and reflects on the public health lessons for the built environment. A process of preparation and management is vital for reducing present and future health risks. This is becoming evident in Hong Kong's recent codes and regulations for urban design and buildings . Other cities can learn from this process.

Scientific Conferences and the Pandemic

The present format of scientific conferences is outdated and needs to rapidly change. How we can reconfigure conferences to better suit the needs of researchers?

The COVID-19 outbreak has cancelled or postponed conferences, shifting others to virtual meetings.  This presents an opportunity to reflect on the questions about the purpose of scientific conferences and ways to improve them: how can they function more effectively, how are they organised, who are the major beneficiaries, should their number be reduced, and how to limit their environmental impacts (especially from air travel)?  Buildings & Cities' Richard Lorch argues for the urgent need to change scientific conferences.

Beyond Theory: Climate Justice in Practice

What role does the built environment have in addressing climate injustices?

This community-led initiative provides a practical approach to addressing climate injustices, specifically those experienced by Black and brown communities and low-income residents in Portland, Oregon. Rev. E.D. Mondainé and Mandy Lee present a pioneering approach that embraces both climate (mitigation and adaptation) and inequality issues to improve community resilience and wellbeing. A climate justice approach is better than attempting to solve one issue at a time.

Beyond the Declaration: Delivery of GHG Reductions

Architect Peter Clegg of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios considers the 'Architects Declare' movement and what it means for designers to put these ideas into practice.

Architect Peter Clegg (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) describes the 'Architects Declare' movement, which was established in response to the climate emergency. He explores how the principles of 'Architects Declare' can be put into action, particularly through considering both operational energy and embodied carbon during the design of buildings.

Research Contributes to Achieving Global Environmental Goals

Robert Crawford (The University of Melbourne) explains the importance of research to create a radical, informed shift in the way we design and construct our buildings and cities.

Robert Crawford (The University of Melbourne) explains the importance of research for making a radical, informed shift in the way we design and construct our buildings and cities. A database on the embodied environmental aspects of construction materials shows how researchers, the construction industry and government can develop a much more environmentally responsive approach to our built environment.

Can Urban Scale Digital Twins Address Climate Adaptation?

Martin Mayfield (University of Sheffield) explains the importance of Urban Scale Digital Twins.

Urban infrastructure systems are essential supporting instruments of society; they evolve gradually and some 19^th century infrastructure remains viable and essential today. Martin Mayfield discusses how urban scale digital twins (USDT) provide a holistic approach to urban and infrastructure design, operation and future proofing.

Why Tools for Buildings and Cities Performance Simulation Need to Evolve

Joe Clarke (University of Strathclyde) describes the '7 deadly sins' associated with performance simulation tools.

Simulation tools offer increased opportunities for understanding building performance, but also present significant challenges. To overcome the '7 deadly sins' associated with performance simulation tools, Joe Clarke argues that structural changes are needed involving the roles of construction industry, professional bodies, researchers and software developers.

Overheating in New Homes: A New Design Tool

Kevin Lomas discusses a new tool for the identifying and reducing overheating risk

The risk of overheating in homes is an increasing problem in the UK and elsewhere. Kevin Lomas discusses a ground-breaking new tool developed and launched to assist designers, planners and clients to identify and reduce the risk of summer overheating in dwellings.

Modern Methods of Construction: Unintended Consequences

Stuart Green explores the promises and pitfalls of Modern Methods of Construction

This article considers whether Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can really resolve the construction industry's challenges of a diminishing workforce and low productivity, whilst also delivering a more energy efficient built environment. Stuart Green explores how an alternative conceptualisation might help to avoid failure.

Architecture and the Climate Emergency

Alan Short responds to the Climate Emergency and argues we must rethink our dependency on the mechanical conditioning of buildings.

A city comprised of buildings with high energy demand is risky and damaging to the climate. Alan Short suggests that for change to occur, the behaviours and attitudes of the supply side need to change. The main barrier is for clients and their designers to break with the status quo.

Climate Emergency and Built Environment Education

Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training. Students need to be able to access and understand existing principles, methods and solutions for carefully defined, problem and evidence-based learning.

The built environment disciplines and their corresponding institutes / regulators must radically update their professional validation criteria for their education programmes now and more closely define the key competences that professionals must have. Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training.