Architecture’s ripple effect: Designing for big impact | Thomas Bryans | TEDxGuildford

at their most fundamental buildings

at their most fundamental buildings provide shelter at their best they

provide shelter at their best they

provide shelter at their best they enrich people’s experiences and improve

enrich people’s experiences and improve

enrich people’s experiences and improve lives but the effect of architecture on

lives but the effect of architecture on

lives but the effect of architecture on both individuals in wider society is far

both individuals in wider society is far

both individuals in wider society is far broader than that for buildings have

broader than that for buildings have

broader than that for buildings have ripple effects beyond their walls

ripple effects beyond their walls

ripple effects beyond their walls their immediate site and the people that

their immediate site and the people that

their immediate site and the people that use them every day

use them every day

use them every day buildings affect the communities around

buildings affect the communities around

buildings affect the communities around them they affect the economy and they

them they affect the economy and they

them they affect the economy and they impact the environment and these ripple

impact the environment and these ripple

impact the environment and these ripple effects can go on for a very long time

effects can go on for a very long time

effects can go on for a very long time buildings take years to design and build

buildings take years to design and build

buildings take years to design and build and they’re around for decades sometimes

and they’re around for decades sometimes

and they’re around for decades sometimes centuries

centuries

centuries so the impact that buildings have on the

so the impact that buildings have on the

so the impact that buildings have on the world around them really matters too

world around them really matters too

world around them really matters too often however these aspects of

often however these aspects of

often however these aspects of architecture the wider impacts of

architecture the wider impacts of

architecture the wider impacts of buildings are not considered with really

buildings are not considered with really

buildings are not considered with really unfortunate results to understand why

unfortunate results to understand why

unfortunate results to understand why this is we have to look at the

this is we have to look at the

this is we have to look at the development of architecture over the

development of architecture over the

development of architecture over the past hundred and fifty years a lot of

past hundred and fifty years a lot of

past hundred and fifty years a lot of the built environment around us is the

the built environment around us is the

the built environment around us is the legacy of modernism which emerged at the

legacy of modernism which emerged at the

legacy of modernism which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century out of the

beginning of the 20th century out of the

beginning of the 20th century out of the Industrial Revolution and industrial

Industrial Revolution and industrial

Industrial Revolution and industrial society modernism liberated Architecture

society modernism liberated Architecture

society modernism liberated Architecture from its past largely through cheap

from its past largely through cheap

from its past largely through cheap fossil fuels suddenly we were able to

fossil fuels suddenly we were able to

fossil fuels suddenly we were able to light our homes with electricity we were

light our homes with electricity we were

light our homes with electricity we were able to warm them up and cool him down

able to warm them up and cool him down

able to warm them up and cool him down this meant that walls could get thinner

this meant that walls could get thinner

this meant that walls could get thinner and we could use more glass and it

and we could use more glass and it

and we could use more glass and it didn’t really matter back then if

didn’t really matter back then if

didn’t really matter back then if buildings leaked heat or not materials –

buildings leaked heat or not materials –

buildings leaked heat or not materials – were much more readily available

were much more readily available

were much more readily available architects and builders were no longer

architects and builders were no longer

architects and builders were no longer restricted by what was available to them

restricted by what was available to them

restricted by what was available to them locally or regionally and the revolution

locally or regionally and the revolution

locally or regionally and the revolution in transport particularly the car

in transport particularly the car

in transport particularly the car fundamentally changed the way we build

fundamentally changed the way we build

fundamentally changed the way we build design and navigate our cities so while

design and navigate our cities so while

design and navigate our cities so while industrialization brought huge progress

industrialization brought huge progress

industrialization brought huge progress it has enabled us to lead healthier

it has enabled us to lead healthier

it has enabled us to lead healthier longer and more comfortable lives as a

longer and more comfortable lives as a

longer and more comfortable lives as a result the impact that it has had on the

result the impact that it has had on the

result the impact that it has had on the evolution of our built environment

evolution of our built environment

evolution of our built environment has had some negative externalities and

has had some negative externalities and

has had some negative externalities and some unfortunate consequences sometimes

some unfortunate consequences sometimes

some unfortunate consequences sometimes those consequences are obvious large

those consequences are obvious large

those consequences are obvious large glass skyscrapers some of which have

glass skyscrapers some of which have

glass skyscrapers some of which have literally burnt things and some of those

literally burnt things and some of those

literally burnt things and some of those architects have managed that more than

architects have managed that more than

architects have managed that more than once on a far bigger scale however the

once on a far bigger scale however the

once on a far bigger scale however the way we’ve built our buildings and

way we’ve built our buildings and

way we’ve built our buildings and designed our cities is affecting the

designed our cities is affecting the

designed our cities is affecting the climate around a third of global co2

climate around a third of global co2

climate around a third of global co2 emissions come from our built

emissions come from our built

emissions come from our built environment and this pollution will be

environment and this pollution will be

environment and this pollution will be around for far longer than any

around for far longer than any

around for far longer than any individual building affecting people

individual building affecting people

individual building affecting people worldwide for generations to come

worldwide for generations to come

worldwide for generations to come buildings use 40 percent of global

buildings use 40 percent of global

buildings use 40 percent of global energy 40 percent of global resources

energy 40 percent of global resources

energy 40 percent of global resources and around a quarter of the world’s

and around a quarter of the world’s

and around a quarter of the world’s water supply so the impact that

water supply so the impact that

water supply so the impact that buildings have is huge and the ripple

buildings have is huge and the ripple

buildings have is huge and the ripple effect really matters but what if we

effect really matters but what if we

effect really matters but what if we designed for this ripple effect rather

designed for this ripple effect rather

designed for this ripple effect rather than just ignoring or accepting its

than just ignoring or accepting its

than just ignoring or accepting its unintended consequences

unintended consequences

unintended consequences well again history has some interesting

well again history has some interesting

well again history has some interesting examples in rural Europe and the United

examples in rural Europe and the United

examples in rural Europe and the United States barn raisings

States barn raisings

States barn raisings created social interdependence bonds

created social interdependence bonds

created social interdependence bonds required a lot of hands to build them

required a lot of hands to build them

required a lot of hands to build them and if a barn was being built for one

and if a barn was being built for one

and if a barn was being built for one individual of the member one member of

individual of the member one member of

individual of the member one member of the community it would be built by

the community it would be built by

the community it would be built by everyone else it was a network of social

everyone else it was a network of social

everyone else it was a network of social support knowing that that favour would

support knowing that that favour would

support knowing that that favour would be repaid this was not by design this

be repaid this was not by design this

be repaid this was not by design this was out of necessity but it demonstrates

was out of necessity but it demonstrates

was out of necessity but it demonstrates the power that buildings can have to

the power that buildings can have to

the power that buildings can have to support the society around them today

support the society around them today

support the society around them today there’s significant evidence in the

there’s significant evidence in the

there’s significant evidence in the financial and psychological benefits of

financial and psychological benefits of

financial and psychological benefits of urban greenery green roofs increased

urban greenery green roofs increased

urban greenery green roofs increased biodiversity and reduce rainwater runoff

biodiversity and reduce rainwater runoff

biodiversity and reduce rainwater runoff mitigating the effect of storms and

mitigating the effect of storms and

mitigating the effect of storms and reducing the risk of urban flooding and

reducing the risk of urban flooding and

reducing the risk of urban flooding and views of trees and plants have been

views of trees and plants have been

views of trees and plants have been shown to make the sick recover more

shown to make the sick recover more

shown to make the sick recover more quickly and to improve mental health in

quickly and to improve mental health in

quickly and to improve mental health in London research has demonstrated that in

London research has demonstrated that in

London research has demonstrated that in areas with higher dead

areas with higher dead

areas with higher dead cities of urban trees there are lower

cities of urban trees there are lower

cities of urban trees there are lower rates of antidepressant prescriptions so

rates of antidepressant prescriptions so

rates of antidepressant prescriptions so if we can design our buildings to

if we can design our buildings to

if we can design our buildings to include plants and trees and greenery

include plants and trees and greenery

include plants and trees and greenery we’re not only benefiting individuals

we’re not only benefiting individuals

we’re not only benefiting individuals but we’re supporting the community at

but we’re supporting the community at

but we’re supporting the community at large so when these ideas become

large so when these ideas become

large so when these ideas become intrinsic to the design process when we

intrinsic to the design process when we

intrinsic to the design process when we think about the big picture we can

think about the big picture we can

think about the big picture we can create buildings that do extraordinary

create buildings that do extraordinary

create buildings that do extraordinary things buildings that strengthen the

things buildings that strengthen the

things buildings that strengthen the local community and connect people to

local community and connect people to

local community and connect people to one another buildings that support the

one another buildings that support the

one another buildings that support the local economy both in how they are built

local economy both in how they are built

local economy both in how they are built and in how they work

and in how they work

and in how they work buildings that filter the air that

buildings that filter the air that

buildings that filter the air that increase biodiversity that improve

increase biodiversity that improve

increase biodiversity that improve health and well-being and that support

health and well-being and that support

health and well-being and that support the environment two and a half years ago

the environment two and a half years ago

the environment two and a half years ago two friends and I set up a new

two friends and I set up a new

two friends and I set up a new architecture practice to investigate

architecture practice to investigate

architecture practice to investigate some of these ideas and I’ve got three

some of these ideas and I’ve got three

some of these ideas and I’ve got three examples to show you today I would start

examples to show you today I would start

examples to show you today I would start with a really small one in Waterloo in

with a really small one in Waterloo in

with a really small one in Waterloo in central London the local council and a

central London the local council and a

central London the local council and a Community Interest company called

Community Interest company called

Community Interest company called meanwhile space approached us to help

meanwhile space approached us to help

meanwhile space approached us to help transform a temporary building that was

transform a temporary building that was

transform a temporary building that was put up 20 years ago

put up 20 years ago

put up 20 years ago the library it had been built to

the library it had been built to

the library it had been built to accommodate had been relocated and the

accommodate had been relocated and the

accommodate had been relocated and the building the site was going to be

building the site was going to be

building the site was going to be redeveloped in a few years time so the

redeveloped in a few years time so the

redeveloped in a few years time so the question was rather than allowing the

question was rather than allowing the

question was rather than allowing the building to sit empty how do we use a

building to sit empty how do we use a

building to sit empty how do we use a very small amount of money to make use

very small amount of money to make use

very small amount of money to make use of the building before it was demolished

of the building before it was demolished

of the building before it was demolished how do we maximize the benefit of what’s

how do we maximize the benefit of what’s

how do we maximize the benefit of what’s already there essentially what more can

already there essentially what more can

already there essentially what more can we make this building do for the local

we make this building do for the local

we make this building do for the local community to begin with we wanted to

community to begin with we wanted to

community to begin with we wanted to bring some joy to the streetscape to

bring some joy to the streetscape to

bring some joy to the streetscape to help transform the outside of a pretty

help transform the outside of a pretty

help transform the outside of a pretty rundown building so we made it smile

rundown building so we made it smile

rundown building so we made it smile it’s a relatively light touch solution

it’s a relatively light touch solution

it’s a relatively light touch solution recognizing the temporary nature of the

recognizing the temporary nature of the

recognizing the temporary nature of the project just a lick of paint and a

project just a lick of paint and a

project just a lick of paint and a lightweight timber screen but it’s

lightweight timber screen but it’s

lightweight timber screen but it’s enough to transform a relatively ugly

enough to transform a relatively ugly

enough to transform a relatively ugly building into a vibrant visual asset

building into a vibrant visual asset

building into a vibrant visual asset more important though is what happened

more important though is what happened

more important though is what happened inside the building and it was essential

inside the building and it was essential

inside the building and it was essential to the project

to the project

to the project that it be a place that brought the

that it be a place that brought the

that it be a place that brought the community together so we worked with a

community together so we worked with a

community together so we worked with a diverse range of stakeholders to create

diverse range of stakeholders to create

diverse range of stakeholders to create a co-working space that provides a

a co-working space that provides a

a co-working space that provides a low-cost accommodation to startups as

low-cost accommodation to startups as

low-cost accommodation to startups as well as housing an organization that

well as housing an organization that

well as housing an organization that supports people in finding jobs training

supports people in finding jobs training

supports people in finding jobs training or apprenticeships the building today is

or apprenticeships the building today is

or apprenticeships the building today is nurturing companies that wouldn’t

nurturing companies that wouldn’t

nurturing companies that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to be in

otherwise have the opportunity to be in

otherwise have the opportunity to be in such a central location allowing them to

such a central location allowing them to

such a central location allowing them to grow and establish themselves over the

grow and establish themselves over the

grow and establish themselves over the coming years so the project encapsulate

coming years so the project encapsulate

coming years so the project encapsulate s’ the benefits of such projects it

s’ the benefits of such projects it

s’ the benefits of such projects it takes a building that would have been

takes a building that would have been

takes a building that would have been sitting empty and transforms it into a

sitting empty and transforms it into a

sitting empty and transforms it into a social and economic asset for that

social and economic asset for that

social and economic asset for that community the smile creates pride in

community the smile creates pride in

community the smile creates pride in everyone who uses that building from the

everyone who uses that building from the

everyone who uses that building from the entrepreneurs who are working in the

entrepreneurs who are working in the

entrepreneurs who are working in the co-working space to individuals going to

co-working space to individuals going to

co-working space to individuals going to the job shop looking for employment or

the job shop looking for employment or

the job shop looking for employment or advice for us though the ripple effect

advice for us though the ripple effect

advice for us though the ripple effect of architecture doesn’t just start from

of architecture doesn’t just start from

of architecture doesn’t just start from when the building is built it starts

when the building is built it starts

when the building is built it starts right at the beginning of a project how

right at the beginning of a project how

right at the beginning of a project how can the very fact of designing a

can the very fact of designing a

can the very fact of designing a building support the community around it

building support the community around it

building support the community around it in July last year a chance encounter led

in July last year a chance encounter led

in July last year a chance encounter led to a conversation with the headmaster of

to a conversation with the headmaster of

to a conversation with the headmaster of Sint Teresa School in Effingham Surrey

Sint Teresa School in Effingham Surrey

Sint Teresa School in Effingham Surrey he was looking for an architect to

he was looking for an architect to

he was looking for an architect to design a new set form Center the project

design a new set form Center the project

design a new set form Center the project was going to take about two years to

was going to take about two years to

was going to take about two years to design and build and in that time the

design and build and in that time the

design and build and in that time the school was going to be investing a huge

school was going to be investing a huge

school was going to be investing a huge amount of effort and money in the

amount of effort and money in the

amount of effort and money in the process so the question we asked right

process so the question we asked right

process so the question we asked right at the beginning is what more can this

at the beginning is what more can this

at the beginning is what more can this investment do how can we use the

investment do how can we use the

investment do how can we use the school’s investment in design to help

school’s investment in design to help

school’s investment in design to help the students so as part of the project

the students so as part of the project

the students so as part of the project we’re using the whole process of

we’re using the whole process of

we’re using the whole process of designing and building the building as

designing and building the building as

designing and building the building as an educational tool for the pupils

an educational tool for the pupils

an educational tool for the pupils teaching them about architecture and

teaching them about architecture and

teaching them about architecture and sustainability about how buildings are

sustainability about how buildings are

sustainability about how buildings are made and the impacts they have and

made and the impacts they have and

made and the impacts they have and importantly we’re opening their eyes to

importantly we’re opening their eyes to

importantly we’re opening their eyes to a range of jobs and professions that

a range of jobs and professions that

a range of jobs and professions that they may not have considered or even

they may not have considered or even

they may not have considered or even known about when the building is built

known about when the building is built

known about when the building is built it will benefit the school in many other

it will benefit the school in many other

it will benefit the school in many other ways as well it will be carbon neutral

ways as well it will be carbon neutral

ways as well it will be carbon neutral with enough solar panels on

with enough solar panels on

with enough solar panels on Rufe to power not just itself also to

Rufe to power not just itself also to

Rufe to power not just itself also to power back to the rest of the school

power back to the rest of the school

power back to the rest of the school network and a series of green roofs new

network and a series of green roofs new

network and a series of green roofs new trees and built-in burden bat boxes will

trees and built-in burden bat boxes will

trees and built-in burden bat boxes will enhance the biodiversity of the

enhance the biodiversity of the

enhance the biodiversity of the immediate site so while the project will

immediate site so while the project will

immediate site so while the project will deliver much-needed social and

deliver much-needed social and

deliver much-needed social and educational spaces to the school it also

educational spaces to the school it also

educational spaces to the school it also gives so much more to the center eases

gives so much more to the center eases

gives so much more to the center eases community and it’s been intentionally

community and it’s been intentionally

community and it’s been intentionally designed to link that community and Link

designed to link that community and Link

designed to link that community and Link the students to the wider landscape and

the students to the wider landscape and

the students to the wider landscape and woodland around it in County Cork in

woodland around it in County Cork in

woodland around it in County Cork in Ireland we’ve been working with a

Ireland we’ve been working with a

Ireland we’ve been working with a fantastic client to create a

fantastic client to create a

fantastic client to create a holistically sustainable project over

holistically sustainable project over

holistically sustainable project over the next 10 years

the next 10 years

the next 10 years Joseph Walsh is an internationally

Joseph Walsh is an internationally

Joseph Walsh is an internationally renowned furniture designer and maker

renowned furniture designer and maker

renowned furniture designer and maker but his studio and workshop is deeply

but his studio and workshop is deeply

but his studio and workshop is deeply rooted in its context it’s based in the

rooted in its context it’s based in the

rooted in its context it’s based in the old family farm around this old cottage

old family farm around this old cottage

old family farm around this old cottage that was once the family home it’s a

that was once the family home it’s a

that was once the family home it’s a place that has generated enormous social

place that has generated enormous social

place that has generated enormous social value bringing highly skilled people

value bringing highly skilled people

value bringing highly skilled people from all around the world creating a

from all around the world creating a

from all around the world creating a diverse cultural and creative

diverse cultural and creative

diverse cultural and creative environment in this small town in rural

environment in this small town in rural

environment in this small town in rural Ireland and it’s a place that has great

Ireland and it’s a place that has great

Ireland and it’s a place that has great economic value to its community with

economic value to its community with

economic value to its community with high skilled high paying rural jobs and

high skilled high paying rural jobs and

high skilled high paying rural jobs and the export of high-value products and

the export of high-value products and

the export of high-value products and having a positive environmental impact

having a positive environmental impact

having a positive environmental impact is inherent in what they do they invest

is inherent in what they do they invest

is inherent in what they do they invest hugely in tree planting and biodiversity

hugely in tree planting and biodiversity

hugely in tree planting and biodiversity programs to increase to improve the

programs to increase to improve the

programs to increase to improve the landscape and the ecosystem around them

landscape and the ecosystem around them

landscape and the ecosystem around them but when we started working with them

but when we started working with them

but when we started working with them they were facing some pretty serious

they were facing some pretty serious

they were facing some pretty serious challenges the scale of their work had

challenges the scale of their work had

challenges the scale of their work had grown and while they wanted to stay

grown and while they wanted to stay

grown and while they wanted to stay where they were the physical limitations

where they were the physical limitations

where they were the physical limitations of their buildings was preventing that

of their buildings was preventing that

of their buildings was preventing that pieces were literally too big for their

pieces were literally too big for their

pieces were literally too big for their buildings so the challenge that we had

buildings so the challenge that we had

buildings so the challenge that we had was how to enable the campus to grow and

was how to enable the campus to grow and

was how to enable the campus to grow and develop but at the same time also

develop but at the same time also

develop but at the same time also further their social and environmental

further their social and environmental

further their social and environmental ambitions so with the enlargement of the

ambitions so with the enlargement of the

ambitions so with the enlargement of the buildings and the streamlining of the

buildings and the streamlining of the

buildings and the streamlining of the production process there’s a

production process there’s a

production process there’s a environmental strategy that underpins

environmental strategy that underpins

environmental strategy that underpins the whole design large photovoltaic

the whole design large photovoltaic

the whole design large photovoltaic arrays will provide operational energy

arrays will provide operational energy

arrays will provide operational energy to the site boreholes and reedbeds will

to the site boreholes and reedbeds will

to the site boreholes and reedbeds will create a closed-loop water cycle that

create a closed-loop water cycle that

create a closed-loop water cycle that filters the wastewater on-site and waste

filters the wastewater on-site and waste

filters the wastewater on-site and waste wood and coppiced fast-growing woodland

wood and coppiced fast-growing woodland

wood and coppiced fast-growing woodland will provide zero mile renewable biomass

will provide zero mile renewable biomass

will provide zero mile renewable biomass for all of their heating all combined

for all of their heating all combined

for all of their heating all combined with in a holistic site strategy the

with in a holistic site strategy the

with in a holistic site strategy the architecture itself has been designed to

architecture itself has been designed to

architecture itself has been designed to create a sense of place natural lime

create a sense of place natural lime

create a sense of place natural lime render and corrugated roofing from the

render and corrugated roofing from the

render and corrugated roofing from the local vernacular with paving that were

local vernacular with paving that were

local vernacular with paving that were extracting from the farms own quarry

extracting from the farms own quarry

extracting from the farms own quarry less than half a mile away

less than half a mile away

less than half a mile away it’s the quarry that produced the stone

it’s the quarry that produced the stone

it’s the quarry that produced the stone to build the original farmhouse the

to build the original farmhouse the

to build the original farmhouse the workshops have been designed by driven

workshops have been designed by driven

workshops have been designed by driven by the needs of their program but

by the needs of their program but

by the needs of their program but they’ve been designed so that everyone

they’ve been designed so that everyone

they’ve been designed so that everyone has a view out to the surrounding

has a view out to the surrounding

has a view out to the surrounding environment so that everybody who works

environment so that everybody who works

environment so that everybody who works there will have a visual link to trees

there will have a visual link to trees

there will have a visual link to trees or plants in the surrounding landscape

or plants in the surrounding landscape

or plants in the surrounding landscape so in thinking deeply about the wider

so in thinking deeply about the wider

so in thinking deeply about the wider impacts that architecture has both

impacts that architecture has both

impacts that architecture has both locally and globally it results in an

locally and globally it results in an

locally and globally it results in an architecture that is deeply contextual

architecture that is deeply contextual

architecture that is deeply contextual an architecture that responds both to

an architecture that responds both to

an architecture that responds both to its social and environmental context as

its social and environmental context as

its social and environmental context as much as its historical and physical one

much as its historical and physical one

much as its historical and physical one so when we design to maximize the

so when we design to maximize the

so when we design to maximize the positive social economic and

positive social economic and

positive social economic and environmental ripples of architecture

environmental ripples of architecture

environmental ripples of architecture when we design with the big picture in

when we design with the big picture in

when we design with the big picture in mind we can create buildings that

mind we can create buildings that

mind we can create buildings that benefit everyone our buildings can do so

benefit everyone our buildings can do so

benefit everyone our buildings can do so much let’s make them more

much let’s make them more

much let’s make them more [Applause]