SUSTAINABILITY: WOODSIDE & PARKER PRACTICE STATEMENT

Woodside and Parker were formed as an Architects Practice in 1985 and after several office locations in Perth City Centre, moved to their current purpose built premises in the Village of Bridge of Earn, 4 miles from Perth.

The site chosen in Manse Road was formerly a ‘Rovers Den’ associated with Dunbarney Church and was derelict following a fire in 1993.

The governing factors influencing the design and detail of the new studios were:

(1) The re-use of materials either currently on site or to be delivered from other locations

Being adjacent to listed buildings, the decision to locate the new Studio on the Brownfield Site and use the stonework which was already available was a natural and obvious route to choose. The only new stone brought in especially was used for dressings to windows and doors.

Steelwork was generally recycled via Safedem in Dundee; elements of the staircase were recycled from the former Red Cross Building in Perth and decorative stonework features/chimney dressings also came from a tenement building in Perth.

(2) An energy efficient building using minimal levels of energy consumption and requiring little or no maintenance;

Energy requirements in this relatively modest building are fairly low. High levels of insulation (SAP equivalent of 109 ) , low voltage lighting and natural ventilation ensure that running costs are reasonable. During the winter months heating is rarely used unless the temperature drops below 4-6 C°. Externally the stonework and slate roof require no maintenance and the area of timber cladding is untreated larch.

(3) The use of materials form renewable sources

The range of other materials used included softwood framing, roof trusses and decking from accountable sources, untreated chipboard and red pine double glazed sash and case windows treated with water based paints

(4) Limiting the use of non-renewables

The non-renewables used are generally cement aggregate based products i.e. concrete for the raft foundation (because of poor ground conditions), concrete blockwork and pre-stressed concrete beams. In this instance, structural issues defined their use but as a rule, we endeavour to use alternative techniques – generally on a timber frame basis.

(5) Assessment of the local micro climate in respect of siting the building and dealing with by-products

The siting of the Studios was predetermined by the footprint of the previous building. However, full use was made of its location in generating the maximum levels of internal light (notwithstanding Listed Building issues); protection again prevailing winds and local flooding issues. The environment immediately surrounding the Studio is a mixture of outbuildings, paddocks and flood plain. The paddock to the north is used to deal with the surface water from the roof and discharges into a tidal ditch on the lower slopes. Foul water is percolated into the flood plain via a septic tank rather than directly into the River Earn. Other surface water from hard landscape areas is allowed to percolate through pervious membranes to the sub-soil.

The paddock to the north has also been ‘set aside’ and natural regeneration of the ground is taking place. New fauna has arrived including pheasants, numerous hares, frogs/toads and pipistrelle bats and there has been some self seeding of alder trees along the tidal ditch.

As a Practice, Woodside & Parker also take day to day recycling issues seriously. All paper, metal, glass and green waste is collected for uplift by Perth & Kinross Council and all plastics taken direct to the recycling centre. Computer consumables are also recycled to Rachel House in Kinross. We also made a deliberate decision to locate the practice in a rural setting to cut down on travel times; reduce traffic numbers in town and be positioned where staff and visitors have easy accessibility and parking.

Although our Practice is relatively cautious in specifying ‘new to the market materials’ (preferring long term performance feedback first), we would in our next project be keen to explore other green issues including:

(a) Sedum roof – i.e Sarna Vert
(b) Solar panels i.e. Worcester absorber plates
(c) Rigid insulation panels based on recycled glass i.e. Foamglas
(d) Composite floor system i.e Finn Frame ( local equivalent)
(e) Formaldehyde free chipboard

Projects currently in house where sustainability issues are being developed include:

Steadings at West Dron

A reconstruction of a large ‘U’ shaped range of buildings. Many of the ideas used at the Studio will be adapted in this development with more emphasis being placed on timber from local renewable resources. We are also commissioned to design two houses with turf roofs, single aspect and dug into the sloping ground to reduce their impact on the landscape.

Housing at Croftinloan by Pitlochry

These are to be built within a walled garden and take advantage of heat store potential of the existing stone walls. Sedum roofs are also being considered in an attempt to reduce the impact of the new houses in a setting immediately adjacent to Croftinloan House and it is proposed that a communal biomass boiler system be installed for the 6 houses.

Private house in Scone

This is a detached villa on 11/2 storeys and has been designed to be highly energy efficient having a SAP rating of 108, grey water re-useage, solar panels, sun pipes and a condensing boiler. Geothermal heat pumps and ground temperature technology issues were also investigated but not pursued because of budget and timetable restrictions.