here are encouraging signs in a number of schools of architecture and engineering of a shift towards placing sustainability and interdisciplinarity at the centre of their courses. However, there are many distractions and barriers such as the lack of any evidence base, a focus on designing the new, an inadequate understanding of value, a lack of knowledge of Building Engineering Physics, weak communication skills, the continuing myth of the star architect and a surplus of architectural students at the expense of engineers.
At this time of general economic uncertainty and mass demonstrations about fees, it seems good to celebrate some real changes that are happening in our schools of architecture and engineering and to challenge the status quo.
The Government’s Chief Construction Advisor, Paul Morrell, recently published the Innovation & Growth Team’s report Low Carbon Construction for BIS in which he challenges both Government and the construction industry to seize the moment. The Edge is keen to pick up the challenges facing not just architects but all built environment professionals and all constructors working towards integrated interdisciplinary working and a low energy/zero carbon world.
Debate held: 11 January 2011
The Building Centre, London
Chair:
Dr Frank Duffy DEGW
Speakers:
Duane Passman – Brighton & Sussex University, and Visiting Professor at Salford University
Lorraine Landels – Buro Happold
Matthew Bacon – Eleven Informatics, Visiting Professor at Salford University
Prof Robert Mull – London Metropolitan University
Dr Fionn Stevenson - Oxford Brookes University
Prof Richard Parnaby - University of rthe West of England
Downloads: