New construction materials are enabling engineers to push forward the parameters of design and create a new generation of ever-more stylised and dramatic buildings and structures. Over the years Buro Happold has gained an unrivalled reputation for our pioneering and imaginative use of materials on a diverse range of projects worldwide. Our designs encompass a broad spectrum of materials, from traditional concrete and steel to timber, stone, glass, fabric and high-tech materials such as alloys, membranes and composites.
Our enthusiasm for exploring new possibilities is tempered by an understanding that our solutions must be environmentally responsible and suitable for the application. On all projects our materials specification is assessed against strict engineering sustainability criteria. We are able to provide clients with best practice advice on the use of materials from concept design and construction to re-use, recycling or demolition, evaluating issues such as maintenance costs, service life and environmental impact.
To engineer a material so that it can be applied safely, efficiently and imaginatively requires an in-depth knowledge of the structural design process. Depending on the type of development, we analyse the buildability of the design and assess factors such as structural rigidity, wind loading and weather proofing in order to select appropriate materials to suit the project form and location.
Understanding how materials will perform informs our designs for the building envelope and enables us to optimise efficiency and value. To maximise passive environmental control and save on energy costs, our low energy facades incorporate external shading and ventilation systems to provide natural light, warmth and airflow. New cladding materials are continually being developed to improve performance, and these also become an integral part of the structural aesthetic of a building.
As part of our commitment to technology development we conduct ongoing research into innovative new ways of using materials – a well publicised example of our problem-solving is Westborough School in Essex, a sustainable building largely constructed of cardboard. We are also in the forefront of technology for timber structures: for example, the roof of the Sheffield Winter Garden, formed from glulam timber arches sourced from sustainable forests, required 95% less energy to produce than steel or concrete alternatives.
