Retrofit for the Future

‘Retrofit for the Future’ is a government funded competition launched by the UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in March 2009. The aim of the competition is to develop a host of innovative, scalable whole house refurbishment strategies with potential to reduce 80% of CO₂ emissions in low-rise social housing. Following two intense design phases, 86 teams across the UK including Buro Happold were shortlisted and awarded £150,000 to implement their strategies onto occupied houses. The selected properties will be monitored for two years following the refurbishment, with findings feeding into research papers and nationwide design guidance.

Working with Fraser Brown McKenna Architects, Galleons Housing Association, Martin Associates surveyors and Axis Europe Contractors, we sought to super-insulate a 1960’s pre-cast concrete end terrace house on the Thamesmead estate, South-East London. The Thamesmead estate is a key example of the poorly insulated and undervalued concrete dwellings built in the 1960’s. It was immortalised as the setting for the dystopian fantasy film Clockwork Orange, and more recently, in E4’s Misfits.

We expect our contribution towards to the refurbishment sector to grow organically in the lead up to 2050. Government incentives such as the Green Deal (an upcoming private sector financing mechanism for refurbishments), Display Energy Certificates, CERT funding, Feed in Tariffs, Renewable Heat Incentive, the Smart Meter rollout will all provide key incentives for clients and investors alike. Buro Happold seeks to unlock new refurbishment opportunities in the public and private sector to increase asset value and social value (as well as reducing CO₂ emissions), through well-engineered building fabric solutions, MEP and space utilisation strategies.

• UK government funded competition.
• Target to reduce CO₂ emissions in low-rise social housing by 80%.
• Refurbishment monitored for two years informing nationwide design guidance.

Related Disciplines

• Sustainability
• Facades