Biodiversity & Zero Carbon Architecture - Our Commitment

Buildings and construction account for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

It is widely understood that we are living within a period of climate emergency.

We have all seen the staggering statistics relating to habitat loss, species decline and global warming. They all point very clearly to the position of crisis in terms of a loss of balance between mankind and the natural world.

The construction sector currently accounts for 40% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, so there is huge potential for the construction sector to help support a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.

Pinchin Architects are a London based Architecture firm, working predominantly in Hertfordshire and the Home Counties, we therefore view matters from the perspective of the fringe of Greater London. We’re concerned with inner city air quality and the complexities of high-density affordable housing as well as the lack of biodiversity in our capital and the areas surrounding it

We work with Local Authorities and Housing Associations to create high-quality affordable housing for a mix of tenures. We help property developers gain efficient and profitable consents and ambitious home owners to create award winning bespoke homes.

Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

The UK Government has a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, whilst this is a credible target we believe pressure should be applied to better this timetable. To show our commitment we have signed up for the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, which has set out targets for 2020, 2025 and 2030 within the following areas; operational energy, embodied carbon, potable water usage and health and wellbeing.

Energy & The Drive to Zero Carbon

We work in conjunction with; Energy Assessors, Overheating Assessors, M&E specialists and Sunlight and Daylight Consultants in order to build energy models which allow us to predict and reduce the energy consumed. We understand the inter-relationship between natural ventilation, solar gain, overheating and energy use and can rework our designs using data from our specialist consultants, so that as a team we can develop energy efficient outcomes and design net zero carbon buildings by adopting eco friendly architecture practises.

Biodiversity and Rewilding

We have a commitment to create a better future for our clients as well as providing a better natural environment for all of us to enjoy. We understand biodiversity and its relationship with buildings and landscapes and are dedicated to green architecture. We can use this knowledge to enhance ecosystems and to promote and increase biodiversity in plant, insect and animal species. We believe in the concept of rewilding at a variety of scales from back gardens to national parks and strive to contribute to this wider agenda by improving the biodiversity and natural value of every scheme that we work on.

We have signed the declaration with Architects Declare and commit to sustainable architecture and energy conscious outcomes on all of our projects.

Architects Declare is a collective voice, liaising with other industry-based organisations and networks, constructively engaging with government, clients and the architectural press. The declaration that we have made includes the following key points.

We will seek to:

- Raise awareness of the climate and biodiversity emergencies and the urgent need for action amongst our clients and supply chains.

- Advocate for faster change in our industry towards regenerative design practices and a higher Governmental funding priority to support this.

- Share knowledge and research to that end on an open source basis.

- Upgrade existing buildings for extended use as a more carbon efficient alternative to demolition and new build whenever there is a viable choice.

- Include life cycle costing, whole life carbon modelling and post occupancy evaluation. As part of our basic scope of work, to reduce both embodied and operational resource use.

Adopt more regenerative design principles in our studios, with the aim of designing architecture and urbanism that goes beyond the standard of net zero carbon in use. 

- Accelerate the shift to low embodied carbon materials in all our work.

- Minimise wasteful use of resources by adopting sustainable architecture practises and urban planning, both in quantum and in detail. For more information please follow this link.

Our Commitment to our Clients

• Moving forward from signing the declaration we are committing to engaging with our clients in a new, open and engaging way in order to integrate sustainable architecture that will allow us to design net zero carbon buildings. By incorporating sustainable practises into the briefing process we can fully integrate these core principles into all of our projects.

• We would be delighted to talk further with you about any aspects of your building project and how we can work together to achieve a more naturally conscious and low-zero carbon outcome. Through collaboration, learning and an applied determination, we can change our local and global environments for the better.