G&S Nominated for INCA Award #INCAAwards2015

Gale & Snowden Architects have been shortlisted for a 2015 INCA Award.

INCA, the Insulated Render and Cladding Association, is the recognised trade association for the external wall insulation (EWI) industry. The longstanding INCA Awards demonstrate the vital role for EWI in improving the energy efficiency of buildings, lifting households out of fuel poverty and transforming local communities.

Gale & Snowden are short-listed within the 'Domestic New Build' category for their fourteen affordable COB2 Passivhaus projects Barberry Close (Bennett Square) & Silverberry Close (Brookway), working with Exeter City Council, Alsecco (UK) Ltd and PRS Group.

A pdf project report case study of the two developments, written by Alsecco, can be found here.

Barberry Close and Silverberry Close are two of three developments completed earlier this year by Gale & Snowden Architects for Exeter City Council.  Together with Reed Walk the sites provide twenty new houses for Exeter’s social tenants.

Barberry Close
Photo credit: Alsecco / Elizabeth Savage

Silverberry Close
Photo credit: Alsecco / Elizabeth Savage

Silverberry Close
Photo credit: Alsecco / Elizabeth Savage

The award ceremony will take place at the black-tie INCA Awards dinner on Thursday 8th October 2015 at the prestigious 8 Northumberland in London.

"Our design focussed on a fabric first and optimal orientation approach based on Passivhaus principles to first minimise the energy demand of the building, reducing its carbon emissions, before adding renewables where appropriate. The result is a low-carbon solution that responds to a changing climate and tackles fuel poverty at the same time.

 By incorporating Building Biology healthy design principles in to the design from the outset, the building can provide an uplifting and life-enhancing environment. Building Biology is the holistic study of the man-made environment, human health and ecology.

The developments at Brookway and Bennett Square therefore incorporate a range of measures to ensure a healthy and comfortable internal environment including such features as organic paints and stains with low or no toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), radial electrical wiring designed to reduce the amount of electro-magnetic radiation and easily cleanable surfaces with no fitted carpets which can harbour dust mites, to name but a few."

- David Gale, Gale & Snowden Architects

Gale & Snowden are working towards reducing the environmental impact of existing buildings and have a longstanding history of using external wall insulation (EWI) on dwellings. This has been recognised as being exemplary in a number of publications, including the Carbon Trust / BRE - Good Practice Guide 293: External Wall Insulation for Dwellings, which Gale & Snowden wrote for the BRE and has since been updated by the Carbon Trust.

This publication is a technical appraisal of the EWI industry and provides guidance for designers and specifiers of external wall insulation for dwellings. It can be viewed online here, or below:

To view the INCA Press Release and full nominations for the INCA Awards, click here.

Excellent Turnout at the @MyHomebuilding Show @ExCeLLondon #HBRshow15 #BuildingBiology #HealthyBuildings #Passivhaus

Gale & Snowden Architects have just returned from an enjoyable but long weekend at London Excel, where they represented the Building Biology Association at the 'Homebuilding and Renovating Show' over the 25th, 26th and 27th September 2015.

There was a considerable amount of interest in all things Building Biology, Healthy Buildings and Passivhaus over all three days, with plenty of exciting discussions about how these concepts could be implemented within projects at various stages from inception to completion.

If you were at the show and didn't get a chance to say hello, and want to find out more about the Building Biology Association or Gale & Snowden Architects, please get in touch with us here.

Click Here for Free Tickets to @MyHomebuilding Show @ExCeLLondon #HBRshow15 #BuildingBiology #HealthyBuildings

As we mentioned in our previous post, Gale & Snowden Architects will be representing The Building Biology Association UK at the 'Homebuilding and Renovating Show' at London Excel on 25, 26 & 27 September 2015.

If you are attending the show and would like two free tickets, click on the image below and fill out the form, before 3pm on Thursday 24th September 2015.  Alternatively, click here (will open in a new tab).

The Building Biology Association UK, based in Exeter, Devon, is a national educational and research not-for-profit organisation, which has been set up to promote healthy building awareness to the general public as well as the construction industry.  The organisation is linked to many similar Healthy Building organisations around the world to share knowledge and experience.

Gale & Snowden Architects, having been pioneering healthy building design for over 20 years in the UK are the founding members of the Building Biology Association UK. They have become the first Building Biology Consultancy in the UK to be officially accredited by the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (IBN) in Germany.

The Building Biology Association stand will be located at stand B157 - if you are at London Excel during the show we would be pleased to see you - come over and say hello!

Terms and conditions regarding free tickets can be found on the Homebuilding and Renovating Show website.

G&S & Building Biology Association UK to present @MyHomebuilding Show @ExCeLLondon #HBRshow15 #BuildingBiology #HealthyBuildings

Healthy Buildings come to London!

Gale & Snowden Architects will be representing The Building Biology Association UK at the 'Homebuilding and Renovating Show' at London Excel on 25, 26 & 27 September 2015.

Baubiology (Building Biology) is the study of the holistic interrelationships between humans and their (built) living environment.  Today, our living environment is defined by the spaces and buildings we have created for ourselves.  Most of us take great care when it comes to what we eat, where our food comes from, what we give to our children, and how we keep fit etc., but when it comes to construction the focus is only very rarely on the human being, their health or wellbeing.  Very often the focus is predominantly cost-driven and economic viability - low maintenance costs and short payback periods are typically the key drivers for developments.  On average we spend about 90% of our time indoors and 30% of our time in bedrooms.  With these exposure times even low concentrations of potentially harmful substances can affect our health in the long term and cause chronic diseases.  More vulnerable inhabitants like children and elderly persons are particularly exposed to this risk. Baubiology is about managing this risk. 

The Building Biology Association UK, based in Exeter, Devon, is a national educational and research not-for-profit organisation, which has been set up to promote healthy building awareness to the general public as well as the construction industry.  The organisation is linked to many similar Healthy Building organisations around the world to share knowledge and experience.

Gale & Snowden Architects, having been pioneering healthy building design for over 20 years in the UK, are the founding members of the Building Biology Association UK. They have become the first Building Biology Consultancy in the UK to be officially accredited by the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (IBN) in Germany. 

The Building Biology Association stand will be located at stand B157, below.

The Building Biology Association Exhibition at London Excel follows on from success at the Exeter Self Build Show at Westpoint on September 12th and 13th earlier this month.

Gale & Snowden at the Self Build Show at Exeter Westpoint Centre

If you are at London Excel during the show we would be pleased to see you - come over and say hello!

More information on Building Biology Association founding member Gale & Snowden Architects can be found here.

The Building Biology Association, Exeter Bank Chambers, 67 High Street, Exeter, EX4 3DT. 01392 279220

The Building Biology Association stand will be located at B157

New Museum Extension Revealed

The new proposed extension to the Barnstaple and North Devon Museum was revealed this week at an event on Monday evening at the Museum.

Gale & Snowden Architects were selected to undertake a study for North Devon District Council to undertake concept designs for a new Museum extension. 

The proposals revealed on Monday show a new modern extension to the West wing of the existing Victorian Grade II Listed Museum, and next to the nationally significant Grade I medieval 'Long Bridge' originally constructed in 1280. 

The site was once home to a building of some significance (see image below), however this was demolished last century, leaving behind leftover space which the new Gale & Snowden design seeks to heal.

Previous building on the site

At the same time the design seeks to recreate the ‘Gateway to Barnstaple', which was once formed by the previous building on the site and the opposite Bridge Chambers building, with the Long Bridge framed between these buildings.

The new Museum extension will incorporate low energy and healthy building features for which Gale & Snowden has become renowned. The design also addresses the significant historical setting in the centre of an ancient market town, whilst creating a state-of-the-art museum experience.

View from the Square, looking south

Internal view of the extension, looking south towards the Taw

View looking north across the Taw - note the 'Gateway to Barnstaple'

Gale & Snowden previously designed the new Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) Collection Store known as the ‘ARK’, and the RAMM in the Library museum exhibition - both in Exeter. The practice is currently in the process of designing another museum for a community in South Devon.

More information on the Barnstaple and North Devon Museum can be found on their web site:

http://www.devonmuseums.net/The-Museum-of-Barnstaple-and-North-Devon/Devon-Museums

Congratulations Torrington Bluecoats from Gale & Snowden Architects! #ofsted @northdevon24

Gale & Snowden Architects would like to congratulate the pupils, staff and Governors of Torrington Bluecoat School for achieving such an impressive OFSTED report. 

North Devon Gazette.  10 June 2015

Gale & Snowden were the Architects for the building which was competed in 2006.  The building design follows the practice's approach to low energy, healthy building design and features: super-insulated timber frame construction; high levels of natural daylight; natural and low VOC materials; and an innovative covered entrance orangery space, amongst an array of educational, ecological and energy efficient measures. 

The project was originally undertaken as part of a community consultation process which reviewed education for all ages in the Torrington area, known as 'Torrington Vision'.  Gale & Snowden are very proud to be part of the Torrington Vision having also been commissioned to design a series of projects connected to the ‘Vision' including the Early Years Centre, the Children's Centre http://www.bluecoat.childrencentre.org, the extension to the Torrington Juniors School and new drama and art departments at Torrington College http://www.gts.devon.sch.uk/index.php  all designed and built over the last two decades with the Community.

For more information about the Great Torrington Bluecoat School:

http://www.ecodesign.co.uk/projects/education/blue-coat-infant-school

http://bluecoat-primary.org

We wish you well!

Gale & Snowden is now recruiting! CIBSE Chartered Mechanical and Electrical Engineer @CIBSE

Gale & Snowden Architects is looking for a CIBSE / IMECHE / EI Chartered Mechanical and suitably Chartered Electrical Engineer to join our team in Exeter and Bideford.

We are an integrated team of architects, landscape architects, mechanical engineers, building physicists and biologists, certified Passivhaus designers and permaculture designers. As biologists who are also architects, our focus extends beyond the building. Our designs regenerate the environment, working with, rather than against natural systems; integrating people into designed, productive ecosystems.

Suitable candidates will have over 3 years experience in practice and be interested in a fabric-first, low-energy, and healthy building design approach.

Please send your CV to our Bideford office at the address below or email info@ecodesign.co.uk

Design for Future Climate #D4FC Legacy Report - The Business Case for Adapting Buildings to #Climate Change

Innovate UK / Technology Strategy Board (TSB) have recently published the final report into The Business Case for Adapting Buildings to Climate Change.

Gale & Snowden Architects were expert panel members for this report which examines the drivers in the business case for adapting buildings for climate change.  This was an industry led report providing a unique and valuable insight with key recommendations on how to exploit the business opportunity and develop the market for adaptation services – moving the subject from niche research to mainstream delivery.

Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers provide a full 'Design for Future Climate' consultancy service for both existing and new-build projects.  The integration of a climate change adaptation strategy for a development is best undertaken at the outset of the project and can often, for little additional expenditure, ensure that a project is fit for the future without the need for either significant and costly adaptation or the future introduction of energy intensive systems.

Further information on Gale & Snowden's 'Design for Future Climate' consultancy service is available here:  Climate Ready: Designing for Future Climate Scenarios

Outstanding initial air test results for @ExeterCouncil #Passivhaus housing development #buildingbiology #ecodesign

The first in a series of initial air tests at one of Exeter City Council's developments of Passivhaus homes has delivered outstanding results of 0.19 air changes per hour (depressurisation) and 0.2 air changes per hour (pressurisation) at 50Pa.  

Air testing with a door fan underway at Reed Walk

The development of 6 houses near Newport Road, Exeter, which will be known as 'Reed Walk' is being built by independent contractor, C G Fry & Son.  It is one of three sites currently being developed by ECC to deliver high-quality, affordable Passivhaus homes for Exeter's social tenants.

The design of the houses utilises dense concrete blockwork walls, wrapped with high levels of external wall insulation and render. The combination of high internal thermal mass, insulation, thermal-bridge-free design, and exceptional airtightness will result in excellent, stable comfort levels and very low energy bills for tenants.  Together with the specification of healthy building materials based on Building Biology principles, the houses will provide exemplar living conditions and tackle fuel poverty.

Gale & Snowden Architects Ltd, with offices in Exeter and North Devon are the architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, landscape architects, Passivhaus designers, and permaculture designers for the project.  The practice has been delivering low environmental impact, healthy buildings across all sectors for the past 23 years.  Structural engineering and civil engineering services are undertaken by StructureHaus, formerly Paul Carpenter Associates.

The recent air test results represent airtightness levels of approximately 1/25th of those currently demanded by UK Building Regulations.  Air quality in the homes will be maintained to a high standard via highly-efficient mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery (MVHR).

Jonathan Barattini, Project Architect at Gale & Snowden said "Air tightness is achieved primarily using wet finishes such as plaster and screed with membranes where necessary.  Attention to detail, particularly where junctions between different materials occur, is paramount. Gale & Snowden would like to commend the Main Contractor, C G Fry & Son, for their workmanship and site supervision in achieving this."  

A fundamental understanding of the Passivhaus principles, particularly regarding the airtightness strategy, is required of any Contractor in order to deliver this type of scheme successfully.  C G Fry and their 'airtightness champion' and site manager, George Richards, have consistently worked closely with Gale & Snowden in order to fully understand the details and principles necessary to deliver the requisite 0.6 air changes per hour demanded by the Passivhaus Standard.  The excellent results achieved are testament to this collaborative approach to construction.  Work on the remaining 5 units is progressing and they are scheduled for initial air tests in the near future.  C G Fry also plans to undertake an intermediate air test once all first fix services and carpentry is completed, prior to plasterboard to ceilings and internal walls being installed.  This will allow a simple visual inspection of the integrity of the airtight barrier before it is covered up ready for finishing.  The whole team will be hoping for similarly successful results in all subsequent tests.

Kevin Murch, Construction Director at C G Fry and Son says “C G Fry are pleased to be carrying out this unique project for Exeter City Council and delighted to be working with Gale & Snowden to add our constructional expertise to the challenging targets set for this Passivhaus build project.  This is the second Passivhaus project C G Fry & Son has carried out with Gale & Snowden and George Richards, our airtightness champion, has past experience in this specialist field.  It is a challenging project, however, we are delighted with the initial excellent results achieved.”

6 Passivhaus homes at Reed Walk, due for completion Summer 2015

Reed Walk is due for completion in August 2015 and will be the latest of 7 developments in Exeter designed and delivered by Gale & Snowden Architects as part of ECC's commitment to build all new homes to Passivhaus standard.  Together with sites at Brookway and Bennett Square, this current wave of development will provide 20 new 3-bedroom homes for Exeter.

A similar Passivhaus development for ECC by Gale & Snowden at Brookway, Exeter, currently nearing completion

Large, triple-glazed windows and doors to the South will provide beneficial solar gain for the houses and access to private gardens.  Brookway, Exeter.

Gale & Snowden in @theCIOB Magazine!

Gale & Snowden Architects has appeared in January's Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) online Magazine, Construction Manager.

The article, 'Going green in 2015? Here's what you might need', written by Katie Puckett, discusses specifying sustainable materials within new builds, a circular economy 'in which everything is reused or recycled', and the 'growing "healthy buildings" movement' and newly-formed Building Biology Association, recently set up by Gale & Snowden - further information can be found here. Director David Gale quotes:

“We have strict criteria when selecting materials, based on building biology principles...we’re looking for healthy materials that work dynamically with the building.”

A clean, healthy palette of materials at Gale & Snowden's Duchy Square, Princetown, Devon

David is also quoted in a second article, '10 products we'll be seeing more of this year...', also by Katie Puckett:

“In the right circumstances you don’t need insulation in the walls...as long as the rest of the building is compact, well-insulated and airtight...it is possible to build a Passivhaus block of flats with just clay brick walls – rendered each side and that’s it. We need to move away from cavity wall construction.”

Gale & Snowden Architects in the North Devon Journal

Gale & Snowden Architects have appeared in their Bideford office's local newspaper, the North Devon Journal. 

The article, below, was published in last Thursday's edition (February 5th 2015), referring to Exeter City Council's recent announcement of the winning team for the new Leisure and Swimming Pool building proposed for the Centre of Exeter.

Gale & Snowden has formed part of the winning design consortium which is lead by Olympic pool designers, AFLS+P Architects, with ARUP Engineers and Exeter-based LDA Design, Planners and Landscape Design.

Article from the North Devon Journal, February 5th 2015

"As nationally recognised experts in low energy and healthy building design, we will be leading the project in these areas including providing Passivhaus and Building Biology Certified Consultancy."

 - David Gale, Director

The winning team, from left to right:

Peter Simpson – Director, AFLS+P
David Twiss – Associate Director, ARUP
Jason Fitzsimmons – Associate Engineer,  Gale & Snowden Architects & Engineers
Florence Collier – Mechanical Assistance and Passivhaus Liaison, ARUP
Nic Bryant – Architect, AFLS+P
David Gale  – Director,  G&S Gale & Snowden Architects & Engineers
Mark Thomas – Associate Director, AFLS+P
Tomas Gartner – Director, Gale & Snowden Architects & Engineers

Gale & Snowden Appointed as Members of Design Team for the New, Efficient and Sustainable Leisure and Swimming Pool Building in the Centre of Exeter

Exeter City Council has recently announced the winning design team for the new Leisure and Swimming Pool building proposed for the Centre of Exeter. Gale & Snowden Architects forms part of the winning design consortium which is lead by Olympic pool designers, AFLS+P Architects, with ARUP Engineers and Exeter-based LDA Design, Planners and Landscape Design.

Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers are thrilled to be part of the design team for this prestigious project - watch this space for further details!

Article from the Exeter Express and Echo, January 15th 2015

Happy Warm Clients in Newly Refurbished 170-Year-Old Farmhouse

We were on site before Christmas continuing our overseeing role at Mosshayne Farmhouse.
The scheme consists of an 170-year-old farmhouse which we have completely renovated and super-insulated with external wall insulation and triple glazing, and is now moving to the latter stages of completion.

As well as designing and overseeing the architecture, we were also responsible for designing the mechanical and electrical systems, consisting of a wood burning cooker with thermal store, solar thermal hot water panels for hot water, and low electromagnetic radiation electrical systems.

Heat loss is minimal due to the super insulation, and we recently tested this by carrying out an infrared survey, also using the infrared camera to aid with commissioning the thermal store and wood burning cooker.

The clients are happy to have recently moved back in and enjoyed spending Christmas in their new warm and cosy home.

"You will be pleased to know that we have been warm and comfortable over Christmas, and loving how the whole house can be warm from just one log burning cooker.”

TSB Monitoring at Knights Place Proves Passivhaus Works

Gale & Snowden Architects have recently finished a 2 year building performance evaluation monitoring exercise at our Passivhaus scheme Knights Place. With funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) we were fortunate enough to carry out, in quite some detail, extensive monitoring of the Passivhaus social housing scheme that we designed almost 5 years ago. This in-depth study has taught us a lot, and we can now confidently say from this level of feedback what does and does not work with a Passivhaus design.  

The monitoring comprised two distinct elements: hard monitoring which records the facts in an objective manner with the use of sensors and equipment, and soft monitoring which involves quality checks of installations and discussions and interviews with tenants and the design team.

Hard Monitoring

• Main metering and sub metering - heating, lighting, DHW, cooking, ventilation and appliances.
• Solar thermal system performance monitoring.
• Performance monitoring of MVHR systems - air flow tests & energy consumption assessment. In addition to the mandatory TSB tests, measurements of temperature and humidity in all four air streams of the ductwork were taken, as well as an additional measurement after the heater battery in the supply air. This provided details of heat exchanger efficiencies at different operating temperatures.
• Internal comfort monitoring - temperature and humidity monitoring in kitchens, living rooms and main bedrooms. CO2 monitoring in living rooms and main bedrooms.
• External temperature and relative humidity monitoring.
• Air permeability and tracer gas tests in accordance with ATTMA: two tests over two winters.
• Summer time temperature and comfort monitoring to determine comfort conditions during hot periods, and to see how well the mass and super insulated approach performs. This study is beyond the TSB mandatory requirement. 
• In-situ U-value thermal resistance monitoring of wall construction details using heat flux sensor method and data logger.
• Infrared thermography survey of the three flats and key thermal elements.

Soft Monitoring

• Design and construction audit.
• Design team review of SAP/PHPP and design details & commissioning data for services.
• Installation check of services & fittings by the team.
• Building user survey (BUS) questionnaire to all eighteen flats.
• Interviews and walkthroughs with occupants to determine controls issues, modes of operation, different lifestyle habits, ease of use, fine tuning of energy systems, user guide.
• Energy audits using DomEARM methodology (domestic energy and reporting method).

The full report can be downloaded from here, or read below:

 

Another Passivhaus Certified Designer at Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers

Gale & Snowden’s Chartered Technologist, Giles Boon, has successfully completed the Certified European Passivhaus Designer Course, adding to the number of certified Passivhaus designers working within the practice.  Culminating in a three hour exam, the CEPH Designer course rigorously trains and tests design skills critical to preparing and executing a successful Passivhaus project. 

Giles joined Gale & Snowden in August this year and he is currently working on a number of Passivhaus projects with the integrated design team at G&S.

The Business Case for Adapting Buildings to Climate Change

Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers have been working with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) / Innovate UK to produce a legacy report for recent work undertaken for the Design for Future Climate, Adapting buildings (D4FC) programme which generated a substantial body of evidence for how different buildings exposed to different climate risks can best be adapted for a changing UK climate.

“We need to adapt existing and new buildings to be safe and comfortable in a hotter climate”

The Business Case for Adapting Buildings to Climate Change, page 11

The legacy report analyses the drivers that affect the market for professional building design services to ready buildings for the changing climate. Recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports confirm the climate trends that make adaptation important and urgent.

The legacy report from the D4FC programme responds to the Government’s National Adaptation programme and considers adaptation to climate change at the scale of individual buildings. It identifies that the need to have a plan for adapting the UK’s stock of buildings is already urgent.

Building designers have a professional duty to understand the potential implications of climate change, discuss them with clients, and act accordingly. Over time, it seems likely that liabilities will arise for building designers to take reasonable account of future climate change. As a consequence, building designers should at least inform clients about climate change risks, and record the outcome.

Building designers should favour passive adaptation design measures to avoid compromising efforts to mitigate climate change. At the same time, they should also recognise that these might not be sufficient to cope with climate change from the mid-century onwards and more active measures may be required to keep buildings from overheating. 

The concluding section of the report considers how adaptation services might become mainstream, identifying possible market and policy failures and summarising the case for intervention, including by central Government.

David and Jason were expert panel members for the Innovate UK’s legacy report and contributed to both the Client Group and the Building Designers Group.

 

 

St. Loyes Extra Care project, Exeter, by Gale & Snowden Architects.

Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers provide a full 'Design for Future Climate' consultancy service for both existing and new build projects. The integration of a climate change adaption strategy for a development is best undertaken at the outset of the project and can often, for little additional expenditure, ensure that a project is fit for the future without the need for either significant and costly adaption measures or the introduction in the future of energy intensive systems.

Gale & Snowden Climate Change Adaption Diagram for the St. Loyes Extra Care project, Exeter.

Further information on Gale & Snowden's 'Design for Future Climate' consultancy service is available here:
Climate Ready: Designing for Future Climate Scenarios

See you all @SelfBuildDesign Show! #buildingbiology

The stand is ready and we look forward to welcoming you!

G&S and Building Biology Association UK to present at SelfBuild & Design Show @SelfBuildDesign #BuildingBiology #HealthyBuildings

Gale & Snowden Architects will be representing The Building Biology Association UK at SelfBuild and Design Show at Westpoint Exeter on 13 & 14 September 2014.

Building Biology Association Directors David Gale, Tomas Gartner and Maria Gale will be presenting a seminar entitled "Creating and Maintaining Healthy Homes - A home-user's guide to designing, building and maintaining healthier homes" at 15:15 on Saturday at the Masterclass area.  

Bau biology (or Building Biology) is the study of the holistic interrelationships between humans and their (built) living environment.  Today, our living environment is defined by the spaces and buildings we have created for ourselves.  Most of us take great care when it comes to what we eat, where our food comes from, what we give to our children, how we keep fit etc., but when it comes to construction unfortunately the focus is only very rarely on the human being, their health or well being.  Very often the focus is predominantly cost driven and economic viability, low maintenance costs and short payback periods are typically the key drivers for developments.  On average we spend about 90% of our time indoors and 30% of our time in bedrooms.  With these exposure times even low concentrations of potentially harmful substances can affect our health in the long term and cause chronic diseases.  More vulnerable inhabitants like children and elderly persons are particularly exposed to this risk.  Bau Biology is about managing this risk. 

The Building Biology Association UK is an educational and research not-for-profit organisation, which has been set up to promote healthy building awareness to the general public as well as the construction industry.  The organisation is linked to many similar Healthy Building organisations around the world to share knowledge and experience.  The Association is a national organisation, based in Exeter, Devon.

Gale & Snowden Architects, having been pioneering healthy building design for over 20 years in the UK, are the founding members of the Building Biology Association UK, and have become the first Building Biology Consultancy in the UK to be officially accredited by the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (IBN) in Germany. 

This Healthy Homes seminar will provide you with:

•        An introduction to Healthy Homes and the Building Biology Association
•        An overview of key health risk areas in modern construction
•        Key strategies how you can make your home more healthy for you and your family
•        A homeuser’s maintenance checklist
•        Where you can obtain further information
•        What Healthy Building seminar courses are planned for 2015
•        The benefits of joining the Building Biology Association

Building Biology Association UK are located at stand A3, near the entrance - see plan below.

More information on Building Biology Association founding member Gale & Snowden Architects can be found here.

The Building Biology Association, Exeter Bank Chambers, 67 High Street, Exeter, EX4 3DT. 01392 279220

Gale & Snowden achieves #AECB Silver Performance Standard certification with Dartmoor retrofit

Westcott House, a substantial extension, renovation and refurbishment of a Victorian country house on Dartmoor has become the first project outside of London, and the second in the UK, to achieve AECB Silver Performance Standard certification.

The standard recognises projects which are built using Passivhaus principles and achieve the following performance parameters:

For further information on the AECB Silver Performance Standard, visit the AECB website.

A full project profile on Westcott House is available to view and download here.