Sustainability is a core aspect of our work. It is not an addition or afterthought but an integral component of every design. The environment is always considered from the earliest stages of each project and as architects, we feel duty bound to raise awareness of the impacts of construction with our clients, colleagues and their supply chains.
Our buildings always exceed the minimum standards required by Building Regulations and with each subsequent project we are committed to exceeding these standards by an ever increasing margin. We analyse our designs to reduce both embodied and in-use carbon emissions, optimising them from first principles rather than tacking on technology to mitigate previous decisions. This process is not just about including more insulation, but optimising form factor, air-tightness and glazing to ensure year round comfort that is warm in Winter and does not overheat in Summer.
Beyond achieving energy efficiency, the practice is committed to the use of low-carbon and natural materials to construct comfortable and healthy internal environments for our clients. This means that we work with engineers and consultants to explore construction methods and building systems that reduce the use of carbon intense materials such as concrete and steel, whilst ensuring designs sit appropriately within the surrounding built context.
We have the expertise in-house to achieve the Passive House standard and accurately model a building’s in-use energy consumption at the design stage. This informs our design decisions and allows us to understand the impacts of changes made in the design stage.
Ashworth Parkes Architects is signed up to Architects Declare.
