Redshank in the news again...
(photo courtesy EssexLive)
The press and architectural industry love its "award winning nature". For us its a mixed bag. Some residents like it, some hate it - I always thought it was very sensible being on the sea side of the seawall - as the road frequently floods during high and seasonal tides - Whilst I applaud its brutal modernist design, my only real gripe with it, like the other rebuilt very high 2 story property on Beach road, is that it overlooks our gardens here on Wall Street, but I can "overlook" that - a hedge solved that problem for me, and we all have a footpath invading our privacy on the south side of Wall Street anyway, so its a "Moot point" ;)
I have however always had my criticism of it for its environmental impact - Its one thing trying to garner attention for adapting to the future of climate change, however the construction of buildings and concrete and steel production is one of the worst contributors to climate change and - funnily enough - sea level rise.
During its complete rebuild - This building had a huge foundation poured (tons and tons of concrete) and was built using an extensive steel frame - thus the construction of it using large amounts of steel and vast amounts of concrete adds to the problem that it is trying to escape from - sea level rise due to CO2 level increases and climate change - Oh the irony!
The owners can do something about this - adding solar and covering the entire structure would hugely negate its "embodied energy" (during construction) impact - and make it constantly generate power to decarbonise the grid, with its flat sides on the east and west, it would be very easy to do - due to light levels here - there would be plenty of power even on dull days from panels not on the south side.
Sadly looking at the position of the windows and the lack of overhang on the south glass face, the architect totally didn't consider that - an overhang structure on the south side would have also reduced the heat from the sun too in summer - reducing the requirement of cooling, The structure is also sadly lacking in any solar panels - which would also will last and bear the brunt of the harsh weather and help negate the structure's CO2 impact - They would also last a longer than glued on overseas imported cork, which again adds to its environmental impact shipping, and repairing it every couple of years due to excessive wind and rain that we get here.
With a large roof too, solar could be mounted flat. Solar is really inexpensive now - so it would be very easy to achieve.
Architects just don't seem to grasp any of these wider issues yet. They will do soon! You only have to look at the news of wildfires globally and flooding to see whats going on in dozens of countries for them to start designing and building more practical homes that help us all in the long term.
Read the full local press article here -
https://www.essexlive.news/news/property/award-winning-three-legged-house-5766474
