Sandbox from Buro Happold

How can we all work together for a more equitable energy future in the UK? And what can the individual actually do? Find out what’s in our ‘Power’ in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5…  The final FOMO5 from our third ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Powering On – Energy: Past, Present and Future’, explores what we as individuals can do to make a difference to how the UK could be powered.    Listen to the full FOMO5...

‘We have to organise together’: How could a community focused approach lead to more energy efficient generation? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  The key takeaway from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode - ‘Powering On – Energy: Past, Present, and Future’ - is that there are many potential outcomes for the future of energy in the UK. One of these is determining how energy is used, and by...

The surprising realisation that many sci-fi authors and visionaries from hundreds of years ago imagined ‘extraordinary’ energy sources, such as solar power and all electric futures well before they came into being...  In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5…  The industrial revolution and the reliance on coal - one source of power - probed visionaries in the 19th century to question what would happen when...

Did you know that one of the earliest ideas of solar power, called the ‘sunpower screen’, was featured in a sci-fi short story in the 1940s? The past, present and future of energy in the UK is explored in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode...  In the UK, we currently use various sustainable power sources, making up nearly 50% of our energy outputs, including solar and wind energy. But the question is: W...

What can the individual do to help re-green our cities? And did you know you can get insects delivered by Royal Mail, but why would you? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  As individuals, we can collectively make a difference to the world around us. When it comes to re-greening our urban areas, there is something we can all do to help, whether it be inspiring each other to plant more in o...

How can education lead to environmental benefits and help biodiversity to thrive? And how does this impact all of us in a positive way? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. This podcast series is brought to you by Buro...

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – what is it and why does it matter to all of us? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  In our latest Sandbox episode - ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’, our panel explores the importance of the recent BNG regulation, and how it can be applied throughout urban areas and across the UK.   Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, so...

Why is having green space in our cities so important? How can we implement Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) - what exactly is it and why is it important?  All of these questions and more, are answered in this new ‘Sandbox’ episode - ‘Urban Wonderlands: Grey or Green’.  Taking part in this episode are Buro Happold experts Colin Byrne, Partner, Cities Infrastructure, and Aaron Grainger, Associate Directo...

Why is it important for rain to fall and be collected in the right place, and how on earth could we make that happen? Find out in our final ‘Troubled Waters’ FOMO5, taken from our very first episode.  Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. This podcast series is broug...

What is a ‘Two Tier’ water system, and how could it help with our water management in the UK? Find out in this week’s FOMO5, taken from our recent full episode, as this concept is considered and discussed by our guests.  Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. This pod...

Not listened to our podcast ‘Sandbox’ yet?  Here’s an interesting snippet from our latest episode, ‘Troubled Waters’ to pique your interest.  ‘Troubled Waters’ takes a deep dive into the challenges we face today around water management in the UK. Our guests discuss various ideas about what we could do to make meaningful changes to the rather shaky situation we find ourselves in currently - from po...

In ‘Troubled Waters’, we look at a topic that we can all relate to, especially with the recent flooding experienced across the country and the memory of last summer’s droughts fresh in our minds. We take a ‘deep dive’ into the challenges we face today around water management in the UK. Taking part in this episode are Buro Happold experts Duncan Ker-Reid, Technical Director, Water, and Louise Clark...

There’s no doubt that technology has transformed the way we work. From open-source collaboration with the BHoM (The Buildings and Habitats object Model) and mapping buildings using spatial data in GIS, to Microsoft Teams allowing us to work effectively from home, the construction industry is embracing digitisation. Digital technologies have revolutionised the design of the built environment. Techn...

Tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis is of vital importance to Buro Happold. We are leading sustainability initiatives ranging from net zero carbon, climate resilience and passive design, through to social value and the circular economy.   Interviewer and podcast host Victoria Bentley speaks to new Partners Christine Lowry , Kaval Patel , Simon Pilkington and Dr Sebastian Seelig about sust...

How do you create an equitable organisation? Around the world, companies are grappling with this question as diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity and hybrid working becomes more important.   Interviewer and podcast host Victoria Bentley speaks to new Partners Federico Cassani , Amit Deshmukh , Matthew Harrison , Julie Janiski and Anna Wendt about equity at Buro Happold.   They discuss the role...

Can we transform offsite manufacturing with better data? Engineering design firms need to refocus on outcomes when it come to prefabrication. If we want our structures to endure and adapt to the changing world, we need to get everyone talking to each other along the supply chain, from design to manufacture to construction. In this podcast, we talk about using live data from construction sites to i...

What do we do when a building or structure just isn’t useful anymore? As technology transforms our economies and lifestyles, our urban infrastructure must evolve to adapt to changing circumstances. Railways, bridges, office blocks, ports, piers and waterways that fall into disrepair are not only a commercial risk for the owner, they are a blight on the local community.  However, these so-called st...

Feeling a bit hot? You may need to adjust your expectations – as the world heats up, our idea of what a comfortable temperature is, is going to change. In this episode, Buro Happold’s specialists in heating and cooling discuss the fact that worldwide use of air conditioning is likely to triple by 2050, making it one of the major sources of electricity demand, according to the International Energy...

Many say that MMC over-simplifies construction. It creates "cookie-cutter" buildings, which may cost less, but they also quash innovation, stifle creativity and create problems in the supply chain. Our experts don’t agree. This podcast looks at the preconceptions around industrialised design, including an in-depth look at how the supply chain can be adapted to include more modern methods of constr...

The architecture, engineering and construction industry is not using data to its full advantage. How can we ease the “fear” of data in facilities managers and contractors? This discussion brings in tech experts alongside Buro Happold's engineers to examine why data is not being used fully across all the stages of a project. What are the barriers that stop clients and engineers embracing data at ev...

Can good design truly make us happy? We spend the majority of our time in buildings, so shouldn’t we have a better understanding of how they make us feel? This podcast addresses how bad design affects our physical and mental health, and what we can do to make happiness a priority in all of our buildings. There is also the question of designing buildings for those with additional needs – how do we...