Gordon Hudson & John Holmes

Vintage Sustainability

Business EN ↓ 25 episodes

John and Gordon look back on past sustainable buildings and see how they have lasted and evolved. Looking for lessons. We have an instagram account with some pictures of there buildings we discuss https://www.instagram.com/vintage_sustainability_/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author

Gordon Hudson & John Holmes

Category

Business

Podcast website

feeds.acast.com

Latest episode

Apr 15, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Dawn, Durham and Student Fairness in an AI world 15.04.2026

John and Gordon visit Durham to speak with Dawn Whitton, Director of Education and Associate Professor at Durham University's Business School. Dawn discusses how AI is impacting learning and teaching, including its pros and cons, and addresses maintaining fairness for students. She also shares a memorable and relevant quote from Douglas Adams’s 'The Salmon of Doubt' about responses to new technolo...

The EAGA Story 31.03.2026

In this episode, John and Gordon talk to John and Pauline Clough. John was founder and CEO of EAGA, starting in 1990 and building up to 5400 staff. The company was listed on the FT250 in 2007. John tells a story of the remarkable rise of EAGA and the subsequent Carilion takeover. As usual, our conversation wanders into other areas such as growing up in the north east of England and the social cohe...

Kevin , The Rivergreen Centre and the earthed rammed wall. 17.11.2025

John and Gordon talk to Kevin Turnbull about the Rivergreen Centre, a innovative successful green building. The conversation wanders into the joy in construction projects and their lasting effect on those involved. We find out what features had lasted and some that didn't . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Wynn, AI and University Learning 21.10.2025

How does University learning and teaching need to evolve in an AI world. We talk to Professor Graham Wynn ( Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at Northumbria University) about how it is being managed and the opportunities it unlocks. Graham is a promoter of experiential learning , something built environment programmes are very familiar with, and he sees this as a key element in the futur...

Nigel and Lion House 2 25.09.2025

We revisit the design of the first BREEAM "Outstanding" office, Lion House, through a discussion with Nigel Banks, one of the original design team. Nigel, who is now Technical director with Octopus also takes us through the current developments, issues and possible changes and to the UK energy market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 1 Review and Looking Ahead 24.07.2025

John and Gordon chat about the visits and interviews in season 1 and think about subjects for season 2  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Hulse - heritage entrepeneur 16.06.2025

Vintage Sustainability meets the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust in the shape of Martin Hulse the Trust Manger. T&WBPT is a heroic organisation working to preserve the architectural heritage of Tyne and Wear through the repair, conservation and regeneration of historic buildings and structures.  Their greatest hits include 28-30 The Close (House of Tides), the Old Low Light...

The Auckland Project 29.05.2025

For many centuries, Bishop Auckland was a thriving market town but since the demise of the mining industry, like many British towns, it has been affected by an economic and social decline. The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity working to establish Bishop Auckland as a must-visit cultural destination. In this episode John and Gordon head off to Bishop Auckland to meet David Land, CEO of th...

Tim and the Toffee Factory 14.04.2025

John and Gordon return to the Ouseburn in Newcastle upon Tyne to meet Tim Baily of Xsite Architecture. Tim talks about the Toffee Factory and its role in the Ouseburn development, BOHO on Teesside and the recently completed Pattern Shop in Newcastle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ouseburn Story 02.10.2024

John and Gordon talk to Dale Bolland about the Ouseburn and its transformation into the City's coolest district. Punk Rock, Workers Revolutionary Party and the Tunnel are all recalled. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor George Marston, Universities, Sustainability and students 21.08.2024

In this episode we talk to Professor George Marston, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Projects at Northumbria University . George works closely with the University Executive shaping and delivering the University’s Vision, Strategy. He is Chair of the University Sustainability Management Group which oversees the Environmental Management System and related activities and the University’s Health, Sa...

Tree sitting, Cradlewell Bypass and a brush with the law 23.06.2024

In this episode we talk to June, a teenage anti road demonstrator in the 1990s who also happens to be John's niece. The £12m Cradlewell bypass routed traffic through a tunnel to bypass a narrow pinch point at the end of the Coast Road into Newcastle. The protest invented the idea of tree sitting and delayed the project for a few months. June's arrest and it's subsequent impacts on her ca...

Nick Huston talks domestic heat pumps 14.06.2024

John and Gordon talk to Nick Huston of Daikin (Future Energy Business Manager). Nick tells us about some of the early domestic heat pumps projects he was involved in and we discuss how the future might play out over the next few years. Economics of current heat pumps are explored and contrasted to historical cases (1950s). Nick also lets us know about the "Tesla charge point races" playing out on...

Professor Ruth Dalton measuring joy and the Revai G-Whiz 06.02.2024

We discuss sustainable design and architecture with Professor Ruth Dalton. Covering her early experience of the importance of sustainability in the 1980s architecture school, her favourite local building and some aspects of design that could be added to sustainable assessment of buildings. Ruth also tells us of her experience with that 1990s London favourite the Revai G Whiz. It works in London bu...

Louise Allen, Spark at the Helix 22.01.2024

Louise talks about running Central Square and her new role at the Spark Building. How to create a sense of place in the building and its occupants. She also lets us know about her first car and the informal DJ at the Spark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More thoughts from Peter Rolton 02.12.2023

We continue our conversation with Peter Rolton, covering batteries, starting up the Rolton Group, cars and Gary Neville’s zero carbon testimonial.  Some local north east flavour in this podcast including “gubby” jobs and Claude Gibb Hall.   Peter also tells us about being chairman of Gary Neville’s zero carbon testimonial team.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Peter Rolton reflects on student days and BREEAM 09.11.2023

In this episode we chat with Peter Rolton, chairman of the Rolton Group. Peter and Gordon have something in common, both studied Building Services Engineering at Newcastle Polytechnic ( now Northumbria University) in there early 80s, so there is some reflection on that period. We talk to Peter about the influence of BREEAM , the maturing debate about sustainability, the stop start nature of the UK...

Simon Murray talks about judging 26.09.2023

John and Gordon talk to Simon Murray about his role in the RICS and other organisations. We ask Simon, how were the sustainability awards judged and what were key projects over the last 15 years or so? John reminds us of the "circle of blame", this was first codified 20 years ago or more, is it still relevant? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edinburgh Park 09.08.2023

In this episode we meet Peter Mullican, the chairman of Parabola, the developers of Central Square. Central Square, a featured building in an earlier episode was one of John and Gordon's first research projects. We discuss with Peter, what design features have been retained 25 years later in his new development , Edinburgh Park, a net zero development and how he sees the impact of sustainability i...

Jason , BREEAM and the trundle wheel 21.06.2023

We talk to Jason Hodgson, Operation Director at SV Rutter Ltd. We know Jason from his days at Tolent and John in particular worked with Jason on BREEAM assessments (Design Centre of the North). John and Jason reflect on how the introduction of the sustainability tool, BREEAM, worked in projects. The discussion also looks at cost of assessment, collecting evidence(how close is that post box?) and n...

MEES, EPCS and Kevin Muldoon-Smith 16.06.2023

John and Gordon meet Dr Kevin Muldoon Smith, who is an Associate Professor in Urban and Built Environment Adaptation and Investment in the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at Northumbria University. His research focuses on adaptation and investment in the built environment. We talk with Kevin about  Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)and their impact in property investment....

Central Square Newcastle upon Tyne 1 06.06.2023

John and Gordon visit Central Square a building they researched back in 1999/2000, the first BREEAM "excellent" in Newcastle. A summary of the paper is here: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/14630010310812019/full/html We will be returning to this building to discuss the building with ARUP, who were the engineering designers of the refurbishment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

South Staiths Housing 18.05.2023

John and Gordon go to the South Staiths housing estate in Gateshead This from the BBC website helps understand our interest " It is 23 years since Wayne Hemingway hit out at the "Wimpeyfication" of Britain's new-build homes and decided to launch a design revolution in Gateshead. But has anything changed? It was a tirade aimed at shaking the housing industry to its foundations. Property prices were...

Lion House 1 08.05.2023

In our first episode we visit the first office to be rated BREEAM "outstanding" and talk to one of the tenants Ben Tansey of Reheat. We consider the use of biomass in the building, which was a key part of achieving the "outstanding" label. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer 13.04.2023

John and Gordon discuss their forthcoming podcast series on sustainable buildings revisited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the Vintage Sustainability podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.