What does sustainability mean to you? – An LOM roundtable

February 2024 | Talking Point|

Our sustainability advocates discuss definitions, ambitions and the way forward for sustainable design in the workplace sector.

In the first of a series of roundtables on core issues impacting our industry and our clients, we bring together six of LOM’s sustainability advocates to discuss the role of the architect in embedding and promoting sustainability in workplace design.

Contributing to the creation of a sustainable built environment is central to LOM’s ethos and our focus as an architecture and interior design practice. As a Carbon Neutral Organisation, we are committed to tackling the climate emergency by embedding sustainability principles across all of our work: it’s inherent in everything we do and every piece of advice we give to our clients.

Part of the challenge of sustainable design lies in the definition. What does ‘good sustainable design’ look like, and what does it truly mean in practice. That inspired this roundtable – unpicking what ‘sustainability’ means and what more we can do as architects and designers to enable the best possible solutions within our sector.

We gathered six of LOM’s sustainability advocates – Directors Simon Bird and Richard Hutchinson, Senior Associate Chris Pyle, and Architects Joyce Yazbeck, Ana Campos, and Charlie Brett – to discuss ‘sustainability’ in the corporate occupier sector, how to overcome the obstacle of differing definitions, and the role of the architect and designer in leading the way forward.

“We need to move beyond measures like offsetting and, instead, move positively towards embracing a circular economy, reuse of materials and structures, and biodiversity net gain.”

What is sustainability?

To open the discussion, Chris set out the concept of “environmental equilibrium.” Sustainability to him means “keeping the planet in balance and ensuring that the contributions of the built environment don’t take us over a tipping point.” Chris acknowledged the difficulty of this aim, given a globalised supply chain and development model that rarely has enough consideration for maintaining an equilibrium.

Charlie agreed and wanted to extend this thinking, adding that sustainable development “should not just be net zero, but net positive as a minimum.” This, he said, will help the sector “to move beyond measures like offsetting and, instead, move positively towards embracing a circular economy, reuse of materials and structures, and biodiversity net gain.”

Such ambition clearly poses a challenge because the sector is still struggling to hit its net zero targets, and net positive is therefore even further off. Ana was keen to add that “we can’t let ourselves get overwhelmed by the scale of what we need to achieve. That would stop us from doing anything.” Letting “the perfect be the enemy of the good is not helpful, and working on ever more sustainable projects allows us to build green skills and new approaches in the process.”

“It's time to expand the role of the architect – working on a long-term basis with clients to advise them on portfolios and how to decarbonise or reduce their footprints”

Architects as advisors

Like Ana, Joyce highlighted the “positive progress already being made across the sector.” She suggested we need to broaden our definition of sustainable design “to consider how we change attitudes and behaviours, both of future building occupiers, and clients looking for their next office or renovation.” Simon noted that this also means “expanding the role of the architect” – working on a long-term basis with clients to advise them on portfolios and “how to decarbonise or reduce their footprints in the most sustainable way.”

Pointing to LOM’s strongest client relationships, Chris agreed that these were often where the practice plays an “ongoing advisory role, getting to understand the client’s portfolio and their needs.” In many ways, “the most sustainable work we can do,” argued Richard, “is where we can help rationalise a client’s footprint, retrofit an existing space, and avoid the need for new construction from scratch where this is suitably possible.”

“A bespoke space can still be designed using standard elements and materials – allowing for much easier reuse or redesign potential”

Flexibility and futureproofing

When working on new or existing buildings, noted Ana, “the essential point from a sustainability perspective is to ensure that the structures will have the longest possible lifespan to justify the embodied carbon.” This is achieved by ensuring flexibility is at the centre of the design ethos – that “even when a building is tailored to a client’s needs, there is capacity for it to be easily rejigged when those needs evolve, or as a new occupier comes in – without another big carbon input.”

Charlie raised the importance of “standardisation and consistency” to delivering flexible, reusable spaces. Chris agreed, noting that “a bespoke space can still be designed using standard elements and materials – allowing for much easier reuse or redesign potential.” In conversations with clients, Joyce was impressed with how much this is becoming understood, and that “materials and how they are used or disposed of is much more part of the discussion than it has ever been before.”

For many clients, sustainability is now much higher up their agenda. “All the doors we’re pushing are open now,” said Richard, “both the ethical agenda and the fear of stranded assets are driving a change in occupier attitudes.”

“Architects need to be more ambitious, both in our role, and in our approach to sustainability – moving beyond net zero to net positive.”

Embracing ambition

Joyce explains “It’s about how we brief the client, and Introducing them to more sustainable options and alternatives. Plus, really setting out the financial savings. That should be at the heart of what an architect does, not an add on.”

Richard points out that architects “need to do more to reclaim their leading role in the building process.” It is about “embracing our responsibility to both advise our clients and benefit our planet.”

The key takeaway from the roundtable, thought Chris, was that “architects need to be more ambitious, both in our role, and in our approach to sustainability – moving beyond net zero to net positive.”

In closing, Richard supported this point: “We are strategic advisors at our core, and we need to lead the way. In our projects and in our practice, we must walk the talk and keep pushing the boundaries of progress to move to the overall goal of achieving net zero/positive.”

If any of the ideas raised resonates with you, or you would like to collaborate with a practice keen to push these principles then please get in touch!

Attendees:

Simon Bird – Director
Richard Hutchinson – Director
Ana Campos – Senior Architect
Chris Pyle – Senior Associate
Joyce Yazbeck – Architect
Charlie Brett – Architect