How can we build affordable homes in a way that not only does less harm to the natural environment, for example by reducing carbon emissions, but which actively replenishes it? In other words, how can we build regeneratively, and move towards a construction industry that is both ecologically safe and socially just?
Material Cultures bring together design, research and strategic thinking to make meaningful progress towards a post-carbon built environment. Their approach involves examining the whole supply chain of materials used for construction projects – from their extraction and/or production through to their final use and disposal – to ensure that the way we build is not just sustainable, but as environmentally regenerative as possible.
They've shown how this approach can result in beautiful buildings that both enrich the natural environment and may have significant benefits for the people who use and inhabit them.
Material Cultures are one of the architecture practices working on “The Phoenix” in Lewes, East Sussex, a sustainable neighbourhood on a former industrial site (image below). They provide design services, undertake hands-on construction and refurbishment projects, and work with public, private and third sector organisations – often in a highly participatory way that involves local communities.
Josh Booth
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
I work for Oxfordshire Community Land Trust, so am interested in what careful stewardship of the land we all depend on entails.