About Markidect
I am an architect with a broad interest in environmental design
ArchitectMy proposal is for energy related measures to be related much more to human behaviour. I have seen many excellent technical solutions which seem to perform poorly in operation because not enough thought has been put into the 'human factor'.
As an example of this I designed a naturally ventilated Primary Care Centre in the north-east of England. The rooflights/windows were designed with rain sensors to close during rain and this worked well when the caretaker was in the building as he went around after the shower to open them all again. However, he stopped working at 1pm and so staff were complaining about the ventilation in the afternoon. Now one ensured all the windows were open again.
I accept that some of this is about the education of building users, but some I feel is about making the technology smarter, so that it responds better to the behaviour of occupants. I think more research is required to map out some of these issues, so that designers can draw on a pool of information when making decisions about systems and design solutions.
Featured articles and news
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Put digitalisation and sustainability at the core of curricula
Project management educators are urged.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.
APM Programme Management Conference 2024
Strategies for Success.
Residential takes the reins as contract awards even out
Contracts down, but remain above the last quarter of 2023.
Celebrating Eid and the largest mud-brick building.
Barry Kingscote claims prestigious CIOB CMYA Award.
The British Mosque: an architectural and social history
The story of some 1,500 mosques or more in Britain.
Heat pump refrigerants, efficiencies and impacts
R12 to R1270 what are the differences?
Global heat pump market in 2023
Challenging times with positive but modest outlook.
Beyond the infrastructure pipeline
Opportunities and chokepoints.