About Martin.wild

Future challenge:
Overheating in purpose built domestic high rise blocks as a result of a warming climate and the Urban Heat Island will result in increase mortality rates in the frail and vulnerable of our society. Existing building stock of this type from the 1960-70's are not designed to cope with a future warming climate. Today there is no legislation requiring cooling for domestic builds or refurbishments; but this does not mean that we can't negate a foreseeable problem by incorporating better design at an earlier stage.
Design Solution:
As many of these buildings old or new have a dense core predominately made of concrete, it would be possible to design them to incorporate a Thermal Active Building System (TABS) which can provide the necessary cooling load to negate the need for air-conditioning in years to come. TABS have mostly been used in commercial buildings and have not been widely adopted in a high rise domestic setting before.
A TABS solution can be achieved through careful design at an early stage in new developments and can even be retrofitted to existing building stock through various mounted systems.
An added advantage to this technology is that is can help maintain a constant cool core temperature to the building in a prolonged heat period thus reducing the load on additional mechanical means of ventilation and cooling. TABSs are also able to make use of renewable resources, like the mean annual ground temperature for cooling the water that is needed to flow through the buildings core. This same mechanism can also be used to help alleviate some of the heating requirements in cooler months; thus providing both heating and cooling options.
Martin Wild
Student
Open University
BSc Design & Innovation
Featured articles and news
Grenfell Tower fire – eight years on
A time to pause and reflect as Dubai tower block fire reported just before anniversary.
Airtightness Topic Guide BSRIA TG 27/2025
Explaining the basics of airtightness, what it is, why it's important, when it's required and how it's carried out.
Construction contract awards hit lowest point of 2025
Plummeting for second consecutive month, intensifying concerns for housing and infrastructure goals.
Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025
Examining the state of mental health in construction, shedding light on levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
The benefits of engaging with insulation manufacturers
When considering ground floor constructions.
Lighting Industry endorses Blueprint for Electrification
The Lighting Industry Association fully supports the ECA Blueprint as a timely, urgent call to action.
BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
Strengthening expertise to enhance service delivery with integrated cutting-edge industry knowledge.
Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
Free sustainability skills, training and support delivered to thousands of UK companies to help cut carbon.
The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.