KAAN Architecten’s Post

It's great to see Worship Square in Shoreditch pushing the envelope for sustainable office spaces. A space that’s ready for the future, and that’s something we should all be aiming for! Designed by Make Architects and delivered by JMA Architects and Buro Happold , this project goes well beyond the minimum requirements, aiming for embodied carbon targets more than 50% lower than the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) 2020 baseline, and 18% lower than the 2030 Greater London Authority aspirational benchmark. It also incorporates smart tech to optimise energy use and air quality. But it doesn’t stop there—flexible spaces, communal areas, and even a rooftop vegetable garden show they’re thinking about more than just the building; they’re thinking about the people in it. This focus on well-being and community is exactly the kind of bold thinking the industry needs. It’s a call to action for all of us to rethink what sustainability means in our built environments. https://lnkd.in/ekvW9Yn3 #sustainability #futureofwork #greenbuilding

Yesterday evening, at BASQUE LIVING LONDON's Clerkenwell showroom, Nigel Tresise , Liam Spencer, and Luke Tozer spoke about the opportunities and challenges architects face in delivering buildings which answer society's needs and enrich our lives. Here are 5 key takeaways: 1. Projects have increased in complexity due to the expanded breadth of the brief with an expansion in the number of multi-use buildings and spaces. Increased legislation, policy and certification, including the current feasibility process and sustainability accreditations add further project intricacies. 2. The risk levels for architectural teams and developers are equally high. Lengthened projects put cashflow on a knife edge and unrealistic time demands can make projects untenable. Risk is also a driving factor for the change being seen in workspace leases, now shorter than ever before, and the new ways in which CAT A developments are being positioned for tenants. 3. The acceleration of hybrid working as a societal norm has brought challenges for design studios and businesses alike. We're seeing multi-use projects, both buildings and spaces, deliver a series of solutions which primarily remove the commercial sector boundaries between workplace, hospitality, and retail. This extends into multi-use projects which incorporate residential and workplace spaces. We're also witnessing businesses beginning to mandate 5 working days in the office, facilitated through comprehensive workspace design, positive business culture, and salaries. 4. Relationships with suppliers remain as important as ever. Sample return services are increasingly utilised, especially as material libraries are replaced with digital resources. Specific material and product details are vital for specification with technical ability and sustainability credentials being top priority, followed by cost, before addressing aesthetics. 5. Affordable housing should be at the forefront of our governments plans and a recently launched campaign by Architects for Action for Affordable House, has drawn out 5 affordable housing priorities which would enable a new government to build more and build better. Thank you Daisalux - Emergency Lighting for this opportunity. align design and architecture limited, Pitman Tozer Architects, Anomaly, PARKLEX PRODEMA , OJMAR - Intelligent Locking Systems, Ondarreta, Alys Bryan

You’ve got to love a project that treats sustainability as an integral part of the design, rather than being simply an add-on. I introduce ‘Holbein Gardens’…….. Rethinking Steel: Sustainability at the Forefront in London's Holbein Gardens ♻️️ This project is pushing boundaries in sustainable construction: Holbein Gardens by Heyne Tillett Steel! The office development in London's Sloane Square is a shining example of how we can transform outdated buildings into awesome workspaces with a focus on circularity. Here's what makes Holbein Gardens so interesting: ▶ Pioneering Steel Reuse: A whopping 35% of the structural steel used in the project came from reclaimed sources! This not only reduced embodied carbon but also helped establish a more sustainable approach to construction. ▶ Modern Meets Retro: The project involved refurbishing a 1980s office building and adding a new floor. This clever strategy breathes new life into existing infrastructure while creating a modern and flexible workspace. ▶ Net-Zero Hero: Holbein Gardens is designed to be a net-zero carbon building by 2030. This achievement is thanks to features like an all-electric design, extensive greening, and innovative materials. ♻️ By prioritizing reuse and achieving significant carbon savings, Holbein Gardens sets a new standard for sustainable office development. #SustainableConstruction #SteelReuse #CircularEconomy

In Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, a newly completed LEED Platinum office building, designed with flexible working schedules in mind was recently completed. Opting to use the existing 1950’s buildings on site, instead of demolition and construction of new ones, lowered their overall carbon footprint, but other decisions throughout the process enhanced it. Inside the project, a refurbished atrium is adorned with new gardens and biophilic greens walls to enhance the buildings connection to the outdoors. The materials itself throughout the interior of the project are primarily recycled materials, as well as refurbished and locally sourced. No matter how big or how small, the location or environment, sustainable building practices are possible in every scenario We’re all in this together #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #sustainableconstruction #sustainablecities #sustainablebuilding #sustainability #LEED #leedplatinum #helsinki #finland #renewableenergy #adaptivereuse

Exciting News for London’s City Fringe!🏢 A major office retrofit project on London’s City Fringe has just been given the green light! This ambitious project will revamp over 300,000 sq ft of office space, transforming older buildings into modern, energy-efficient workspaces. The retrofit will focus on sustainability, improving both the environmental footprint and functionality of the existing structures.   With the demand for high-quality, eco-friendly office spaces growing, this project is a timely response to London’s evolving commercial property market. It’s set to revitalise the area, attracting businesses and boosting the local economy while preserving the character of the existing architecture.   As this project moves forward, it’s sure to set new standards for sustainable office developments in London.   Are you looking to be part of exciting transformations like this? Londinium specialises in connecting professionals with top opportunities in the construction and property sectors.    Whether you're expanding your team or looking for your next big role, we can help you succeed!   https://lnkd.in/e7e_MSDC   #Construction #Sustainability #OfficeDevelopment #CityFringe #londiniumrecruitment #GreenBuildings #Recruitment #StaffingSolutions #UrbanRegeneration

Construction has begun on a 61,200 sq m mixed-use development in the eastern Friedrichshain district of #Berlin, designed by Dutch architect MVRDV. The LXK #Office and #Residential Campus is formed of two 10-storey L-shaped volumes comprising 52,000 sq m of #offices and #shops and 9,400 sq m of homes. The #buildings are divided into smaller blocks to diminish their impact on the surroundings. #Residential space is consolidated into a single block of 140 flats, with the corners of both buildings housing restaurants, shops and community facilities. #Office layouts stretch around the buildings’ cores, creating flexible floorplans for #tenants. A central square is joined by an accessible courtyard on the ground floor and rooftop terraces. Jacob Van Rijs, MVRDV’s founding partner, said: “Berlin is one of the most verdant metropolises in #Europe but equally a dynamic, ever-evolving city, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. “#Developments from Alexanderplatz to Mediaspree and beyond, together with vibrant #economic activity and a deep talent pool, are shifting Berlin’s centre of gravity eastwards, and the #mixeduse LXK project will continue to engender lively neighbourhoods, ensuring Berlin’s future remains bright.”

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary examples of office building conversion likely to happen in Canary Wharf. I suppose design by KPF will require converting some of the GLA into very attractive space for people which is what cities need. Looking forward to seeing this happen in #canarywharf 😀 #repositioning #officeconversion #redevelopment #london #realestate #property

KPF (KPF) has revealed exciting new proposals for overhauling Foster + Partners' iconic HSBC tower in Canary Wharf. This ambitious redesign will transform the 45-story building, initially completed in 2002, by incorporating mixed-use elements such as apartments and a hotel. This shift reflects the changing role of office spaces in response to post-pandemic hybrid working trends and increased borrowing costs. HSBC's decision to vacate the building by 2027 has prompted the Canary Wharf Group to rethink the tower's use, aiming to adapt to the evolving needs of the urban landscape. The proposed overhaul highlights the broader trend of repurposing traditional office spaces to accommodate a mix of residential, hospitality, and flexible work environments, catering to new work-life dynamics. The revamp of the HSBC tower is part of a larger vision to revitalise the entire Canary Wharf estate, focusing on creating a more vibrant and sustainable urban environment. This transformation underscores the importance of adaptive reuse in modern architecture, paving the way for innovative solutions that address the demands of contemporary urban living. How do you think the hybrid work model reshapes the design and functionality of office buildings in urban areas? https://lnkd.in/edKHZaSn

It's time for us to rethink the future of our urban spaces. As #cities face housing shortages and office vacancies, the traditional skyscrapers originally built for single use need to adapt and evolve. This article by John Hatcher from Smart Buildings Magazine explains the role of transit management systems and solutions, such as Schindler PORT and Schindler MetaCore, in enabling the flexible conversion of high-rise buildings into dynamic, mixed-use spaces – without major structural changes. Learn more about our innovative approaches to re-purposing #skyscrapers from the inside out. ➡https://lnkd.in/e7gzQbFe #WeElevate #Schindler #Innovation #Architecture #HighRise #Sustainability

OPTIMISING THE LOCATION IN BAD CANNSTATT (Germany) Again our Berlin office was also able to successfully implement this basic idea of Baumschlager Eberle Architekten in a realisation competition for the Bad Cannstatt district of Stuttgart. In terms of urban planning, the task was to create a new mixed-used ensemble on a 4,000 square metre site in place of a monolithic department stores'. It is located on Wilhelmplatz, precisely the interface between the newer buildings and the old part of Bad Cannstatt. The special feature of the design is the synthesis of urban integration and the unique selling point of the four new buildings. These follow the old building structures coherently, but the solitary character of the individual, rounded buildings allow new accents to be set against the old buildings and the newer part of Wilhelmsplatz. It is not only the consumers of the offerings in the buildings (restaurants, food market, boarding...) who can benefit directly from the new project. It is also the passers-by. A system of public and semi-public passages between the individual buildings was developed with particular ingenuity, creating a coherent, pedestrianised connection to the surrounding area - self-explanatory. But our Berlin office's concept does more: the choice of construction and materials keeps energy consumption low, greenery can be found on the roof terraces and photovoltaics make a significant contribution to conserving resources. Completion is scheduled for 2027. The client is the LBBW Immobilien-Gruppe.