Ecobuild is back and looking to the future for sustainable design
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Ecobuild (www.ecobuild.co.uk ), the world’s premier showcase for sustainability and the built environment, returns to London’s ExCeL in March 2013. We take a closer look at what’s on offer for the architectural technology community.
Ecobuild – taking place from March 5th to 7th at London’s ExCeL, should be a date in the diary for anyone working in the architecture field. It’s the world’s largest showcase for sustainable design and construction and offers more than 1,500 exhibitors, 1100 expert speakers, plus dozens of interactive and educational attractions.
The three-day event is the perfect opportunity for architects to rub shoulders with academics, government representatives and a whole range of industry experts, to discuss the latest developments in the world of sustainable design.
This year, top architects from around the world will meet at Ecobuild to debate current issues facing the future of the profession at Ecobuild’s ‘Design Architecture & Sustainability’ conference.
RIBA president Angela Brady will kick off day one with the hot topic of ‘Sustainable design should be irresistible design’ and will be joined by Louis Becker, International Director and partner from international architecture practice Henning Larsen.
The crème de la crème of the design world will come together in the Ecobuild Arena at the heart of the show floor to cover topical issues such as ‘Reinventing the high street’ led by the Chief Executive of Igloo and ‘Encouraging sustainability through art’ with Oliver James, psychologist, writer and broadcaster and Tom Hodgkinson, writer, editor from The Idler.
‘Is BIM the saviour of sustainable design?’ is set to be an engaging debate, bringing together experts from ARUP, Make Architects and Penoyre & Prasad and hosted by Thomas Lane, Group Technical Editor, Building Magazine and Ecobuild.
Kieran Long, architecture critic from the Evening Standard will ask the important question ‘How far can wood replace concrete and steel?’, whilst Aecom’s Sustainability Director will focus on the latest issues and opportunities surrounding ‘Water sensitive urban design’.
Further issues to be covered include ‘How can design help to create sustainable communities?’ and ‘Lessons from the past’ led by Professor Herbert Girardet, co-founder of the World Future Council.
Ecobuild will also bring together a wealth of top sustainability experts to debate and share their unique perspectives on the global sustainability agenda with the launch of its Sustainability Overseas conference programme.
Forming part of Ecobuild 2013’s wider conference programme in association with UKGBC, the one-day conference stream will take place on Wednesday 6th March 2013 covering the challenges and opportunities of sustainability around the world with experts from UK Green Building Council, RICS, AECOM, International Sustainability Alliance, BRE, Premier Inn and many more. For the full programme line-up and speaker information, please visit https://bit.ly/sustainabilityoverseas
Industry experts will discuss hot topics such as ‘Understanding the sustainability drivers in overseas markets’, ‘What sustainability strategies are needed for different climatic zones?’ ‘What and where are the market opportunities for sustainability expertise in BRIC nations?’ and ‘Successfully delivering sustainable buildings in emerging markets’.
Set to be an exciting year, 2013 will also see a wealth of new features and content showcased at Ecobuild. The new Future Materials Gallery is a must-see for every architectural technologist. Think scientists in lab coats and beakers bubbling away, the new Future Materials Gallery will bring the world’s latest building technologies together in a futuristic showcase to educate and inspire the next generation of architects at Ecobuild 2013.
Mind-blowing innovations will be on display, from self-healing concrete and use of ‘biomimicry’ – stone, cement and wood substitutes, to heat responsive ‘thermobimetals’ metals that act like human skin, and the pioneering application of “blue smoke” – the world’s lightest solid, to create see-through doors, windows and structures without fear of heat loss.
Also new for 2013, The Light Box will take architects on a journey from day to night; showcasing the latest sustainable lighting technologies as they walk through this inspirational feature.
From daylighting design and energy efficient LEDs, light bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL), to emerging technologies such as sunlight transportation, visitors will learn how to implement sustainable lighting solutions that dramatically reduce energy consumption and address the latest environmental regulations.
To register for your free ticket, please go to www.ecobuild.co.uk/register