Ricketts advocates that architects should develop their intuition and new rules of thumb to design for a changing climate. Architecture needs to adapt to incorporate materials from waste streams, and this requires a new approach to detailing\u00a0 and ongoing maintenance. \u2018The industry is going through a huge learning process and we should not be scared of getting it wrong,\u2019 she says. Marginal gains on every project are important.<\/p>\n
In this episode, Ricketts describes the process of developing a bespoke brick<\/a> for the Design Museum Gent<\/a> in Belgium. She explains that the practice did not start with a bespoke brick in mind. Because conventional clay fired bricks are high in embodied carbon, an exploration of less carbon intensive alternatives led to an in depth collaboration with Local Works Studio and Brussels-based bcmaterials that in turn led to incorporating local waste streams into the design of the new brick.<\/p>\n Innovation requires R&D and funding, and the project team secured \u20ac100K from Circular Flanders for the initial research. Lime is used as a binder, which means that the bricks can be cured, rather than fired. Due to the biodiversity impacts of mining virgin sand, alternatives to the sand used in conventional brick manufacturing were explored and this led first to excavation waste and then to municipal waste. Extensive testing was undertaken to meet both structural and aesthetic requirements.<\/p>\n Ricketts observes that the process of developing the bespoke brick for Ghent has strengthened the practice\u2019s confidence in seeking opportunities for both innovation and circularity in future projects. Carmody Groarke is currently working with Imperial-based startup Seratech to explore the use of magnesium carbonate as a binder for bricks.<\/p>\n To catch up on all episodes of AJ Climate Champions, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find Climate Champions on your favourite podcast app: subscribe via Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Google Podcasts<\/a>, Deezer<\/a>\u00a0and Podbean<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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