{"id":771491,"date":"2025-02-06T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T07:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=771491"},"modified":"2025-02-06T18:21:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:21:58","slug":"corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","title":{"rendered":"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intended to break from the traditional \u2018take, make, dispose\u2019 construction model, the two-storey building\u2019s design \u2013 for a company which supplies rigging to the creative industries \u2013 prioritises materials that can be repurposed and dismantled.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The design team worked closely with the managing director\u00a0 Tom Harper, an expert in circular economy principles, and the building integrates reused materials such as steel and circularly certified components.<\/p>\n

Using a fabric-first approach and high thermal efficiency, the design incorporates air-source heat pumps, roof-mounted photovoltaics and rainwater harvesting.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Architect\u2019s view<\/h3>\n

The building design prioritises functionality and user experience, featuring two rectangular wings connected by a central double-height atrium with a striking staircase, framing a landscaped courtyard. This inviting space serves as the heart of the building, enhancing employee and visitor experience.<\/p>\n

Internally, the layout offers a blend of open-plan offices, private meeting rooms, breakout areas and a canteen, balancing collaboration and privacy while allowing for flexibility as the company evolves. The design adheres to Passivhaus standards, minimising embodied carbon while ensuring high energy efficiency. Biophilic design principles, such as natural planting and organic forms, are seamlessly integrated, promoting a healthier and more productive workplace.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Circular economy principles guided the interior fit-out, focusing on low embodied carbon and high reuse potential. Cradle-to-cradle-certified materials and reversible fixing methods were used to minimise waste, ensuring the building\u2019s longevity and sustainability.<\/p>\n

Unusual HQ incorporates a variety of sustainable design elements. The building uses renewable energy sources, including rooftop photovoltaics and a ground-source heat pump. Materials including cork flooring, recyclable carpet tiles, and Accoya timber cladding reflect a commitment to long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n

Breathable, natural paints and cradle-to-cradle-certified furniture were selected to ensure indoor air quality and ease of disassembly at the end of the building\u2019s life. By focusing on reusable materials and low-carbon solutions, Corstorphine & Wright has created a new building that is as functional as it is environmentally responsible.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Unusual HQ serves as a test bed for innovative materials and construction methods, including the first-ever use of Breathaboard, a sustainable alternative to traditional plasterboard. The building\u2019s design emphasises the future reuse of materials, ensuring that the structure can be easily disassembled and repurposed at the end of its life. It offers an unparalleled example of how modern businesses can adopt sustainable practices while creating a functional and inspiring workspace.<\/p>\n

The building is a pioneering example of circular economy principles and low-energy design. Built with sustainable, biogenic materials, it has been carefully designed for durability and disassembly, ensuring the building can be reused at the end of its life. The project challenges traditional approaches by addressing the \u2018true cost\u2019 of materials, including their social and environmental impact, and serves as a test bed for the future of sustainable, circular architecture.<\/p>\n

It has been a privilege to deliver this building for Unusual Rigging and I am deeply proud of what we have collectively achieved.
\nJonny Plant, director, Corstorphine & Wright<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Client\u2019s view<\/h3>\n

What a pleasure it has been to have Corstorphine & Wright undertake the design of Unusual\u2019s new HQ and research building. From the start, they embraced our vision of building a new office in accordance with the key principles of the circular economy, in many instances really challenging conventional assumptions about the structural materials used. At a time of global ecological crises, there are few organisations out there who seem to be demonstrating \u2018active hope\u2019, who are showing that an economy that is truly regenerative and restorative by design is a possibility. It has been an inspiring journey.
\nTom Harper, managing director, Unusual Rigging<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Project data<\/h3>\n

Start on site<\/strong> August 2023
\nCompletion date<\/strong> June 2024
\nGross internal floor area<\/strong> 727m2<\/sup>
\nForm of contract or procurement route<\/strong> Design and build
\nConstruction cost<\/strong> Undisclosed
\nArchitect<\/strong> Corstorphine & Wright
\nPlanning design architect<\/strong> Walker Associates
\nClient<\/strong> Unusual Rigging
\nStructural engineer<\/strong> Momentum
\nM&E consultant<\/strong> Ingine\/Front Five
\nSustainability consultant<\/strong> KLH Sustainability
\nLandscape consultant<\/strong> Furse Landscape Architects
\nPrincipal designer<\/strong> Corstorphine & Wright
\nCDM coordinator<\/strong> CDM Services
\nApproved building inspector<\/strong> Assent
\nMain contractor<\/strong> Foxton Construction
\nGlulam and timber frame subcontractor<\/strong> Timber Innovations
\nRoof and cladding subcontractor<\/strong> 1Eighty Roofing Solutions
\nCAD software used<\/strong> Revit<\/p>\n

Environmental Performance data<\/h3>\n

Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2%<\/strong> Not supplied
\nPercentage of floor area with daylight factor >5%<\/strong> Not supplied
\nOn-site energy generation<\/strong> 66.05 kwh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nAnnual mains water consumption<\/strong> Not supplied
\nAirtightness at 50pa<\/strong> 1.0 m3<\/sup>\/h.m2
\n<\/sup>Heating, cooling and hot water load<\/strong> 16.58 kwh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nPrimary energy use<\/strong> -36 kwh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nOverall area-weighted u-value<\/strong> 0.37 w\/m2<\/sup>k
\nDesign life<\/strong> 50 years
\nEmbodied \/ whole-life carbon<\/strong> 364 KgCO2<\/sub>eq\/m2 <\/sup>(A1-A3 estimated)
\nAnnual CO2<\/sub> emissions<\/strong> -2.71 KgCO2<\/sub>eq\/m2<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Intended to break from the traditional \u2018take, make, dispose\u2019 construction model, the two-storey building\u2019s design \u2013 for a company which supplies rigging to the creative industries \u2013 prioritises materials that can be repurposed and dismantled. \u00a0 The design team worked closely with the managing director\u00a0 Tom Harper, an expert in circular economy principles, and the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32845,"featured_media":773474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[4286,3938,2156],"yoast_head":"\nCorstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Architects\u2019 Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-06T07:00:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-06T18:21:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/06000958\/RACHELFERRIMAN-UNUSUAL-0003-1024x683.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rob Wilson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rob Wilson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building\",\"name\":\"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-06T07:00:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-06T18:21:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/12806917e77ff2de74f79bac098aac26\"},\"description\":\"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"The Architects\u2019 Journal\",\"description\":\"Architecture News & Buildings\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/12806917e77ff2de74f79bac098aac26\",\"name\":\"Rob Wilson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/ed60d01e238ce7e0d3e0737fc651d917\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/48d9a751a55d1fed69daf73efdcee3c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/48d9a751a55d1fed69daf73efdcee3c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rob Wilson\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/author\/rob-wilson-2\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building","description":"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building","og_description":"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes","og_url":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","og_site_name":"The Architects\u2019 Journal","article_published_time":"2025-02-06T07:00:55+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-02-06T18:21:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/06000958\/RACHELFERRIMAN-UNUSUAL-0003-1024x683.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Rob Wilson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rob Wilson","Estimated reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","url":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building","name":"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-02-06T07:00:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-06T18:21:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/12806917e77ff2de74f79bac098aac26"},"description":"The Northampton headquarters of Unusual Rigging has a glulam timber frame, uses biogenic and reused materials and produces more energy than it consumes","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/corstorphine-wright-designs-testbed-circular-economy-hq-building#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Corstorphine & Wright designs \u2018testbed\u2019 circular-economy HQ building"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/","name":"The Architects\u2019 Journal","description":"Architecture News & Buildings","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/12806917e77ff2de74f79bac098aac26","name":"Rob Wilson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/ed60d01e238ce7e0d3e0737fc651d917","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/48d9a751a55d1fed69daf73efdcee3c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/48d9a751a55d1fed69daf73efdcee3c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rob Wilson"},"url":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/author\/rob-wilson-2"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771491"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32845"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=771491"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":773574,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771491\/revisions\/773574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/773474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=771491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=771491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=771491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}