RIBA East: Building a Low-Carbon Future

Join Us for an Essential Workshop on Sustainable Materials and Passive Housing

Join RIBA East for an in-depth exploration of sustainable design, featuring expert insights from Ellen Willis, Sustainability Consultant at Chetwoods Thrive, Tom Foggin, Director, Architect and Certified Passivhaus Designer at rhp and Gwilym Still, Director and Passivhaus Designer at Max Fordham.

This workshop brings together two essential strands of sustainable architecture: sustainable material selection and Passivhaus-led building design, with a particular focus on the Passivhaus-certified mixed-use building at Lucy Cavendish College.

Tom and Gwilym will share rare insight into the project’s invisible and visible design considerations from the embodied carbon questions that shaped early strategic decisions to the practical challenges encountered throughout delivery. They will discuss how Passivhaus standards directly influenced both architectural and technical approaches, offering open and honest reflections on lessons learned and identifying opportunities to further close the gap to Net Zero Carbon.

Attendees will take a closer look at rhp’s Lucy Cavendish College project while considering a crucial question: With just four years remaining, are we truly on track to meet RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge and are architects prepared for what it demands?

Ellen will lead an interactive session on sustainable materials, examining the realities of designing for a net-zero future. Through hands-on activities and expert guidance, participants will explore key factors influencing material sustainability, including embodied carbon, health and wellbeing, biodiversity, and the circular economy. The session will also help demystify Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and certification schemes, equipping you with the right questions to ask especially when information is incomplete or unclear.

By the end of the workshop, you will have gained practical knowledge and the confidence to make informed material choices, evaluate sustainability credentials, and align your design decisions with high environmental standards.

This event is kindly sponsored by Ibstock

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