Sandbox from Buro Happold

Ep.08: Echoes and Flow - The Science of Memorable Venues

Do you have a favourite venue? If so, what makes it so special? Join us for our very festive and most recent episode of ‘Sandbox’, where our panel goes behind the scenes... 

In our latest podcast episode, ‘Echoes and Flow: The Science of Memorable Venues,’ we dive into this question from multiple angles. Join our experts as they discuss how engineering helps to elevate experiences for both the performers and visitors alike. And for a special insight from both sides, our special guest, actor and stand-up comedian Alistair Barrie, shares his perspective from both the performer and visitor viewpoints. 

From perfect temperature control to optimal audience seating and smooth crowd management, many factors contribute to a venue's success. But what makes a venue stand out and offer a unique, enjoyable experience? Tune in to the full episode for all the fascinating insights. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Christine Lowry, Partner, and Dr. Becky Hayward, Associate Director. Our special guest in this episode is Alistair Barrie, comedian and actor. Alistair performs at major events including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (where he has been nominated twice for best show), and Glastonbury. You can also find him regularly on the BBC, Times Radio and a wide range of podcasts.  

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.  

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

From the circular economy to true multi-level user engagement, what are the benefits of Digital Twins? Sandbox FOMO5 1, from Ep.07

Digital twins are changing the ‘game’ for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. From looking at how assets can be re-utilised at the end of a project lifecycle, to creating a ‘virtual library of materials’, Digital Twins are crucial in providing foresight into the circular economy of a project. 

Digital Twins are also significant in creating places which are determined by the communities that live there. One of our Buro Happold experts on this episode’s panel, Miraj Patel, discussed a Digital Twin project in Barkham, saying: “We needed to find a suitable pathway for communities to switch to electricity in a renewable way that also helped them.  

“The idea behind it was to take a snapshot of the village as it was, build a Digital Twin off that, and then run various energy scenarios, allowing for a targeted approach that benefitted the community. 

“And through that, we were able to get the community's input. We are looking to push this many years into the future. It would allow you to simulate what a place would be like in 10, 15, 20 years, and that is quite powerful.” 

Along with our regular host, Andy Duncan, this latest Sandbox episode features: 

• Robert Moyser, Partner and Head of UK Advisory, Buro Happold 

• Miraj Patel, Associate, Buro Happold 

• Special guest Simon Blakeney, XR Expert and Account Manager at Epic Games 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

 

Ep.07: Digital by Design: From gaming to virtual buildings

How video games led to an incredible leap in engineering design: What are Digital Twins, and why are they crucial to the future of the built environment? Find out more in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Digital by Design: From gaming to virtual buildings'...  

The Unreal Engine from Epic Games is used, not only in games such as Fortnite, which has over 650 million registered users worldwide, but also across various industries, including the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.  

The digital world of engineering has grown exponentially over the last 20 years, from the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) to Building Information Modelling (BIM), and now to Digital Twins, which are the digital replica of a physical entity.  

Joining our regular host, Andy Duncan, in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Robert Moyser, Partner and Head of UK Advisory, and Miraj Patel, Associate. Our special guest in this episode is Simon Blakeney, Twinmotion, and XR expert and Account Manager at Epic Games. Simon helps AEC firms successfully adopt cutting-edge real-time solutions through integration and scaling of the many software solutions under the Unreal Engine umbrella.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

Building re-use: Preserving building identity for cities - Sandbox FOMO5 3, from Ep.06

“When you work in the built environment, it’s not just ones and zeros and black and white, it's real stuff that affects people's lives - it's where people live.” Darren Conboy, panelist on our most recent Sandbox episode, ‘Revolution in Retrofit’. 

How could we keep vacant buildings in use and relevant for communities, without changing their character?  And how could this lead to the transformation of an entire area? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5. 

Our panel explored the importance of retrofit for the surrounding community - Darren Conboy continued... 

‘...getting the chance to do things where you help people, a place really to get on living their lives, is really rewarding. Historic buildings are integral to the fabric of our UK cities – not only for city identity, but also for the communities which live there.’ 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Ana Araújo, Partner and UK Facades leader, and Darren Conboy, Associate. Our special guest for this episode was Gillian Darley OBE - a leading architectural historian, writer and broadcaster with a background in conservation, who has written books such as Excellent Essex, and featured on television with shows including Channel 4's Built in Britain and BBC2's The Man Who Fought the Planners.   

Listen to the full FOMO5 episode to find out more...  

Subscribe to the whole series; sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

Upcycling and Retrofit? Sandbox FOMO5 2, from Ep.06

Retrofit, material reuse and the circular economy – how can we, as individuals, play our part? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

We can all adopt the basic principles of retrofit across our existing assets to help tackle the climate crisis. Examples include making more sustainable changes in our homes, mending rather than replacing, to upcycling a piece of IKEA furniture (there’s even websites dedicated to change of use for older pieces!). 

In our most recent episode of ‘Sandbox’, our panel explores this idea, along with the importance of re-using materials within the circular economy. Darren Conboy, Associate, Buro Happold, said: “It's easy to be tempted to take things and use them and throw them away and actually there is a much more promising future for a lot of the materials we have, and it's the same for existing buildings as it is for furniture.” 

Ana Araujo, Partner, Buro Happold, added: “The next step for us as an industry is to create a real economy around materials. 

“We have this amazing built stock that is out there, which was probably built in a time when we had different needs as a society. So, it's not just about making them more efficient, but it's also about how we adapt for current needs.” 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Ana Araújo and Darren Conboy, and our special guest Gillian Darley OBE, a leading architectural historian, writer and broadcaster with a background in conservation, who has written books such as Excellent Essex, and featured on television with shows including Channel 4's Built in Britain and BBC2's The Man Who Fought the Planners.   

Listen to the full FOMO5 episode to find out more...  

Subscribe to the whole series; sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).   

Retrofit: Can you define it? Sandbox FOMO5 1, from Ep.06

‘It needs to be a very broad definition of making changes to keep a building occupied, relevant, and as efficient as possible’: How can ‘retrofit’ be defined? Find out more in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode... 

The definition of ‘retrofit’ has evolved over time – and even to this day the interpretations vary. In our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Revolution in Retrofit: Beyond Bricks for a Greener Future’, we asked our panel to distill their own definitions of the term.  

Ana Araujo, Partner and UK Facades Group Leader, discussed how, “...in 2024, there’s still some debate on what retrofit means.  

“For me, it needs to be a very broad definition of making changes to keep a building occupied, relevant and as efficient as possible.” 

Our special guest in this episode, Gillian Darley OBE, highlighted the success story of the Bartlett School of Architecture, which transformed a 1970s building into a thriving space, proving that structures can be revitalised. 

Darren Conboy, Associate, Buro Happold noted how each project presents unique opportunities, saying: “I think the aspect that's most meaningful to me about it is the buildings which have fallen out of use, they used to have a real kind of meaningful day to day use for people and then for whatever reason that's ended. 

“And it's tempting to think that's the end of the building's life, but a lot of times these buildings do still have a promising future via retrofit.” 

Listen to the full FOMO5 episode to find out more...  

Subscribe to the whole series; sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).   

Ep.06: ‘Revolution in Retrofit’: Beyond Bricks for a Greener Future

From historic structures to more contemporary developments, how could our buildings be retrofitted to stand the test of time for future generations? And how will they be used? These ideas, and more, are explored in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode... 

Whether it is ‘refurbishment’ or ‘repurposing’, there are many terms to describe the concept of ‘retrofit’. With the UK’s net zero targets in mind, there are various ways in which the built environment can reduce its impact on the climate, with one example being retrofitting viable existing buildings, and material re-use (in other words, the circular economy).  

Retrofit is also crucial in preserving heritage buildings which are so vital to the identities of our towns and cities across the UK. With a whole host of other benefits to consider - from reducing possible risk, regenerating areas through considered interventions, to giving a building an entirely new purpose that opens it up to the community - retrofit has so many opportunities for everyone involved in the process.  

Episode 06 of ‘Sandbox’ - ‘Revolution in Retrofit: Beyond Bricks for a Greener Future’ explores these ideas, and many more.  

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, are Buro Happold experts Ana Araújo, Partner and UK Facades Group Leader, and Darren Conboy, Associate, Structures. Our special guest in this episode is Gillian Darley OBE, a leading architectural historian, writer and broadcaster with a background in conservation, who has written books such as Excellent Essex, and featured on television with shows including Channel 4's Built in Britain and BBC2's The Man Who Fought the Planners.  

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.  

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

 

Beyond Bricks for a Greener Future: Upcoming Ep.06 - 'Revolution in Retrofit'

Retrofit, Refurbishment, Restoration: What actually is retrofit and how does repurposing older buildings keep them current and in use for future generations? Find out more in our upcoming ‘Sandbox’ episode... 

Our buildings are integral parts of the places in which we live. Whether they be heritage buildings which have stood for hundreds of years, or newer buildings from the last decade, they are all embedded into the fabric of our towns and cities across the UK.  

Retrofitting is a hot topic of conversation in our industry at the moment. From material re-use and carbon savings to the ‘domino’ effect of how a good retrofit can influence the regeneration of a whole area, there are many reasons why retrofitting is crucial. But what actually is retrofit, and how is it implemented on a practical scale?  

Many of these ideas, and more, will be explored in our upcoming episode of ‘Sandbox’ - ‘Revolution in Retrofit.’ Joining our regular host, Andy Duncan, will be Buro Happold experts Ana Araujo, Partner, and Darren Conboy, Associate. Our special guest in this episode is Gillian Darley, a leading architectural historian, writer and broadcaster with a background in conservation. 

Listen to the trailer to get a flavour of what will be discussed, and keep an ‘ear’ out for the full episode on the 31st October.  

From SMART Technology to retrofitting, what solutions do we have now to make our UK buildings more resilient against climate change? Sandbox FOMO5 2, from Ep.05

‘We have most of the solutions we need already, if we only were brave enough collectively to use those’: From SMART Tech to retrofit, what solutions are we already utilising to help prepare our UK building stock for the effects of climate change? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5…

Technology, along with both active and passive solutions to adapt our buildings, are current methods being used to prepare our buildings across the UK for the effects of climate change and extreme weather.

Tom Newby, Director, Structures, Buro Happold, discussing the different contributors to a passive solution, noted how the most important element is the fabric of the building, and that, “a well-insulated building could have thick walls and the small windows to control energy gain and energy loss.”

Smith Mordak, our special guest in this episode, also discussing passive solutions, said: “A fun way I like to remember it is that a passive solution will work in a power cut.”   

Listen to the full FOMO5 episode to find out more... 

Subscribe to the whole series; sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.  

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

What can the individual do to be more comfortable inside during extreme weather? Sandbox FOMO5 1, from Ep.05

What can we do to be more comfortable inside during extreme weather? From cooling down in the more extreme summer temperatures, to staying warmer in winter – all without relying on fossil fuels. Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

From understanding more about our buildings to changing behaviours around the way we consume energy, there’s something we can all do to create better conditions within our indoor environments during extreme weather – from artic blasts to heatwaves.  

In our latest Sandbox episode, our panel explored this idea, and gave insights into what the individual can do by understanding more about insulating our homes and our energy usage, not only to make our buildings more comfortable but also to help mitigate the effects of climate change. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Lara Balazs, Cities Energy Associate, and Tom Newby, Director, Structures. Our special guest in this episode is Smith Mordak, Chief Executive at UKGBC and an architect, engineer, and writer, who regularly contributes to national and trade press including the Guardian, Financial Times, Dezeen, and The Architect’s Journal.  

Listen to the full FOMO5 episode to find out more...  

Subscribe to the whole series; sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).