Sandbox from Buro Happold

Ep.04: 'Life's essentials: Water, Power and Plants'

‘Sandbox’ so far: Revisiting thought-provoking ideas on what could be done to roll back some of the negative impact human activity has had on the Earth’s ecosystem... 

Over the last three episodes, we have explored some of the main aspects of the fundamentals of life within the built environment; from water and its management in the UK, to biodiversity and re-greening our cities, and finally, to our third episode, which explores energy sources. The panels discussed what has led us to this crucial turning point, and what the future of truly sustainable energy could look like, without further damaging the only planet we have! 

Our latest episode ‘Life’s Essentials: Water, Power and Plants’ covers unmissable moments explored in each episode so far, from why we’ve got to where we are now, what local authorities, professionals and even the individual can contribute to improving the situation we find ourselves in now. 

We each have a certain responsibility in this process, even tiny changes of habits build exponentially with more people involved. Our experts and guests examine and propose potential solutions to the various challenges we face today. 

This episode features all of our Buro Happold experts and external guests so far, and of course our regular host, Andy Duncan. 

Here’s a helpful navigation list to the full episode below: 

• 9:12 - Reimagining urban spaces and the role of nature.  
• 12:37 - Water management solutions in urban areas.  
• 13:31 - A multi-source approach to energy transition. 
• 16:48 - Challenges and potential of the Electrify Everything Strategy 
• 20:02 - Pros and cons of a two-tier water system. 
• 27:20 - Nature-based solutions and multifunctional infrastructure.  
• 29:47 - The power of collective curiosity in inciting real change.  

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/BuroHappold). 

 

How each of us can contribute to an equitable energy future: Sandbox FOMO5 3, from Ep.03

How can we all work together for a more equitable energy future in the UK? And what can the individual actually do? Find out what’s in our ‘Power’ in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5… 

The final FOMO5 from our third ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Powering On – Energy: Past, Present and Future’, explores what we as individuals can do to make a difference to how the UK could be powered.   

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/BuroHappold).   

 

Communities at the heart of an energy revolution: Sandbox FOMO5 2, from Ep.03

‘We have to organise together’: How could a community focused approach lead to more energy efficient generation? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

The key takeaway from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode - ‘Powering On – Energy: Past, Present, and Future’ - is that there are many potential outcomes for the future of energy in the UK. One of these is determining how energy is used, and by what interventions, by the local community. 

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/BuroHappold).  

How early sci-fi authors imagined the future of energy - were they right? Sandbox FOMO5 1, from Ep.03

The surprising realisation that many sci-fi authors and visionaries from hundreds of years ago imagined ‘extraordinary’ energy sources, such as solar power and all electric futures well before they came into being... 

In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5… 

The industrial revolution and the reliance on coal - one source of power - probed visionaries in the 19th century to question what would happen when the coal eventually ran out.  

Professor Iwan Rhys Morus, our special guest in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, discusses science fiction authors from the Victorian era, including the novel by John Jacob Astor, ‘A Journey in Other Worlds’ (1894). In this, Aster imagines a future where there is a windmill on every house and the rivers are able to generate electricity. However, as Iwan said, “…it's important to remember that they weren't actually thinking about renewable energy.

Listen to this 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/BuroHappold).  

 

Ep 03: 'Powering On' - Energy: Past, Present & Future

Did you know that one of the earliest ideas of solar power, called the ‘sunpower screen’, was featured in a sci-fi short story in the 1940s? The past, present and future of energy in the UK is explored in our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode... 

In the UK, we currently use various sustainable power sources, making up nearly 50% of our energy outputs, including solar and wind energy. But the question is: What next?  

In our latest Sandbox Episode, ‘Powering On - Energy: Past, Present & Future', our panel discusses how we have got to this point and what potential future methods we could be using to power our energy sources.   

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, are Buro Happold energy experts Maddie McTaggart, Associate Director and Benjamin Jones, Associate Director. Our special guest in this episode is Professor Iwan Rhys Morus, an author, science historian and professor of history at Aberystwyth University. Iwan has written numerous books, including his most recent work, How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon (Icon, 2022) which looked at concepts from sci-fi authors as well as contemporary ‘inventors’ such as Tesla. 

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/BuroHappold). 

Sandbox FOMO5 3, from Ep.02 ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’

What can the individual do to help re-green our cities? And did you know you can get insects delivered by Royal Mail, but why would you? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

As individuals, we can collectively make a difference to the world around us. When it comes to re-greening our urban areas, there is something we can all do to help, whether it be inspiring each other to plant more in our gardens or window boxes, or even working with the local community to create more urban greenery.   

In our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode - ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’ - our guests explore ways in which the individual can help.  

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/BuroHappold). 

Sandbox FOMO5 2, from Ep.02 ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’

How can education lead to environmental benefits and help biodiversity to thrive? And how does this impact all of us in a positive way?

Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...

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/BuroHappold).

Sandbox FOMO5 1, from Ep.02 ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – what is it and why does it matter to all of us? Find out in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

In our latest Sandbox episode - ‘Urban Wonderlands: grey or green?’, our panel explores the importance of the recent BNG regulation, and how it can be applied throughout urban areas and across the UK.  

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/BuroHappold).

 

Ep 02: 'Urban Wonderlands: Grey or Green?' - Biodiversity and its positive effects on our health and wellbeing

Why is having green space in our cities so important? How can we implement Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) - what exactly is it and why is it important? 

All of these questions and more, are answered in this new ‘Sandbox’ episode - ‘Urban Wonderlands: Grey or Green’. 

Taking part in this episode are Buro Happold experts Colin Byrne, Partner, Cities Infrastructure, and Aaron Grainger, Associate Director, UK Ecology and Biodiversity Management. Joining them is our special guest, Tamsin Westhorpe, who is a horticulturalist and leading figure in garden media, as well as a Royal Horticultural Society Judge. 

In this episode, our panel delves into the current issues at hand, such as why we are not seeing enough green space maintained throughout urban areas in the UK, and what the impacts of this are on human health & wellbeing and fighting the climate crisis in our cities. 

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/BuroHappold). 

Sandbox FOMO5 3, from Ep.01 'Troubled Waters'

Why is it important for rain to fall and be collected in the right place, and how on earth could we make that happen? Find out in our final ‘Troubled Waters’ FOMO5, taken from our very first episode. 

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/BuroHappold).