Sandbox from Buro Happold

Joining the dots: How integrated infrastructure builds a resilient future – Sandbox Extra FOMO5 1, from ‘Resilient by Design, Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future’

What does ‘resilience’ really mean when it comes to infrastructure? 

It is more than just bouncing back from disruption. As Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, explains in our latest episode of Sandbox, resilience is about designing systems that can adapt to change, and recover quickly - especially in the face of climate events, energy crises, or digital disruptions. 

Infrastructure is deeply interconnected, and our ability to respond to emergencies depends on how well these systems work together. That is why integration matters. Resilience can’t be built in silos. It requires joined-up thinking, from policy and planning to investment and implementation. 

In this short FOMO5 episode, taken from the full episode, Paula joins host Andy Duncan and fellow Buro Happold expert Chris Glover, Director of Utilities and Energy, to explore how integrated infrastructure can help us build a more resilient, sustainable future. 

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.

Sandbox Extra: Resilient by Design: Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future

How can major infrastructure be designed for tomorrow’s challenges?

From powering our homes to connecting cities, infrastructure is the backbone of modern life - yet it often goes unnoticed.  

In our latest episode of Sandbox, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’, our Buro Happold experts unpack what it really means to design infrastructure that is ready for tomorrow’s challenges. 

Tune in to discover: 

• What resilience means in the context of infrastructure, and why it matters now more than ever. 

• How climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience must evolve together. 

• Why long-term thinking, cross-sector collaboration and smarter policy are essential to futureproofing our built environment. 

Our regular host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.  

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).  

The future of stadia: what next? FOMO5 4, from Ep.12

What could a stadium look like in 2045? Our panel ‘header’ into the future in our latest ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

From holographic sports games to multi-use community hubs and immersive concert experiences, the future of UK stadia is bursting with possibility. 

Taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising community spaces’, this short episode explores visionary ideas of what innovations could be made to stadia in 20 years' time.    

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.     

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.     

Re-thinking stadia design...for next gen by next gen: FOMO5 3, from Ep.12

The future of stadia design: Built for the next generation, by the next generation.

Designing the stadiums of tomorrow involves a mix of considerations - from retrofitting existing structures to enhancing community impact and meeting sustainability goals.

In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘Beyond the game: Energising community spaces’, Paul Eddleston explores his work around designing community-centric stadia through Buro Happold’s Urban C:lab initiative, which encourages professionals to think creatively about the future of the built environment.

In the short episode, Paul discusses challenging traditional assumptions and re-thinking stadiums as vibrant, inclusive hubs that serve far more than just sport – they also unlock new possibilities for local communities.

Paul said: “We can turn around the thought of how we design, to be designed for everything but sport.

“We have the sport nailed, so maybe we can think of the building in terms of the 340 days it’s not in use and the sport will come naturally.”

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

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).

The power of place in fan experience: FOMO5 2, from Ep.12

How could rethinking a stadium's infrastructure needs create a powerful new sense of place?

It’s not just about what happens on the pitch. With tens of thousands of fans attending major events, the infrastructure around a stadium plays a huge role in shaping the overall experience - from crowd flow and transport to public spaces and connectivity.

In our latest Sandbox FOMO5, Buro Happold’s Colin Byrne explores how stadiums can become powerful anchors for wider urban improvement:

• Colin highlights opportunities to integrate transport and utilities, using Wembley Stadium as an example, where over 8,000 homes have been built nearby to boost local connectivity.
• He also emphasises the importance of well-designed public spaces that allow fans to move in and out smoothly, helping to diversify access points and reduce congestion.
• And it doesn’t stop at the final whistle. By offering more amenities and entertainment before and after matches, stadiums can encourage staggered arrival and departure times, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

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). 

Stadiums for all: FOMO5 1, from Ep.12

How could stadia become the new heart of their community beyond game day? That was the question put to our guests in this episode… 

With the weekend on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to ‘kick back’ and listen to our sportiest episode yet of ‘Sandbox’. 

Stadia are more than just venues for sport - they’re economic and cultural powerhouses that bring people together. But what happens when the final whistle blows? And how can their full potential be unlocked for local communities all year round? 

This week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 dives into ways to re-imagine stadium spaces - from hosting concerts and school events to transforming underused areas into vibrant community hubs. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

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.12: Beyond the Game: Energising community spaces

On your marks, get set, LISTEN: Start your week with our latest episode of ‘Sandbox’...  

From football to cricket, sports are woven into the fabric of our lives. As one of our panel guests, Colin Byrne, brilliantly puts it: “If you look back in cave paintings in France about 15,000 years ago, they're depicting sprinting and wrestling matches. 

“And that sums up that we've always been interested in, always been watching, always been reporting on sport. And I think that's because these moments create these formative parts of people's lives and their upbringings.” 

Stadiums, the heart of these sports, create spaces for communities to unite. Yet, many of these iconic landmarks stand empty on non-match days.  

In our latest episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising Community Spaces’, our Buro Happold experts explore how stadiums can be transformed for year-round use. 

Tune in to discover: 

• The future of stadia design and Buro Happold’s Urban C:lab innovations 

• How the infrastructure around stadiums can create vibrant city hubs 

• Ways to utilise stadiums on non-match days for community benefit 

• The multi-functional uses of stadiums – from concerts to community outreach 

• Our panel’s visionary ‘dream’ scenarios 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.   

So, ‘kick’ back and enjoy this episode, and why not 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).  

How lightly can we travel? Sandbox Extra FOMO5 2, from ‘Summer in the City’

How lightly can we travel to be more sustainable tourists? 

With summer holidays fast approaching, many of us are planning trips across the UK or abroad to enjoy new cuisines, explore historic sites, and soak up the sun. 

In our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 features an insightful excerpt from Episode 10, ‘Sustainable Tourism: Travelling to a greener future.’ Hear from Lindsay Hawdon, former Sunday Times and Telegraph travel columnist, writer of fiction, and guest lecturer, on how tourists can travel sustainably and truly integrate into the places they visit. 

Lindsay shared how the pandemic led residents in Bath to rediscover their city as tourists, saying: “A kind of strange thing happened during COVID in Bath in that local residents discovered the city as tourists themselves. You know, suddenly there were no tourists visiting and you were able to sort of fall back in love with your city as a tourist might.” 

In this FOMO5, our regular host Andy Duncan also discusses some Buro Happold UK projects which you can visit this summer, from Mayfield Park in Manchester to Battersea Power Station, London. Read more about our projects by visiting the Buro Happold website. 

Tune in to this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 for all the insights. 

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).  

Buildings vs. Heatwaves: Sandbox Extra FOMO5 1, from ‘Summer in the City’

As temperatures soar in the UK, it's crucial to adapt our buildings to withstand the heat. 

Buildings vs Heatwaves: How do we boost resilience in extreme weather?  

Taken from our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 highlights an insightful extract from Episode 05, ‘Weathering Heights’. Join Smith Mordak, Chief Executive of UKGBC, and Lara Balazs, Associate, Buro Happold, as they explore how we can optimise energy use and enhance our homes for extreme weather. 

Lara emphasised the importance of understanding our homes better, such as using cross ventilation to save energy and stay comfortable. Lara said: “Getting comfortable with building physics and also with energy is such an important thing to be able to understand how you can use it better and just make sure that you're using our shared resources in a much more efficient way.”     

Smith, discussing the weather when it comes to energy efficiency, added, “The same way you check the weather before you decide what you're going to put on before you go outside, maybe we need to just be thinking a little bit more about the weather and our energy use.” 

Tune in to this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 to learn more about making our buildings more resilient and energy efficient. 

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).  

Sandbox Extra: Summer in the City - how engineering shapes seasonal urban life

Summer in the City: How Engineering Shapes Seasonal Urban Life. 

With summer fast approaching and temperatures in areas across the UK set to soar above 25°C next week, it’s time to ask: are our cities ready to keep us cool, connected and resilient?  

In this special Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode we revisit some of the powerful moments from our previous episodes, to explore how clever engineering helps us cope with rising temperatures. From smart water management strategies through droughts, to the value of accessible green spaces and the roles of thoughtful design in supporting tourism and community life; discover the interventions that will help our urban environments thrive in the heat.  

Here is a quick overview of the key topics discussed in this episode: 

• Urban Heat & Building Resilience: Hear from Smith Mordak, Chief Executive of UKGBC and Lara Balazs, Buro Happold, on protecting our building stock as temperatures rise. 

• Green Spaces & Biodiversity: Insights from Tamsin Westhorpe, RHS Judge, horticultural journalist and gardener, on the importance of ecological education and making the most of city parks.  

• Water Management: Tom McNamara, Founder of FreeUp, discusses a two-tier water system and the impacts of climate change, including 60% drier summers and 30% wetter winters. 

• Community Connectivity: Buro Happold’s Lawrie Robertson and Rainier Valcarcel explore how London’s community hubs thrive in the summer. 

• Sustainable Tourism: Lindsay Hawdon, travel writer and guest lecturer, shares how to rediscover cities sustainably and enjoy local tourism. 

• Wellbeing in Urban Environments: Hear from our acoustic and lighting experts Daniel Bailey and Lena Kalpakidi on how we can enhance productivity and wellbeing indoors through better acoustic and lighting design. 

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).