Dezeen, ArchDaily & RIBA Journal Feature
In October, I got to visit University of East London campus for the day and work with Armor Gutiérrez Rivas and Elena Shilova taking some photos of the process and mock up construction of some new technology they've been collaborating on.
Dezeen article here: Grimshaw and UEL develop Sugarcrete blocks that "could replace the traditional brick industry"
Archdaily article here: From Agro-Waste to Sustainable Structures: Concrete Alternatives Made from Sugarcane
RIBA Journal Article here: Sugarcrete sweetens the carbon emissions pill
As a former (still!?) Architect, I'm always very interested in new technologies and methods that can lead to a more sustainable future. This seems an opportunity to use a waste material in an innovative way on small scale buildings, perhaps initially focussed on less developed countries where standard materials are harder to source. Full photo set on my website. More info, and credits to those involved below:
The Sugarcrete TM project brings together experts from the University of East London and sector leading organisations Grimshaw and Tate & Lyle Sugars to co-create ideas and offer viable construction solutions for real world applications, using bio-waste as the core resource.
The aim of the project is to develop ultra-low carbon building components using sugarcane bio-waste (bagasse), allowing the storage of biogenic carbon from fast-growing plants in construction materials as an effective strategy to delay carbon emissions.
Full photo set Here.
Material concept, design and fabrication:
Elena Shilova - Architect, Grimshaw
Andy Watts - Director of Design Technology, Grimshaw
Armor Gutierrez Rivas - UEL Senior Lecturer in Architecture
Alan Chandler - UEL Dean of Research
Bamdad Ayati - UEL SRI Research Fellow
Team:
UEL Master of Architecture students:
Faith Omowunmi Ogundare
Busra Ciftci
Amy Gillespie
Hinal Arvindkumar Patel
Rova Taha
Dodangodagamage Kawan Roger Ranasinghe
Manoj Sai Ganji
Mohan Ukabhai Dungrani
Anca-Madalina Borda
Alina Klimenteva
Collaborators:
Paris Nikitidis - XR Developer, Grimshaw
Philip Singer - Computational Design Specialist, Grimshaw
Georgios Tsakiridis - Consultant, Grimshaw
Paolo Vimercati - Consultant, Grimshaw
John Kerr - Vice President, Research & Technology, Tate & Lyle Sugars
Paul Nichols - UEL FabLab
Nicolo Bencini CEng MICE - Senior Structural Engineer, AKT II
Sky Henley - Computational Design Specialist
