Environmentally, our designs aim to minimise the impact of climate change and conserve natural resources for future generations. Socially, we ensure our developments are well-located, enhance community life, and provide access to sustainable public transport, educational, and work opportunities. Economically, we consider both immediate and long-term costs, ensuring our buildings are cost-effective without compromising on quality or environmental impact. This holistic approach ensures that sustainability is woven into the very fabric of our projects, enhancing their value and longevity.
At Wincer Kievenaar, sustainability is not just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental principle that guides our practice and drives our team to push the boundaries of sustainable architecture.
Our commitment to sustainable building practices influences every decision we make. By integrating modern construction methods, high-performance materials, and cutting-edge sustainable technologies, we focus on designing structures that positively impact the world we live in.
We invest in continuous training for our team and embrace innovative construction techniques to create buildings that are not only visually appealing but also ecologically responsible and economically viable.
Our approach to green building design starts with understanding our clients’ aspirations and sustainability goals. We believe in a collaborative process where meaningful discussions with all stakeholders lead to designs that go beyond mere compliance. Our buildings are designed to enhance their surroundings, reduce carbon footprints, and provide long-term value.
We prioritise the construction budget on optimising the building fabric from the outset. By focusing on high-performance materials and construction methods, we aim to minimise energy usage, which in turn reduces the building’s carbon footprint and operational costs. This approach ensures that our buildings are efficient and sustainable throughout their lifecycle. The goal is to create buildings that not only meet the needs of today but also conserve resources for future generations.
Reducing embodied carbon is crucial in our design process. We consider the entire lifecycle of a building, from the sourcing of materials to construction and eventual demolition. By rethinking, redesigning, and repurposing existing structures, architects have the opportunity to reanimate unique spaces, engage with architectural traditions and build off the legacies of established sites - helping clients meet their needs while minimising the environmental impact.
Incorporating renewable energy sources is an essential aspect of our sustainable design. We carefully evaluate and integrate technologies such as photovoltaic panels, air and ground source heat pumps, solar water panels, and biomass boilers. These technologies, when combined with our fabric-first approach, significantly reduce the operational energy requirements of our buildings, contributing to a greener future.
Smart technologies and building management systems play a critical role in optimising energy usage and improving indoor environmental quality. While not every building requires advanced automation, the integration of smart systems can enhance building performance and sustainability. By leveraging these technologies, we create intelligent buildings that adapt to the needs of their occupants and the environment.
Water conservation is a key consideration in our designs. We incorporate water-saving sanitary ware and appliances, as well as rainwater and greywater recycling systems for non-potable uses such as irrigation. At the site level, we ensure developments manage surface water runoff effectively, reducing flood risks through the use of swales, land depressions, and attenuation crates. These measures help us create resilient buildings that contribute to the sustainable management of our water resources.
Passive House (or Passivhaus) is a quality control standard aimed at producing comfortable and energy efficient buildings. This is achieved by focusing on five key principles:
Thermal bridging has become increasingly significant in the construction industry. As the demand for energy-efficient homes grows, thermal bridging is recognized for its impact, potentially accounting for up to 30% of a building’s total heat loss. This shift is driven by evolving legislation and a focus on architectural detailing and construction practices.
At Wincer Kievenaar, we understand the increasing importance of energy efficiency in modern residential design. One of the key tools in achieving this is the SAP calculation – a vital process for evaluating and demonstrating a building’s energy performance. Whether you’re working on a new build, extension, or conversion, SAP assessments ensure compliance with building regulations and help deliver more sustainable, cost-effective homes. With an accredited SAP assessor in-house, we offer clients expert guidance from the earliest stages of design, making compliance seamless and performance optimisation achievable.
In the UK, domestic buildings are assessed using a Standard Assessment Procedure to generate a building performance energy Rating. On completion of a new a home, an EPC is issued to give an indication of a building’s energy efficiency. Many of our new home designs achieve A+. We have an in-house SAP Assessor to inform our design process.
Passivhaus is another specialist design process. This certification focuses on ultra-low energy buildings, emphasising energy efficiency and comfort.
For Commercial buildings, BREEAM is a widely recognised certification for sustainable buildings. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) assesses a building’s sustainability throughout its lifecycle.
Within construction, sustainable building materials are typically understood to be renewable or recycled, including timber, reclaimed materials, and natural fibers like hempcrete and straw. Additionally, recycled materials such as steel and plastic, aggregates and so on are frequently used.
As a practice we are committed to sustainable design. When considering material selection, in addition to a material’s embodied carbon, we also must consider the building’s in use carbon emissions and the suitability of a material.
Designing for durability: and longevity can extend the lifespan of buildings and reduce the need for frequent replacements.
Embodied carbon of materials: (the amount of greenhouse gases released during their production, transportation, and disposal) can help prioritise more sustainable options.
Energy efficiency in buildings can be achieved through a combination of smart design, quality materials and efficient systems. A key approach is passive design, which includes orienting buildings to maximise natural light and heat in winter while minimising overheating in summer. Incorporating thermal mass and natural ventilation also reduces reliance on mechanical systems.
A Fabric First Approach is essential and amounts to a well-insulated and airtight building envelope. High-performance insulation, airtight construction and energy-efficient windows (such as triple glazing with low-emissivity coatings) help maintain indoor temperatures with minimal energy use.
Efficient systems further enhance performance. Heat pumps, underfloor heating and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems reduce energy consumption. LED lighting and smart controls, such as programmable thermostats and building management systems, optimise energy use based on occupancy and time of day.
Integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels, solar thermal systems and ground or air source heat pumps can significantly cut carbon emissions and reduce energy bills. These systems allow buildings to generate their own clean energy.
Water efficiency also contributes to energy savings. Low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and greywater recycling reduce the energy needed to heat and supply water.
Finally, monitoring and evaluation are crucial. Energy modelling during design and post-occupancy evaluations help ensure buildings perform as intended and allow for adjustments to improve efficiency over time.
Together, these strategies create buildings that are comfortable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible.
Passive solar design is a design principle to use the sun’s energy for heating and lighting buildings naturally—without relying on mechanical systems. It’s a key strategy in sustainable and energy-efficient building design to minimise reliance upon artificial heating and lighting.
Some further related design considerations:
Designing sustainable buildings involves several key challenges, with cost being at the forefront of many people’s minds. Whilst some products and materials may result in a greater capital cost, a good design solution should always seek to adopt sustainable design principles to minimise a buildings environmental impact.
Other considerations:
Higher Upfront Costs – Eco-friendly materials and technologies often cost more initially, even though they save money long-term.
Material Availability – Sustainable specialist materials may be hard to source or have long lead times.
Skills and Knowledge Gaps – Not all professionals and craftsmen are trained to use certain materials.
Regulatory Barriers – Building codes and planning policies may not support innovative or non-traditional sustainable solutions.
Occupant Behaviour – Users may not operate systems efficiently, reducing the building’s overall performance.
Site and Climate Constraints – Designs need to be site specific. Local conditions can limit the effectiveness of passive design strategies.
Our students pursuing a career in architecture are developing a range of skills and knowledge through education and hands-on experience. Through academic courses, they learn about design
A significant project milestone was reached in the construction of a new £5m office development in Colchester this month. Further expansion of the existing Apex 12 Business Park in Ardleigh by