As part of the Small Scale, Big Ideas exhibition, this talk explores suburban densification and the case for the monolithic solid wall in cellular clay blocks. We intend to showcase a selection of recent design and construction issues we have been exploring locally, and provoke impactful debate about them.

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The first part of this talk focuses on how much of the UK is suburban, proposing one way in which vast areas of suburbia might be densified through suitable backland development. Of the UK’s 30+ million homes, some one-third are semi-detached suburban properties and over half of those are 20th Century with long rear gardens and undersized garages between. It is also widely cited that 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 already exist. Therefore, if we are to achieve the densities required for sustainable and accessible neighbourhoods, this existing suburban building stock needs to somehow become denser. We will look at ways in which this has been done in part, how it might be done more effectively, and will focus in detail on our proposed ‘Inhabited Walls’ backland development approach that forms part of this exhibition.

 

The second part of this talk will look at trends towards lightweight timber construction, proposing a simple denser alternative of a single solid wall in monolithic cellular clay blocks. We will discuss the history of the ‘Wall’ in UK domestic dwellings and how this has evolved from a dense solid wall to cavity construction, and now often many forms of hybrid cavity and framed construction with extensive components and insulation. We will put forward a case for a return to a modified form of the simple solid wall – using cellular clay blocks made from one single natural material – and the many advantages of doing so. Perhaps contentiously, we will also discuss the potential shortcomings of the current rush to move towards mass timber, timber frame construction, and cladding.  We will look at the supposed carbon-positive figures that are leading to its extensive take-up in UK construction, as well as the capacity of the UK timber industry, and the risks and life-cycle implications of the use of so much timber in building.

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We hope our above talk will lead to a lively Q & A debate and possibly even start a re-evaluation or shift in the direction the house building industry is moving.