Submission by Baillie Baillie Architects.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Does the practice have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We are looking for a bold ambition here, and a practice culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking. For example, a strong mission, a theory of change, or a sustainability roadmap.
In all public, as well as internal communications, Baillie Baillie Architects have a very clearly stated purpose in working with natural and bio-based materials. We are unequivocal that our approach to regenerative materials is holistic, and embedded in the bones of our buildings and our design process. This culture is backed up with Journal writing, research, and recorded self critical reflection, aiming to honestly and practically evaluate successes and scope for improvement with all project decisions and outcomes. Internally, we have a practice manifesto, which sets out our agenda to build economically, and responsibly with resources as a first principle.
2. Does the practice have a clear succession plan, which passes on ownership and protects the values and legacy of those who built and contributed to the practice? For example is the practice an employee owned trust.
No.
3. Does the practice share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world? For example, you regularly carry out post occupancy evaluation and share information with others.
The practice regularly publishes a knowledge-sharing Journal titled ‘Earthwork’, which has been exploring and describing approaches to working with natural materials since 2021. Through this we have also shared the process of our own self-build project, documenting and reflecting on principles of simple, lean construction, locally sourced materials, building for longevity, and natural forms of construction. This is an ongoing project with a substantial readership, and we have plans for further extending its scope and reach.
Project
1. Does the practice advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of projects? Do you initiate projects with long-term thinking and challenge the client on design life? Also, can the practice demonstrate that this approach has worked with a shorter or longer design life, or an innovative approach to financing or payback period?
With all of our projects we treat long-term thinking as a prerequisite, and we do not present discussions such as aiming for low embodied carbon as an optional extra. We convey very early on with new clients that long term thinking is embedded in our process, and where this has up front cost implications, we manage this by aiming to meet the project brief in a way that is most economical and resource efficient, ruling out an elaborate or inefficient form factor for example. We are a small practice, and the majority of our clients are private individuals. This does give our process a directness and clarity around these discussions and we find it is typically understood through our practice’s strong positioning with regards to sustainability and natural materials, that we bring this experience to projects as an added value.
2. Do your projects take account of the future climate and the need for resilience? For example, do the projects demonstrate flexibility, design for adaptation, design for disassembly, non-deterministic solutions, or demountable structures.
Our projects aim for future flexibility, and climate resilience as a first principle. For example, working on new-build homes, we take two of these aspects as fixed constraints- a ‘fabric first’ approach, which has been documented on Earthwork Journal, meaning we aim to ensure construction build ups are not inherently dependant on existing technology to function well. For example, that they should be resistant to overheating, as well as thermally insulating, and that passive heating and cooling is maximised. Secondly, we aim to think about our buildings as frameworks, and not programmatically deterministic spaces. This can take various forms, and in some cases may involve flexibility or adaptability, however we believe that well-proportioned rooms, which are well-situated, lit, and ventilated, are inherently habitable and non-programatic. We observe this in many historic typologies, which support a plethora of scale-appropriate uses.
3. Do the majority of your projects go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives? For example, are they meeting or exceeding the RIBA 2030 Challenge.
We are now using the RIBA 2030 Challenge as a means to help track and document our projects, however we have been aiming to meet or exceed an equivalent standard prior to its publication.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Does the practice use biophilia within the office or regularly host meetings and retreats in natural settings? For example do you have extensive planting within the office or rely on natural patterns and imagery for stress relief or quiet areas.
No.
2. Can the practice share examples where it has considered nature in decision making? For example by having a nature proxy to encourage eco-centric decision making, using natural systems as inspiration for the company structure, recognising the seasonal nature of people’s capacity and workload or celebrating equinoxes and solstices together.
Our studio is based between urban and rural locations. As part of our studio culture, we offer our small team working in Glasgow opportunities to work remotely, based from our studio in the rural landscape, and we provide accommodation to allow this. We do this as an opportunity for our urban-based staff to better connect to a natural landscape.
3. Is the practice supporting nature locally and nationally? For example, does the practice support local gardens, gardeners, planting programmes, rewilding programmes or advocate for changes in legislation to protect nature.
Practice director Colin Baillie is a trustee of Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust, which is currently managing a 60 acre site as a community parkland for biodiversity and ecology. This includes significant local engagement including with local schools. Colin & Megan Baillie recently started a permaculture garden locally, managed in common with neighbours in our Highland settlement. The practice works on projects within natural landscapes regularly, and through our design process, we advocate for the integration of gardens for biodiversity, landscape management, low-impact approaches.
Project
1. Can the practice demonstrate projects which strive to match the performance of a mature ecosystem? As a minimum this would mean achieving biodiversity net gain.
We have several projects where bio-diversity net gain is a stated goal. In one example, this will be achieved through retrofitting existing rural structures with bio-based or natural materials, and replanting low-value land with mixed native woodland to provide habitat gain. In another example, on an existing landscape site, we are proposing to place buildings with minimal excavation, creating no-dig access ways, and proposing enhanced native planting site wide.
2. Is the practice working on material stewardship? For example, evidence could be shown through repeated use of low carbon materials, extensive material libraries and research or publications supporting responsible use of materials and elimination of waste.
We have recent and ongoing project examples using hempcrete, clay block, compressed straw panels, wood fibre insulation, hemp fibre, and recycled cellulose, among others. We have a small practice library stocked with publications relevant to natural construction methods. We are members of ACAN and SEDA, and signatories of Architects Declare since 2020. Our practice journal, Earthwork, promotes responsible design and material use.
3. Do the majority of projects demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia, Biomimicry, Ecomimicry (also referred to as Ecosystems Thinking, Industrial Ecology or Industrial Symbiosis) or BioTRIZ?
No.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Does the practice have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within the practice?
No.
2. Does the practice operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
As a studio culture, we keep regular working hours and do not ask for or expect overtime from our employees. We exceed living wage and have a fair salary ratio within our small team.
3. Does the practice support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
Practice director Colin Baillie is a recently appointed Trustee with Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust, on a pro-bono basis. We support SEDA and ACAN with our subscriber memberships.
4. Does the practice publicly refuse to work with certain clients, suppliers or organisations on ethical grounds?
No.
Project
1. Do the projects demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users? For example, is there evidence that your project engagement goes beyond consultation towards co-design?
No.
2. Do your projects create connected and resilient places which positively contribute to their neighbourhoods and allow equality of access? For example, do your projects create economic opportunity, retain value locally and generate social value?
No.
3. Do the majority of your projects promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only the building inhabitants? For example, do your projects show due regard for workers within the supply chain and take active steps to avoid modern slavery?
Our projects are small scale, and we therefore have a very direct relationship with small local contractors and their workforces. We vet contractors and sub-contractors through due diligence and industry accreditations, which we feel is an appropriate measure at this scale. By design we promote and specify materials that can provide evidence of ethical supply chains, and we avoid specifying materials which may be harmful to workers, or the environment.