Joe Giddings
@joegiddings.bsky.social
Built Environment | Climate Change | Architecture. Working to transform the built environment to address climate change. European Networks Lead at Built by Nature. Co-founding member of Architects Climate Action Network. Views expressed here are my own.
4️⃣In further bad news for forests, a roadmap to the halting of deforestation was dropped from the final deal.
One look at this graph should higlight how important forests are for preventing further climate breakdown. See Land Sink:
One look at this graph should higlight how important forests are for preventing further climate breakdown. See Land Sink:
November 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
4️⃣In further bad news for forests, a roadmap to the halting of deforestation was dropped from the final deal.
One look at this graph should higlight how important forests are for preventing further climate breakdown. See Land Sink:
One look at this graph should higlight how important forests are for preventing further climate breakdown. See Land Sink:
They also recommended that Government encourage adoption of biobased materials such as hemp.
This is good to see from a parliamentary committee, as biobased materials have not had much air time in parliament despite their incredible potential for climate mitigation.
This is good to see from a parliamentary committee, as biobased materials have not had much air time in parliament despite their incredible potential for climate mitigation.
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
They also recommended that Government encourage adoption of biobased materials such as hemp.
This is good to see from a parliamentary committee, as biobased materials have not had much air time in parliament despite their incredible potential for climate mitigation.
This is good to see from a parliamentary committee, as biobased materials have not had much air time in parliament despite their incredible potential for climate mitigation.
The committee reiterates its previous recommendation that Government introduces ratcheted limits on embodied carbon for new buildings. This would simply bring the UK in line with EU, which has rapidly progressed in this area since the UK left.
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The committee reiterates its previous recommendation that Government introduces ratcheted limits on embodied carbon for new buildings. This would simply bring the UK in line with EU, which has rapidly progressed in this area since the UK left.
This has been stimulated by a dramatic increase in demand with at least 640 completed mass timber buildings. Flagship projects include social housing, public and educational buildings.
Here is the excellently named Biblioteca de los Mil Soles (The Library of a Thousand Suns) in Madrid:
Here is the excellently named Biblioteca de los Mil Soles (The Library of a Thousand Suns) in Madrid:
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This has been stimulated by a dramatic increase in demand with at least 640 completed mass timber buildings. Flagship projects include social housing, public and educational buildings.
Here is the excellently named Biblioteca de los Mil Soles (The Library of a Thousand Suns) in Madrid:
Here is the excellently named Biblioteca de los Mil Soles (The Library of a Thousand Suns) in Madrid:
The livestream has dropped off but prior to losing connection we could hear Rachel Kyte, UK climate envoy, announcing that the UK is endorsing. The Government under Labour has already recommitted to the "Timber in Construction Roadmap" - so this fresh endorsement is a welcome follow up
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The livestream has dropped off but prior to losing connection we could hear Rachel Kyte, UK climate envoy, announcing that the UK is endorsing. The Government under Labour has already recommitted to the "Timber in Construction Roadmap" - so this fresh endorsement is a welcome follow up
You may have noticed from the abysmal quality of image I previously posted, that I am not on the ground, but watching a livestream. Here is a photo from Built by Nature colleague Harry Mills:
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
You may have noticed from the abysmal quality of image I previously posted, that I am not on the ground, but watching a livestream. Here is a photo from Built by Nature colleague Harry Mills:
Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature is introducing the session, framing the need for the Principles:
"the population of cities around the world is projected to double over the next 25 years"
"the population of cities around the world is projected to double over the next 25 years"
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature is introducing the session, framing the need for the Principles:
"the population of cities around the world is projected to double over the next 25 years"
"the population of cities around the world is projected to double over the next 25 years"
as requested by absolutely nobody, I am going to live blog the launch of the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction at the Buildings and Cooling Pavilion inside the Blue Zone at COP30, Belem, Brazil.
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
as requested by absolutely nobody, I am going to live blog the launch of the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction at the Buildings and Cooling Pavilion inside the Blue Zone at COP30, Belem, Brazil.
Walworth Town Hall in Elephant & Castle, south London.
The Victorian building was gutted by a fire, now beautifully refurbished and extended up with gorgeous timber structural design.
General Projects development, design by Feix & Merlin
The Victorian building was gutted by a fire, now beautifully refurbished and extended up with gorgeous timber structural design.
General Projects development, design by Feix & Merlin
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Walworth Town Hall in Elephant & Castle, south London.
The Victorian building was gutted by a fire, now beautifully refurbished and extended up with gorgeous timber structural design.
General Projects development, design by Feix & Merlin
The Victorian building was gutted by a fire, now beautifully refurbished and extended up with gorgeous timber structural design.
General Projects development, design by Feix & Merlin
Fantasic illustration of how complex & global the supply chain is for concrete (here with steel rebar)
Obviously this snapshot says little about the specific ecological impact of those sites, but if this has less negative impact than timber I'll eat my hat - and yours
Credit: Steve Brown Ramboll
Obviously this snapshot says little about the specific ecological impact of those sites, but if this has less negative impact than timber I'll eat my hat - and yours
Credit: Steve Brown Ramboll
November 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Fantasic illustration of how complex & global the supply chain is for concrete (here with steel rebar)
Obviously this snapshot says little about the specific ecological impact of those sites, but if this has less negative impact than timber I'll eat my hat - and yours
Credit: Steve Brown Ramboll
Obviously this snapshot says little about the specific ecological impact of those sites, but if this has less negative impact than timber I'll eat my hat - and yours
Credit: Steve Brown Ramboll
Here’s what it looks like from the outside:
In the background you can see a more typical building form for this kind of building. Workstack provides a solution for densification in these kinds of areas
In the background you can see a more typical building form for this kind of building. Workstack provides a solution for densification in these kinds of areas
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Here’s what it looks like from the outside:
In the background you can see a more typical building form for this kind of building. Workstack provides a solution for densification in these kinds of areas
In the background you can see a more typical building form for this kind of building. Workstack provides a solution for densification in these kinds of areas
Recently visited workstack in Charlton - a project by the Greenwich Enterprise Board and dRMM Studios.
Light industrial spaces stacked on top of each other - CLT boxes, super minimal internal finish / super low embodied carbon
Light industrial spaces stacked on top of each other - CLT boxes, super minimal internal finish / super low embodied carbon
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Recently visited workstack in Charlton - a project by the Greenwich Enterprise Board and dRMM Studios.
Light industrial spaces stacked on top of each other - CLT boxes, super minimal internal finish / super low embodied carbon
Light industrial spaces stacked on top of each other - CLT boxes, super minimal internal finish / super low embodied carbon
looks a lot like the "smart city" plans for Toronto from a few years back
October 31, 2025 at 2:41 PM
looks a lot like the "smart city" plans for Toronto from a few years back
This fact - 2024 saw the largest one year increase in CO2 levels since records began - should be leading the news agenda round the clock. There should be 24/7 crisis reporting, breaking news style, forcing politicians everywhere to respond. Every other news story should be connected to this.
October 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM
This fact - 2024 saw the largest one year increase in CO2 levels since records began - should be leading the news agenda round the clock. There should be 24/7 crisis reporting, breaking news style, forcing politicians everywhere to respond. Every other news story should be connected to this.
As an embodied carbon geek, this is my favourite bit. France is blessed with having national regulation that mandates whole life carbon assessment and reduction, with strict limit values that will be lowered in 2028 then 2031.
This building meets the 2028 limit, but not quite the 2031.
This building meets the 2028 limit, but not quite the 2031.
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
As an embodied carbon geek, this is my favourite bit. France is blessed with having national regulation that mandates whole life carbon assessment and reduction, with strict limit values that will be lowered in 2028 then 2031.
This building meets the 2028 limit, but not quite the 2031.
This building meets the 2028 limit, but not quite the 2031.
As a former architect I find the floor plans of the tower very satisfying. Dual aspect, generous balconies, efficient service areas and views outside from the front door. There are 16 floors to this building, one of the three tallest timber towers in France.
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
As a former architect I find the floor plans of the tower very satisfying. Dual aspect, generous balconies, efficient service areas and views outside from the front door. There are 16 floors to this building, one of the three tallest timber towers in France.
The buildings are all white, with facade materials ranging from white glazed terracotta to "ultra-high performance" fibre reinforced concrete. Note how all of the facade materials are non -combustible. Except for a few timber windows, and balcony soffits which are left exposed
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The buildings are all white, with facade materials ranging from white glazed terracotta to "ultra-high performance" fibre reinforced concrete. Note how all of the facade materials are non -combustible. Except for a few timber windows, and balcony soffits which are left exposed
It is one of four blocks built with mass timber, providing over 100 homes, offices and shops, in the Lyon Confluence area, a vast new development near Lyon city centre that will ultimately house 25000 people
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
It is one of four blocks built with mass timber, providing over 100 homes, offices and shops, in the Lyon Confluence area, a vast new development near Lyon city centre that will ultimately house 25000 people
This new residential tower in Lyon is made from wood.
In many ways, this is quite an incredible building. Here's why:
In many ways, this is quite an incredible building. Here's why:
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This new residential tower in Lyon is made from wood.
In many ways, this is quite an incredible building. Here's why:
In many ways, this is quite an incredible building. Here's why:
Details worth picking out:
Different colour for every door.
North/south oriented, neat red external shading on south face.
2 long banks of solar panels on south side of terrace roofs.
Generous bike storage in front gardens.
Minimal car parking, green instead.
Wall counted letterboxes = no drafts.
Different colour for every door.
North/south oriented, neat red external shading on south face.
2 long banks of solar panels on south side of terrace roofs.
Generous bike storage in front gardens.
Minimal car parking, green instead.
Wall counted letterboxes = no drafts.
October 6, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Details worth picking out:
Different colour for every door.
North/south oriented, neat red external shading on south face.
2 long banks of solar panels on south side of terrace roofs.
Generous bike storage in front gardens.
Minimal car parking, green instead.
Wall counted letterboxes = no drafts.
Different colour for every door.
North/south oriented, neat red external shading on south face.
2 long banks of solar panels on south side of terrace roofs.
Generous bike storage in front gardens.
Minimal car parking, green instead.
Wall counted letterboxes = no drafts.
New housing built by the City of York, designed by Mikhail Riches. Passivhaus terraced homes, built with a timber frame, cellulose insulation. One of 5 schemes around York by the practice - who previously won the Stirling Prize for similar housing in Norwich.
October 6, 2025 at 8:34 PM
New housing built by the City of York, designed by Mikhail Riches. Passivhaus terraced homes, built with a timber frame, cellulose insulation. One of 5 schemes around York by the practice - who previously won the Stirling Prize for similar housing in Norwich.
My tree of the week. Elephant and Castle, London.
Who can name the tree?
Who can name the tree?
October 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My tree of the week. Elephant and Castle, London.
Who can name the tree?
Who can name the tree?
Look at the green bars:
This is the proportion of renewable energy in EU27 countries generated by biomass.
I.e. burning wood and other plant matter. Without BECCS the carbon in biomass is released into the atmosphere on combustion. Carbon we could be storing. This is not sustainable
This is the proportion of renewable energy in EU27 countries generated by biomass.
I.e. burning wood and other plant matter. Without BECCS the carbon in biomass is released into the atmosphere on combustion. Carbon we could be storing. This is not sustainable
October 2, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Look at the green bars:
This is the proportion of renewable energy in EU27 countries generated by biomass.
I.e. burning wood and other plant matter. Without BECCS the carbon in biomass is released into the atmosphere on combustion. Carbon we could be storing. This is not sustainable
This is the proportion of renewable energy in EU27 countries generated by biomass.
I.e. burning wood and other plant matter. Without BECCS the carbon in biomass is released into the atmosphere on combustion. Carbon we could be storing. This is not sustainable
Who's gonna tell him? growth was around 2.8% in the US in the year to November 2024
September 30, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Who's gonna tell him? growth was around 2.8% in the US in the year to November 2024
A pearly blue chunk of "seaweed composite" - a material combining waste marble powder, glass, and seaweed...
September 29, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A pearly blue chunk of "seaweed composite" - a material combining waste marble powder, glass, and seaweed...