Architecture: Why Evolution Needs To Be About Fire Safety
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveIt’s easy to think that architecture as we know it today was
created by the ancient Greeks or Romans. But you only have to look at
pre-historic structures, such as Stonehenge or the Nuragic monuments in
Sardinia, to see how far back it goes.
The premise of architecture is to create timeless spaces for
life’s activities. At its core, these structures can help to improve human
life.
As time has moved on, so too has the evolution of architectural
style. Every generation sees a wave of new ideas and innovations that create
exciting homes and workplaces. But while fire safety isn’t everyone’s first
thought when they think of architecture, it’s something that needs to be just
that in the current climate.
Today’s topic of discussion is around the evolution of
architecture, the fire safety factor that is influencing change, and what the
future may look like for high-rise buildings with the industry still under the spotlight
following the Grenfell Tower fire back in 2017.
History of the high-rise
structure
The first high-rise buildings were constructed in the United
States back in the 1880s. They were positioned in urban areas where high-cost
land prices and greater population density created a demand for buildings that
rose vertically rather than horizontally.
The use of steel structural frames and glass exterior
sheathing made them practical. By the 20th century, they became a
standard feature as an architectural landscape in countries across the world.
In the UK, high-rise buildings were primarily used to
address the housing shortage following World War II. The rate of population outgrew
the supply of housing, so the ‘streets in the sky’ approach was favoured by
architects and planners.
Between the end of the war and the early 90s, over 6,500
multi-storey blocks of six floors or more were built in the UK. Commercial high-rise developments have
followed a similar trend and pattern to residential property, with densely-populated
cities relying on tall buildings to create office space big enough to get value
for money when securing sparsely available land.
Some of the most expensive building developments in the
modern day are high-rise and multi-functional, like the Shard in London, with
the 306-metre tall structure even featuring a hotel.
Fire safety influencing design
The planning, design, and construction phases of an
architectural project are not as straightforward as coming up with an idea and
seeing it become a reality through bricks and mortar. Many factors impact how
an architect comes up with the design and practicality of a structure that will
have longevity.
Some of the most common factors include climate, culture,
environment, technology, imagination and the materials available to complete a
project. But with the introduction of new fire safety legislation comes the
importance of factoring in fire safety into the architectural process.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recently
introduced a new educational framework focused on fire safety that would be
“the biggest shake-up of the profession since the 1950s”. With government
pressure in wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and growing concern around climate
change, the framework signifies a different approach for architectural
education that will have a greater emphasis on life safety, with fire safety
playing a big part of the focus.
The first mandatory competence of the course – health and
life safety, including fire safety – will be introduced in 2021. Architects will
be expected to pass a test to prove their competence. It’s a sign that the
future won’t just be about technology, innovation, and buildings that will look
beyond their years. It will predominately be focused on the correct use of architectural cladding, the following
of safety regulations, and the overall consideration for human wellbeing when
designing and delivering projects.
The need for evolution to
continue
Innovation should
always be applauded. But it’s the health and safety of high-rise occupants that
always needs to be priority number one.
Back in March, Bruce Sounes, an associate architect at Studio E – who were responsible for
managing the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in 2015 and 2016 – told the
enquiry into the fire that he had not read sections of Approved Document B –
the fire safety advice found in the UK government's Building Regulations 2010.
Sounes also
hadn’t read the document's specific fire safety guidance for buildings
over 18-metres tall and was unaware that aluminium cladding panels were
combustible – despite their regular use as a way to create more
energy-efficient buildings.
The fire has brought the conversation around cladding into
the forefront of people’s minds, as the media – and those left living in
buildings where cladding has been found to be unsafe – are left to question
what happens next. To put it into context, the
government admitted in June that they didn’t know how many of the 85,000
buildings between 11 and 18 feet still had unsafe cladding. And while this
doesn’t take into account commercial properties that sit above 18 feet tall, it
does give an overview of the current problem faced in the world of architecture
and construction – with high-rise
buildings in London alone set to cost £4 billion to rectify.
The price to pay for not putting fire safety first is not
only financial but one that can have a devastating impact on the lives of many.
While modern design and innovation should never be sacrificed, neither should
the health and safety of those occupying commercial and residential property.
Sources
http://www.highrisefirefighting.co.uk/history.html
http://www.magtheweekly.com/detail/10170-shangri-la-hotel-at-the-shard-london-uk
http://www.sotech-optima.co.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-51851900
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Created on Dec 8th 2020 08:53. Viewed 260 times.