As architects, DDRA aim to design sustainable spaces that minimise energy requirements whilst providing functional, comfortable and invigorating spaces, which reduce the carbon footprint of the project. Through the careful specification of materials and plant we aim to create a design which will attain a balance of environmental, economic and social performance.
For a building to be truly sustainable it must be economically and functionally successful as well as achieving the goals of low environmental impact and low energy use. This also requires the design and the installed services to be capable of change over the long-term life of the building.
As pragmatists, we know our clients must balance high aspirations with economic realities. In the field of sustainable design and carbon-neutral buildings, we are developing strategies for buildings that can enhance their environmental performance over their lifetime.
We appreciate that investment in good building design and fabric specification often has a better life advantage when compared with high-technology mechanical and electrical systems.
Sustainability, if it is to be successful, cannot be bolted onto a project at a later date. It should be treated as a key factor influencing the entire initiative, calling for an integrated approach to the project from the entire team. Throughout the innovative design process, we focus on key areas to ensure the well-being of the end-users: social cross-fertilisation, our ”4R” approach, and low-maintenance design.