Exterior Architecture Ltd
Studio 2F Hewlett House, Havelock Terrace, London SW8 4AS
Company Registration Number 4669005
© 2012 Website Design by Exterior Architecture LTD
Environment
“We strive to improve the urban and rural environments we are asked to address, both in visual quality and ecological richness, through understanding the functional requirements of our clients, and designing spatial arrangements and detailing that will establish a vibrant living growing landscape”.
Sustainability
Exterior Architecture aim to produce appealing and appropriate designs that enhance the health and well-being of the living landscape, and maximise the benefits of diversity. We recognise two aspects to this; firstly to minimise unnecessary damage to existing site features, and secondly designing the landscape with flexible spaces that allow for variations in use, materials, micro-climate and planting.
To this end we strive to ensure that construction causes the least disturbance and damage to living flora and fauna and the broader environment wherever practicable. For example, keeping earth-moving to a minimum within a site avoids excessive vehicle movements of spoil to and from site, enables tree retention, lessens ground compaction and reduces cost. Similarly, where practical, we retain and store all reusable materials and topsoil on site and retain existing vegetation where appropriate.
Materials Selection
For us sustainability also includes the responsible use of natural resources. There is now an exciting and expanding array of landscape materials, produced with lesser environmental impacts, that do not compromise on appearance and durability. Recently we have specified decking made from rice husks and recycled plastic that has all the visual qualities of tropical hardwood. It is more durable and does not jeopardise fragile rainforests. Similarly we have sourced attractive paving that resembles granite in colour and texture but is made from 77% recycled materials for use in some of our urban public realm schemes.
Water Management
We believe Exterior Architecture have a responsibility to design landscapes that absorb as much rainfall as practicable back into the ground. In urban areas it is particularly important that new landscapes make as small a contribution as possible to existing, overloaded drainage systems and rivers. In this regard we keep non-porous hardstanding to a minimum within our designs and specify porous paving arrangements whenever possible. This brings with it visual benefits too. Porous pavements can be laid as an uninterrupted surface without drainage gullies and grille traps.
We encourage local (United Kingdom & Northern Europe) clients with our design approach to maximise climatic aspects and forgo formalised irrigation systems, where appropriate, preferring to design planting schemes that can tolerate some drought stress. Where irrigation is necessary, for inaccessible urban situations or 'on-structure' planting, we explore the potential for collecting and storing grey water from roofs for use within the landscape, or methods to increase moisture retention within designed soils.
Biodiversity
“Biodiversity is the variation of life forms in a particular ecosystem or natural landscape. Generally speaking the more species rich an ecosystem is, the better its health and longer term vitality”.
We understand the importance of maintaining biodiversity in a landscape. EA are alert to wildlife issues that can arise and special environmental designations an existing landscape might have. We are competent to identify what is potentially an important habitat such as an ancient hedgerow or ancient coppiced woodland, and know when it is appropriate to engage the specialist ecology expertise. On past projects we have worked along side ecologists to extend and maintain ancient hedges as wildlife corridors. We also phase landscape work to avoid breeding seasons of both hedgerow and ground nesting birds and have designed pond habitats for reptiles including great crested newts. When clients engage us to improve the usefulness and appearance of a landscape we find it is possible to design in a way that is both good for the environment and delivers attractive results. For example, pasture can become species rich meadow and declining hedges can be cut back and re-laid using local skilled labour.
We look upon existing vegetation as a useful asset both visually and ecologically. Wherever practicable we retain existing trees and hedgerows to contribute to the new landscape. Existing vegetation will always be of some ecological benefit and provide continuity for existing wildlife. It can also contribute a strong visual structure and scale giving a new landscape an appearance of maturity and permanence.
Adaptable Design
We strive to create landscapes that work for our clients in many different ways. For example we can use changes in level such as retaining walls and steps to create opportunities for informal seating. In this way a space can accommodate more people when used for an event without the need to import temporary seating. Similarly play opportunities can be incorporated unobtrusively into a landscape without giving the whole space over to play equipment prevents other activities.
When designing a landscape Exterior Architecture always consider its future uses so that broader design possibilities are not lost in the early stages of project planning. We often provide landscape designs that can be phased where necessary to suit development programmes, clients’ needs and project budgets, rather than go for short term solutions that may lack quality and future potential. With larger landscapes and estate gardens we have continued our involvement, beyond initial the design process, with periodic input and visits over several years to assist clients with progressing seasonal and phased implementation and reviewing planting establishment to great effect.