Tarek Merlin is a luminary in the field of sustainable architecture. Merlin shared with us his insights into the revolutionary world of sustainable building and the pressing need for ecological consciousness within the construction industry.
We discussed a residential project where 'woodcrete' or 'giant Lego blocks' were used in the construction process. "It's about how we can do that in the most sustainable way," Merlin said, speaking about the building. These blocks, made of repurposed wood and cement, allow one person to handle the building process, cutting down on labour and carbon footprint. The uniformity of the blocks also helps to create striking architecture within the constraints of eco-friendly materials.
Merlin also brought attention to the global carbon emissions challenge: “We, the construction industry, are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions." He emphasised the importance of incorporating recycled and reused materials whenever starting a project. His firm won the competition at LSE on the premise of retaining 60% of the existing building structure, thus reducing carbon emissions significantly.
Another project we talked about was British Land, their HQ on Seymour Street. With an aim to transform the cold, grey and glassy building into a warm, welcoming, and sustainable environment, Merlin's team adopted an innovative approach. They repurposed granite and glass that were part of the original building, transforming them into new functional elements. The granite became the flooring, and the broken glass, once part of an art installation, was turned into an aggregate for terrazzo, which will be used in a different British Land site at Canada Water.
Merlin's firm is currently working on two projects for The Conduit, a sustainable-focused members club in Central London. “The main objective here was to avoid waste and reuse as much as possible on-site.” They managed to find creative solutions, like reusing fire doors as modern wall panelling, working closely with a supplier to repurpose any material that had to leave the site.
These projects are not just an endorsement of Merlin's architectural prowess, but also his commitment to reducing carbon footprint. They stand as strong testaments to the power of creative thinking, making a strong case for sustainable architecture. His message is clear – we need to address the environmental impact of construction now, not in the nebulous future. In the end, the sustainable design approach is not just about preserving the environment; it is about creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces while being ecologically responsible.
