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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 7h

Yes, precisely, to keep urban heat effect down. It was a specification in the masterplan, apparently.

Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 21h

The core, and ground floor, structure is concrete

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

On 12% of the vote, as the fifth most popular party

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed! Although personally i can't see reform holding that vote share until 2029.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

This is wild

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

Poses a question though: Why is Germany second highest on prices, when one of the lowest on the second graph?

Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

This fact, I think, makes this building utterly unique to the 2020s... Just think about it:

10 years ago this building would not have been built like this.

And in 10 years time, this building could not be built like this.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 1d

This new residential tower in Lyon is made from wood.

In many ways, this is quite an incredible building. Here's why:

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Reposted by Joe Giddings

💧Bee 🐝🌿❤ @belindajones68.bsky.social · 3d

FYI
Hemp is the future of housing

Whole-of-plant use
Carbon neutral
Fireproof
Environmentally friendly
3D printed houses/materials
Hemp is ideally suited to Australian conditions

CC: @JEChalmers @ClareONeilMP @CatherineKingMP @JulieCollinsMP
🐝
#auspol
hemptoday.net/popular-uk-d...

Grand Designs has served as a cultural barometer for architectural experimentation for decades.

hemptoday.net

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Reposted by Joe Giddings

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 4d

The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 3d

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.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 3d

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.

A row of red brick passivhaus terrace homes in York designed by Mikhail Riches

Two terraced homes designed by Mikhail Riches

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 7d

My tree of the week. Elephant and Castle, London.

Who can name the tree?

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Reposted by Joe Giddings

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 8d

Tory party’s long journey away from science, reason, responsibility, common sense and truth is complete

Kemi Badenoch vows to repeal Climate Change Act

Tory leader says she would replace it with ‘cheap energy’ strategy, ending decades-long consensus on climate

www.theguardian.com

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 8d

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

A graph showing the overall renewable energy generation in EU27 member states, each bar split proportionally depending on source. It shows solid biomass is by far the biggest source of renewable energy in most EU countries

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 8d

An astounding number of activists have been abducted by the IDF in international waters tonight and taken to Israel against their will, including Greta Thunberg and Kieran Andrieu from @novaramedia.com. everybody here: globalsumudflotilla.org/sos/?key=X8J...

SOS - Global Movement to Gaza

globalsumudflotilla.org

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Reposted by Joe Giddings

Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 9d

Today along with @sianberry.bsky.social I've published a report on our constituents' appalling experiences of the leasehold system. From extortionate fees to poor treatment at the hands of management companies, residents are being held to ransom in their own homes. Govt must act fast.

Graphic on a blue and purple gradient background

Title: Carla Denyer MP publishes report on leasehold 'horror stories'

Quotes:

"Every single time our costs are over our agreed service charge..."

"Service charge has escalated in recent years, while service has in no way improved... there are considerable security issues. At times the front door isn't working."

Image of a stack of papers on a blue and purple background. Quote reading: "It's clear that the feudal leasehold system needs to be abolished as soon as possible, and action is needed from government to protect those who are already living in leasehold homes and suffering hugely as a result."

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Reposted by Joe Giddings

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 10d

Renewables are a masterclass in learning-by-doing. Each doubling of deployment cuts costs via experience curves: better manufacturing, finance & supply chains.

Result:

Solar now cheapest new power in many regions
Falling battery costs enable flexibility
Electrification gets more attractive

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 9d

Jan, it would be great to get your thoughts on whether supply-side or demand-side interventions are the primary drivers of this? The context: we're working towards a transition in the construction industry towards low-carbon materials, but the primary barrier is cost, across euroipean markets

Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 9d

Alternative headline:
"Gloucestershire man sees goddess appear on toast"

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 9d

The top edge was clearly at the bottom of the toaster

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