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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 2d

I forgot to mention in lovely Belfast

John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 2d

From LinkedIn. Nice reminder from a founder at the end the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025 brilliantly hosted by @passivhaustrust.bsky.social and @passivehouseie.bsky.social . For new build PassivHaus is a no brainer but how do we apply PassivHaus EnerPHit to renovations ?

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 3d

RTÉ Nationwide on Monday Oct 6th focused on the upcoming Irish www.architecturefoundation.ie #OpenHouseDublin . The first 10 minutes are about CLT Mass Timber and feature an in-depth look at Teach Sprúis tinyurl.com/4vthcajp For Open House Oct 11th -19th events see openhousedublin.com/whats-on/

John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Aug 27

It's amazing how many vistas in Dublin have been altered by the construction of this one single grim tower on Tara St D2. This photo is from Parnell Square in D1. How did it get planning ? If a 3D model was submitted to planners could it not be used in a city model to check these impacts ?

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Aug 9

I joined the campaign group I BIKE Dublin for their monthly Bike Bop last Friday. Met at Parnell Square - opposite Hugh Lane gallery at 6pm and bopped around the city on our bikes for an hour. Punters loved it as did we
bsky.app/profile/ibik... Last Friday of every month. See you Aug 29th

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Reposted by John Barry Lowe

www.edenarchitects.ie @edenarchitects.bsky.social · Jun 21

Honoured to have our work on sustainability acknowledged at the RIAI Architecture Awards 2025 where Teach Sprúis was highly commended in the SUSTAINABILITY category

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 21

Thanks Andrew, maybe it might form part of a mix if biodiversity is given more weight in evaluating timber options

John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 21

Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013]. I'll soon figure out threaded posts

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 21

CLT has to be seen to be appreciated. On a recent trip to London I visited 2 beautiful community buildings : the Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013] and the Frampton Park Baptist Church [2013] Sourced with the help of the 2018 publication waughthistleton.com/100-projects...

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Reposted by John Barry Lowe

Ola Løkken Nordrum @olaln.bsky.social · Jun 16

My letter to the editor in the Irish Times today on why we ought to target one million people cycling every day instead of one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.
#ActiveTransport

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 5

Architects are being urged to decarbonise buildings. If timber is part of the solution, how much biodiversity does forestry support? Nordic spruce used to make CLT is native to central Europe. Sitka spruce grown in Ireland is not. Why don't we grow more native Scots pine ? ecoplan.ie/can-scots-pi...

Can Scots pine Save the Irish Forestry Industry?

Scots pine forests could not only enhance biodiversity and combat climate change but also provide a sustainable and valuable timber resource.

ecoplan.ie

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 5

For water biodiversity the Citizens Science program can help communities assess wildlife quality in water samples using the great recording form. More info lawaters.ie/citizen-scie... Thanks to Prof Mary Kelly-Quinn freshwater ecologist at UCD for showing it at Rewild Dublin ? 25 Conference.

Citizen Science - Local Authority Waters Programme

Citizen science actively involves citizens in science that generates new knowledge or understanding. Experience by LAWPRO in the 2nd RBMP cycle has shown that

lawaters.ie

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Jun 4

Teach Sprúis has been selected for the RIAI Architectural Awards 2025 shortlist. All 48 projects on the shortlist are part of the Public Choice Award. Votes can be cast until June 16th at www.riai.ie/public-choic... The Public Choice Award and category awards will be announced on June 19th.

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Reposted by John Barry Lowe

Jon Burke🌍 @jonburkeuk.bsky.social · Apr 25

Whether through outright lies about the harmlessness of fossil fuels or the indirect lies of snake oil ‘Abundance theory’, both Right and Left politicians and commentariat have decided it’s easier to pretend global warming isn’t an extinction-level threat than it is to tackle it.

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Apr 6

Sorry about the "emmissions" typo. Cannot see a Bluesky option for corrections.

John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Apr 6

Brussels based RotorDC have built a business around desconstruction and salvage. It is also a Cooperative. The support and interest of the Brussels region government has been critical to supporting its development. rotordc.com/home. Every region in Europe can have one of these.

Rotor Deconstruction – Reuse of building materials made easy

We are a cooperative that organises the reuse of construction materials. We dismantle, process and trade salvaged building components.

rotordc.com

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Apr 6

In Brussels I visited 2 impressive circular economy businesses. Inspired by BC Materials who make the léém brand low-carbon clay plasters, paints and earth blocks from the excavation material under Brussels. bcmaterials.org/products-leem

Leem products | BC materials

Léém products are made with local, excavated loam / clay & sand because it's abundant, healthy and completely circular

bcmaterials.org

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Apr 6

March 16th I went by ferry/train from Dublin to Brussels. From ferry at 7:30 am to arriving in Brussels took 14 hours. With better train times it can be 12 hours. London Euston to Pancreas is a short walk. For CO2 emmissions of trains v planes see. www.directferries.co.uk/carbon_footp... Great trip

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Go Green @ecowarriorss.bsky.social · Mar 30

France’s new tidal turbines aim to power thousands of homes with clean energy supplying electricity to 8 million people.

www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

World’s most powerful underwater turbines are coming to French coast

One of France's first commercial-scale tidal energy pilot projects, NH1 is due to supply thousands of locals with clean electricity.

www.euronews.com

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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · Mar 30

theconversation.com/when-science...

When science showed in the 1970s that gas stoves produced harmful indoor air pollution, the industry reached for tobacco’s PR playbook

The natural gas industry has spent years trying to undermine scientific findings about gas stoves and health. If this sounds familiar, that’s no accident.

theconversation.com

Reposted by John Barry Lowe

Passivhaus Trust @passivhaustrust.bsky.social · Mar 27

Buildings don't breathe!

VERY useful animation from UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings UCL.

Helpful myth-busting, explaining moisture and building materials with the aid of biscuits!

youtu.be/Aky2HsB03Tk...

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Reposted by John Barry Lowe

www.edenarchitects.ie @edenarchitects.bsky.social · Dec 19

We are delighted to announce that Teach Spúis is a Winner at the Wood Awards Ireland 2024 in the category Small-Scale Buildings. Read about the awards and see the catalogue of winning and shortlisted projects www.edenarchitects.ie/2024/12/13/w... #passivehouse #masstimber #clt