John Barry Lowe
@teachspruis.bsky.social
Architect, Director EDEN architects, Certified Passive House Designer, Architecture Design Fellow APEP-University College Dublin
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
New issue out now! -
Always worth waiting for, issue 51 of Passive House Plus is at the printers, but subscribers can read the digital version online now!
mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
Always worth waiting for, issue 51 of Passive House Plus is at the printers, but subscribers can read the digital version online now!
mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
New issue out now! -
Always worth waiting for, issue 51 of Passive House Plus is at the printers, but subscribers can read the digital version online now!
mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
Always worth waiting for, issue 51 of Passive House Plus is at the printers, but subscribers can read the digital version online now!
mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
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 ?
October 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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 ?
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/
October 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
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/
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 ?
August 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
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 ?
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
bsky.app/profile/ibik... Last Friday of every month. See you Aug 29th
August 9, 2025 at 7:39 AM
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
bsky.app/profile/ibik... Last Friday of every month. See you Aug 29th
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Honoured to have our work on sustainability acknowledged at the RIAI Architecture Awards 2025 where Teach Sprúis was highly commended in the SUSTAINABILITY category
June 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Honoured to have our work on sustainability acknowledged at the RIAI Architecture Awards 2025 where Teach Sprúis was highly commended in the SUSTAINABILITY category
Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013]. I'll soon figure out threaded posts
June 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013]. I'll soon figure out threaded posts
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...
June 21, 2025 at 8:42 AM
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...
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
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
#ActiveTransport
June 16, 2025 at 9:53 AM
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
#ActiveTransport
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
June 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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...
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
June 5, 2025 at 6:36 AM
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.
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.
June 4, 2025 at 11:16 PM
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.
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
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.
April 25, 2025 at 6:24 AM
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.
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
April 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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.
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
April 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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
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
April 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
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
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
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...
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
March 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
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...
www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
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...
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...
March 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
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...
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...
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
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
Wood Awards Ireland 2024 - Eden Architects
We are delighted to announce that Teach Spúis is a Winner at the Wood Awards Ireland 2024 in the category Small-Scale Buildings. The awards were announced at a ceremony in Farmleigh House on December ...
www.edenarchitects.ie
December 19, 2024 at 12:28 PM
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
Myth busting about heat pumps www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
Factcheck: 18 misleading myths about heat pumps - Carbon Brief
Heat pumps are an alternative to gas boilers and wood stoves for indoor heating. They...
www.carbonbrief.org
December 15, 2024 at 9:05 AM
Myth busting about heat pumps www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
An inspiring community jrnl.ie/6568875
Community group who saved road from coastal erosion urges State to reduce fossil fuel use
The Maharees Conservation Association in Kerry says Ireland is in ‘big trouble’ unless the government escalates plans to switch to a low carbon economy.
jrnl.ie
December 15, 2024 at 8:44 AM
An inspiring community jrnl.ie/6568875
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Before choosing bottled water over tap water, remember it takes more than 10X the water that a bottle of water holds to make the plastic bottle and transport the water. And that’s before considering the fuel and GHGs, the 1000 year bottle life, and the RIDICULOUS amount of $ we’re paying for water.
December 14, 2024 at 1:17 AM
Before choosing bottled water over tap water, remember it takes more than 10X the water that a bottle of water holds to make the plastic bottle and transport the water. And that’s before considering the fuel and GHGs, the 1000 year bottle life, and the RIDICULOUS amount of $ we’re paying for water.
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Attention Street Design Nerds! One of the most intriguing cities in recent years at reconsidering streets for people instead of just for cars, Oslo Norway, has translated their great Street Design Manual into English and put it on-line. Worth digging into. #Oslo
www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
December 12, 2024 at 8:07 PM
Attention Street Design Nerds! One of the most intriguing cities in recent years at reconsidering streets for people instead of just for cars, Oslo Norway, has translated their great Street Design Manual into English and put it on-line. Worth digging into. #Oslo
www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
Reposted by John Barry Lowe
I haven't made one of these for a while, so here's a heatmap that shows the monthly global temperature anomaly for 1880–2024.
This shows the difference between the average temperature in each month and the 20th century average for that month.
Data from NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...
This shows the difference between the average temperature in each month and the 20th century average for that month.
Data from NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...
December 4, 2024 at 10:33 AM
I haven't made one of these for a while, so here's a heatmap that shows the monthly global temperature anomaly for 1880–2024.
This shows the difference between the average temperature in each month and the 20th century average for that month.
Data from NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...
This shows the difference between the average temperature in each month and the 20th century average for that month.
Data from NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...