Jonny Plant, director at Corstorphine & Wright, explores the circular design principles behind and ‘true cost’ of the practice’s Unusual Rigging headquarters building in Northamptonshire, which is due to complete in the summer.

The new headquarters and research building for Unusual Rigging in Northamptonshire is an exemplar test-bed project for circular economy principles and low-energy design. At its core is the circular economy, an approach to building that departs from the linear economy of take, make, use, and dispose, and instead looks to create a building that is constructed from sustainable materials and can be dismantled and reused at the end of its hopefully long life.

Turning theory into practice
These circular economy principles have been applied throughout the design of the building to minimise embodied carbon, maximise adaptability and lifespan, and ultimately ensure that it can be dismantled and repurposed at the end of its life. Led by Tom Harper, Unusual Rigging designs rigging for hanging and animating all types of lighting, sound systems and stage sets. Having qualified with a masters in the circular economy, and applying his knowledge to the already circular construction typology of rigging, Tom turned to the company’s new HQ to apply everything he had learnt. Currently on site, the building is due to complete in June this year.

Minimising operational carbon
The project has been designed to minimise its operational carbon footprint during its life. A fabric-first approach has been adopted with a highly insulated and airtight external envelope. The services specification further minimises the building’s energy demands. Air source heat pumps and roof-mounted photovoltaics provide an on-site source of renewable energy. Rainwater harvesting from the roof provides water for toilet flushing, further reducing the building’s reliance on the grid. Storm run-off is controlled on site by attenuating ground rainfall into a new pond, which also provides an aquatic habitat to improve local biodiversity.

Building as test bed
Underpinning the environmental approach is the building as a test bed – neither fully circular, nor Passivhaus, nor BREAM accredited. Instead, it is a balance of what it means to to be circular, employing available research and technologies to exemplify these values and aspirations. Fundamentally, the building exemplifies two things; a rigour and open mindedness to adopt design theories and materials that are still being developed, and an appreciation of ‘true cost’: the long-term cost of something and the real value that it brings.

Too often an inertia exists in sustainable design, particularly in circularity, in waiting for the perfect solution. While significant strides have been made, knowledge and the availability of circular materials can be scarce. But this is developing quickly, both in terms of the application of reused materials, such as steel and raised access floors (both of which are being installed at Unusual), but also the supply of new materials with circular credentials. These include Cradle to Cradle and Nature Plus certifications. Certifications that allow specifiers, designers and end users to employ products who’s circular, social and environmental credentials have been considered. Not every material and product at Unusual is fully circular, but a significant number are, and where they are not, a balanced and more importantly informed decision has been made as to why not.

The true cost of construction
Like all building projects, cost has played a significant role in the development of the design. It isn’t a cheap building, but neither is it an expensive one. What underpins the budget is a long-term view on the ‘true cost’ of its construction. This long-term approach is fundamental, we can no longer think about cost in terms of the price tag. True cost considers not only the market price, but also the hidden cost required to repair the social and environmental damage caused along the supply chain. This often includes pollution, climate change, availability of resources or the impact their extraction could have on the environment and community in which they were sourced. This long-term view has been rigorously considered at each design decision at Unusual, and only when the true cost can be established is a final decision made.

One might think that Unusual is in a fortunate position to be able to develop, finance and inhabit its own building. Not only will its value sit on the balance sheet, but it will also reap the benefits of investment in very low operational energy and carbon, for the entire time it occupies the building. This will result in real and tangible value, realised over the life of the building.

There is an inevitability to the circular economy; an understanding and need to value true cost as an approach that will assist the delivery of truly circular architecture by all those in the property industry. Emerging legislation will no doubt provide the impetus for some, but we need projects like Unusual that will lead by example to inspire others to understand true cost. And in turn provide the impetus for developers and landlords to see the value of their assets rising and more importantly, user experience and wellbeing improved.