From Wattle and Daub and Back Again: An Architect Reflects

It seems that one of our earliest necessities was to have a place to call home, a roof over our heads and ancient architects and builders used whatever was lying around at the time to construct buildings.

We do the same nowadays but will our superior methods, materials and knowhow produce anything any better than our architect ancestors?

In The Beginning There Was Mud…
From Neolithic times onwards humans were great builders using mud, dust, sand and straw to create ‘mud-bricks’. These bricks would be sun dried and used to create a structure that would last around 30 years before it would need to be rebuilt.

Where there was access to trees wattle and daub was used to create homes. Tree branches would be woven together and covered in mud, wet soil, animal dung in fact anything considered ‘sticky’ would be daubed over the woven branches.

Stone and A Recycling Program…
On Orkney however Neolithic architecture was of stone and set into a rubbish tip to provide insulation, an early form of recycling perhaps…

The Excavations at Skara Brae, Orkney

This insulation would have been essential due to the harsh climate in the area and for over 600 years groups of people lived in the village of around ten houses. That was more than 6000 years ago…

As we progressed buildings got more and more elaborate and the architects of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome were to design buildings, monuments, statutes and tombs that would last for thousands of years. The pyramids at Giza are thought to have been completed around 4,500 years ago.

Interior Design and A Divine Connection…
Elaborate stonework and decoration became the norm at least in Europe and there are many buildings that still survive giving us a hint at what life was like in the Ancient Roman/Greek/Egyptian Empires.

The Temple of Horus

The Colosseum

Cities were founded, built and decorated in accordance with the apparent wishes of the Gods of the time and the architects of this era would use the movement of the sun, stars and other cosmological bodies to align and proportion their creations.

At least as far back as 300BC the Golden Ratio of 1:1.618 was being used in Greek architecture and it is thought that the design of the Parthenon is based on this.

Architecture seemed to be at the mercy of deities and yet here was mathematics making an appearance.

Did these architects know that their creations would stand the test of time, that thousands of year’s later human beings would still be marvelling at their achievements?

Lagging Behind…
Whilst Europe and Asia was building to last, many of the natives of Central America were still making mud bricks and using wattle and daub to create shelters and homes. It wasn’t really until contact was made with the European settlers that this style of architecture changed.

This was not the case in South America, however. In what we now call Bolivia the Incas created cities out of stone and a road network spanning much of the west coast of the continent. In fact the Inca architects and engineers could be credited with building the first suspension bridges!

These bridges were a necessity to keep the road system in operation and allow messages to be delivered by runners throughout the Inca Empire. Made from woven vegetation, wood and branches the rope bridges were maintained on an annual basis by nearby villagers which ensured that they remained strong.

The last Inca rope bridge having been reconstructed.

Onwards and Upwards…Literally!
If we fast forward through Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Expressionist and Art Deco styles of architecture we arrive at the present day.

All of these periods of design have had an affect on how an architect of today will design a building. There may be influences of on or more of these styles but modern construction materials allows for bigger, stronger and taller buildings than ever before.

Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai is currently the world’s tallest building. It stands more than half a mile high (2,717ft) and took around five years to complete. The foundations alone are made of over 45,000m³ of concrete weighing over 110,000 tonnes with the structure itself using 330,000m³ of concrete and 55,000 of steel rebar. After 22 million man hours the world’s tallest building was ready.

Is this our crowning architectural achievement? Is this as high as we can go? Will our predecessors still be marvelling at this structure in a thousand years? Who can say…

Back To Basics…
The circle of life is never ending and it would seem that the circle of architecture is the same. Yes, we are more advanced and yes, we have better techniques but we seem to be returning in part to our ancient architect roots.
Green architecture is popular today and more and more people are returning to more traditional methods of construction and using more environmentally friendly materials.

Insulation can be made from recycled newspapers, denim jeans and blast furnace slag helping to reduce the amount of rubbish heading to landfill sites. Using rubbish as insulation sounds familiar…

Walls can be constructed using bamboo, rammed earth, clay, baked earth, sisal, see grass etc.

Sounds similar to wattle and daub…

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Social Media and the Block Podcast

I just thought I would drop a quick Blogpost regarding the newest PR and marketing drive, the block podcast. It goes without saying that everyone is trying something new in order to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. I have always tried to do this through various initiatives.

Last week the block podcast No 2 was in iTunes top 200 downloads so of course I am delighted. The feedback has been immense with loads of interest in the guest speaker slots. If you are interested in coming onto the podcast please do contact us.

You can also follow the podcast on twitter with #blockpodcast.

Finally, I am happy to receive discussion topics via email Hamilton@blockarchitects.co.uk

Here's to the future success of the podcast.

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

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Block Podcast - Episode 2...we're back and we've got some friends to join us!

We were extremely encouraged with the response to Block Podcast Episode 1 and with the number and variety of people who have expressed an interest in taking part either on a regular basis or, periodically when their area of expertise is required.  episode 2 of the Block Podcast was recorded on the Friday 5th August and we were delighted to welcome some guests along to take part, let us introduce them to you:

• Evelyn Laurie, Principal, Red Marketing 
• Paul McComish, CEO McComish Group
• John Stobbs, Director of Operations, Sap Service UK

Also on the podcast we have Kenneth Martin, Managing Director, Block Architects and Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd

As you will probably gather, we had great fun recording the second episode of the podcast with some lively discussion and the odd bit of humour!  We hope we have captured some really interesting content for you, here's some of the things we discuss during the podcast:

• Live organ donation - nothing to do with building design or property by we thought, given Kenneth's experience, we would have a very brief chat about the very topical subject of payments for live organs.
• Sustainability Statements - what's it all about and what are the associated costs and implications for house builders?
• Zero carbon emissions - is it really achievable?
• Solar panels as an investment - we look at the "Roof-for Rent" proposition and discuss some of the issues surrounding it
• Insurance claims - what's the insurance company's view - Like-for-Like vs replacement with a sustainable solution
• Social media in the property industry - how do you project your personal brand where we refer to the expert advice of  Jennifer Holloway, Managing Director, Spark Branding
• We also ask the question - Are CV's a thing of the past
• Recruitment - Is there a shortage of skills? Are graduates ready for the workplace? Is there a better solution for training tradesmen in the future?

We hope you enjoy the discussion on this podcast and, if you would like to take part in a future episode please email Gordon White or Kenneth Martin for a chat.

We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

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Green Roofs - Green Architecture

As Kermit Says ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’


If you could reduce your heating bills by growing grass on your roof would you? It’s currently not the norm, agreed, and the issue is more of an eco-friendly one than a practical one at the moment but if you were given the option, would you?

Green architecture is a growing trend and homes are being built that take advantage of a wide variety of different techniques that save water, reduce heating bills and save energy. Growing grass on rooftops is one of those techniques.

Simply placing containers on the roof of an office block is currently not accepted as a true green or living roof. Waterproof membrane is required along with an irrigation system, root barrier and drainage layers. It really is a roof covered with proper vegetation.

The benefits of having a green roof are a reduction in heating bills, a reduction in cooling bills, reducing rainwater run off, being able to filter pollutants and carbon dioxide and it creates a natural habitat for birds etc. Another way to create a green roof is to create a pond environment. This can be a good way to treat greywater.

So when we look out from tall office buildings is the sky line going to be dotted with green, lush vegetation? Well more and more this will be the case as more companies decide to reduce bills and their carbon footprint. Are we going to see more house builders using turf instead of tiles? Maybe not.

But more people are deciding to self build and as green techniques to save energy, reduce bills and save water become increasing popular maybe we will see more residential homes with green or living roofs.

For more information on Green Architecture please click here.

Block Podcast - Episode 1...In search of presenters

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Block Podcast; a regular podcast for all those interested in propert and construction. In the podcast Kenneth Martin, MD at Block Architects, explains what it's all about and the type of things that will be discussed in the future.

Kenneth starts with an appeal for anyone interested in property and construction to get involved in future episodes; we are looking for regular contributors as well as "resident experts" who will be willing to contribute of their areas of expertise when the need arises.

So, what type of people are we looking for?  well, just about anybody involved in planning, design or construction; architects, interior designers, engineers, surveyors, builders, developers, facilities mananagement, landlords...really anyone who has a relevant interest in this area.  If you are interested in being part of a future podcast please email Gordon White or Kenneth Martin for a chat.

In this inagural episode we also talk about the use of social media within the building and construction industry so, if you are using social media you may want to join us to talk about it.

Please take time to listen to the podcast and let us know if you are interested in being part of our exciting new communication tool.  We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes

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Self Build Homes – From Foundations Upwards

You have bought your plot, had soil surveys done, any trees removed and the site cleared – you are ready to start digging! Your builder may even have pegged out a plan on the ground so you have an idea of the foot print of your self build home.

Materials can start to be delivered and now is when you have to be organised. You need to leave enough room around the build for scaffolding, bricks and blocks to be laid out, you need to make sure that any deliveries made do not hinder other services being installed such as gas, electricity, telephone, water and waste and you should ensure that lorries have good access to the site.

Sticking a sign in a prominent place to indicate the location of your site to delivery drivers is also a good idea, saves your bricks from begin delivered to your new neighbour two doors down!

If you are not planning on living on site then you will need somewhere secure to lock valuable tools etc. away or hire a security guard to watch over the site and protect it from what may be costly vandalism. If you do decide that a caravan on site is the way to go you will need to get permission from the local council.

Once the footings are up to ground level you will see the shape of your self build home start to take shape. The ground floor walls can now be started and once complete, scaffolding erected for the start of the second floor.

Once the build reaches just below roof height more scaffolding will be required to take the build to truss height. By this point you will clearly see the size of your self build home. A third and four scaffold lift may be required to complete the roof and gable end. Once the roof trusses have been felted and battened, the tiles or slates can be put in place and your roof is water tight.

Adding in the windows and doors will make the whole build wind and water tight and the internal fixes can begin. Pipes for plumbing, water and heating go in and all electrical wiring can be put in place. If you have ever been annoyed by a lack of sockets or switches and by trailing wires tucked around door frames and skirting boards, now is the time to solve both these issues.

Stud walls, staircases and floor boards complete the internal layout and the first fix. Plastering of the walls can now begin. Floor covering and tiling work can be done and a final fix on the plumbing, joinery and electrical wiring can be completed.

With pipes connected to the sewer and cables connected to the electricity supply your home will almost be ready for you to move in. Painting, decorating, kitchen units and bathrooms suites finish the place off.

There is a lot of work connected with a self build and you should be prepared for it to take some time but the final outcome will be worth the wait. If you feel you want to, you can project manage this whole process yourself but if it seems daunting to be dealing with builders, joiners, scaffolders, plumbers and electricians, not to mention building inspectors then your architect can be your project manager.

If you have enjoyed this article then click here for more self build information.

Self Build Homes - Starting With A Good Foundation

Following the announcement by the Housing Minister that the Government will encourage lending for self build, we thought we would drop this blog post.

The popularity of self build homes in on the increase and many people dream of living in a home that they have designed specifically to suit the needs of them and their family. Before that can become a reality however there are a few steps that need to be taken.

Finding A Plot
Finding a piece of land and deciding that you want to live there is the beginning of the process then you need to see if the plot you have chosen is suitable for the home you wish to build.

There are a variety of different factors that will affect the suitability of the land from type of soil, slope of the plot to the proximity of rivers, burns and trees. Having a proper land survey carried out which involves soil samples and test bore holes is valuable and, when digging out your foundations can quite literally prevent you from pouring money down a big hole!

A Good Foundation
Foundations are not just about digging a big enough hole and pouring concrete into it. This is the beginning of your home and one of the most important parts to get right. If the foundations are laid well, if they are the right kind and they are strong enough then you are off to a flying start with your self build.

Foundations come in three main forms strip, raft or pile and your architect is best placed to be able to advise which type will suit your build and plot.

Site Preparation
You have had test bores done, you know what kind of soil you are dealing with, your architect is happy with the positioning of rivers and trees and any slope is being worked around – you are now ready to clear the site.

This part of the preparation doesn’t require any real expertise unless there are large trees that may need to be felled. Many trees have preservation orders on them and you can’t touch them so its best to find out from your local planning office if that is the case before revving up your chain saw!

If you do have to remove any large trees you are best to leave the site to settle before commencing any building works. Removal of large trees or a large number of trees can change the equilibrium of the surrounding soil and may have an impact on the foundations required.

At each one of these stages you will find the expertise of your architect invaluable and having them on board right from the beginning could save you time and money.

Bringing in an architect even before you have settled on a plot and bought it makes good sense.

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