Lancaster student wins eco design award

This article was originally published in issue 38 of Passive House Plus magazine. Want immediate access to all back issues and exclusive extra content? Click here to subscribe for as little as €10, or click here to receive the next issue free of charge

The award went to Katie Phillips, her designs and portfolio showed that she was clearly thinking about usability and functionality, and considered how this can integrate with the building structure and ventilation proposals.

Ecological Building Systems provided a prize of a one-year membership to the UK Passivhaus Trust and a subscription to Passive House Plus magazine.

Ecological Building Systems general manager Penny Randell said: “We were delighted to work with Lancaster University to create the Eco-Design Award. We like to do as much as we can as a business to support and invest in the future generation of architects, particularly at this critical time as we move towards net zero carbon in the UK, and of course we’d always encourage students to incorporate natural building materials. I am also particularly aware how difficult it can be to recruit technical staff locally at our head office in Cumbria, so supporting a relatively local university is important for us. We hope that the prize given to Katie relating to all things passive house, helps to encourage her to develop these principles within her career.”

Course leader for the BA (Hons) Architecture, Dr Ana Rute Costa, said: “We are very pleased to develop this partnership with Ecological Building Systems. Setting a new course of architecture at the university is quite challenging, but also a really exciting opportunity to shape the future of architecture. Creating a supportive network of professionals, academics, industry and community is essential to respond creatively to what the market – and planet – demands.”