Considering a city as a series of temporary events?
If we consider a city as simply a series of ‘events’ in time, how does this impact the way we design, and can it lead to more sustainable outcomes? Many of the materials used in modern developments have a much longer functional lifespan than the life cycle of the buildings they constitute. Although the ‘event’ of that building may end, the operational materials should not be wasted but instead be used in new ‘events’, new developments. Understanding the city as a mineable entity brings a new locality to construction materials. The geology of a place is no longer just the rock beneath our feet, it now incorporates the material that was transported here and used in the construction of buildings. Granite from Scotland, marble from Italy, steel from China – all become part of a new localised city ‘event’ geology. If we were able to accurately map and catalogue these existing materials by providing them with a permanent identity using a material passporting platform such as Madaster, this information in conjunction with technological advances and adoption of Digital Twins and BIM has the potential to revolutionise our place making and allow for previously unsustainable processes to continue in a sustainable way.What is the state of circularity within the UK construction and real estate sector?
Circularity in the UK construction and real estate sector is an active and vibrant conversation. We’re in a position where the promotion of sustainable goals now seems to be a necessity for this sector and substantial efforts are being made to make circularity the standard and not just a hot topic of conversation. A surprising positive that can be taken from the UK’s exit from the European Union is that there is now a need for legislative reformation. This, in conjunction with the growing acceptance of circularity, provides a real opportunity to enforce circular practices from a governmental standpoint. The impending touch down of Madaster on the UK market fills me with a lot of confidence. I believe it illustrates that there is a desire in the UK to adopt and commit to circular processes. My experience from the short time that I have been a member of the Madaster team is that the UK harbours a continually growing demand for the data and services that the Madaster platform provides. Whether that is due to growing pressure from sustainably conscious clients, or investors aiming to meet ESG criteria, or company’s striving to reach sustainability goals or because of new regulatory mandates, a lot of value has been attributed to circularity measurements, embodied carbon data and material identity.What is needed for circularity to be widely adopted in the UK?
Environmental regulation is driving change in the UK, potentially faster than large parts of Europe. However, if we want to see UK circularity adopted further in the short term, more rigorous regulatory enforcement is needed. Accessibility to the tools that enable circularity in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) that don’t inhibit growth is also important. There are members of the industry that are willing to go through a period of change and accept that it might require compromise. However, for large scale adoption, economically sensible pathways leading to circularity will be vital. Madaster recognise this and over the last 5 years have developed a platform that not only facilitates and aids the transition to circularity but also presents new economic opportunities and benefits for their partners and clients through the data they collect. Madaster’s approach is a good one for a UK market. The commitment of key influential pioneer companies could really aid efforts in bringing circularity to the forefront of standardisation in the AEC sector. The market is driven by a relatively small number of companies and so having these people on board and being proactive will really increase the speed at which the whole industry moves.Why are you looking for urban design opportunities in the London area?
Following the completion of my undergraduate degree in architecture at the University of Edinburgh I decided to pursue a master’s degree in Architectural and Urban Design at the University of Brighton. This reflected the direction of my interests at the time and my desire to explore the built environment at a different scale. The same reasoning also applied to my relocation to London – a change in scale and a new challenge. London is also the hub for AEC industries in the UK and, as I’ve found already, is well positioned to enable work with multinational companies such as Madaster.What do you hope to achieve with your internship at Madaster?
I’m really excited to be a part of the Madaster team, I have strong ambitions to be involved with Madaster further in the future. After the success of 1 Broadway and the resulting Building Research Establishment (BRE) Innovation credit award to British Land, I’m keen to be actively involved in the inception of many more exciting partnerships and projects here in the UK. It’s a rare and exciting opportunity to be involved at such an early stage, especially with an industry leader, I hope that I can provide meaningful and productive support to Madaster as they look to start this new chapter. Hopefully together we can make 2023 an especially exciting year by building new relationships in the UK and adding to the increasing number of projects registered on the platform. If you’re interested in finding out more about the rollout of Madaster and/or would like to learn more about how Madaster could help you, you can contact me at ewan.malloch@madaster.com or find me on LinkedIn.Join our movement today, start preserving value
Learn about our platformMadaster offers a partner and subscription model
Madaster platform
Step 1
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Partnership
Our partner model provides guidance, support, training and enables you to leverage our ecosystem through marketing and network events.
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Subscription
Our subscription model gives you access to our platform.
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Demo
Madaster regularly gives demos of the platform. Register for the next demo by sending an email to info@madaster.be
Step 2
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Basic
User 1
Object 1
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Support 1 object
Update session 2x/ year
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Marketing Basic
Client event –
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Extra
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Object 1
Onboarding 2x 1,5h
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Update session 2x/ year
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Client event –
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Premium
User 1
Object 1
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Update session 2x/ year
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€ 8.500 / year *
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PURE
Can’t wait to contribute to a circular world? Is the Madaster manual sufficient for you and do you need no further support? Then choose the ‘Madaster PURE’ subscription here. You get access to the platform for 1 user and 1 object. From your account you can order additional services if necessary.€ 1.000 / year *
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Producers
Producers can add their products to Madaster. If product data can be used and shared with all users, registration is free. For additional functions, a partnership is required and it is best to contact info@madaster.be€ 0 / year *
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