In his speech entitled “More With Less – Embracing Chaos to Drive Change’, in the context of this year’s event ESO “EMBRACING CHAOS IN A SMART WORLD”, Julian Lipscombe, architect and director of Bennetts Associates, unraveled the 40 years office practice thinking on sustainability and their vision for responsible operations that are rooted in an ethical approach, challenge convention, demonstrate honesty and raise the bar.
Read more about ESO 2025, “Embracing Chaos in a smart world” εδώ!
The company’s vision is to commit to the resource conscious architecture which is elegant in its simplicity and created with generosity.
Starting on office ethical approach and sustainability thesis he interpreted the conference theme, by explained that Chaos in greek mythology is about the void state from which creation springs. So keeping on that state of mind we can embrace chaos as a situation that is driving innovation and as a catalyst for evolution in a smart world where change is the only constant in life.
How smart is humanity in the way that we treat the planet?
Being the change we want to see
Embracing innovation through all typologies, different locations and climate conditions, Julian Lipscombe demonstrated through several projects, the philosophy behind buildings that give more but use less of everything.
The Timber Square project, a hybrid timber redevelopment that addresses both construction and operational carbon emissions. It is the first Net zero carbon scheme in the city and also the first major use of timber. It’s about reusing an existing building, adapting and bringing that forward.
He introduced Meta Headquarters in central London (Kings Cross), where the scheme is cutting the embody of carbon in half and afterwards, taking sustainability up to the city scale, he talked about how a landmark scheme emphasises placemaking, re-use, biogenic materials and biodiversity with focus on the people.
Sending a message on how future cities need to start to look like
He continued by explaining the fundamental importance of re-use to drive sustainability by using the already existing building stock. In Edinburgh Futures Institute, they followed this statement, turning an old infirmary into something new, where the initial idea for the project was to avoid the contagion of diseases (that had given the shape to the first building) and encourage the contagion of ideas!
On a smaller scale, he introduced us the idea of groundbreaking use of biogenic materials, talking about a private house in northern England and its construction materials, such as load bearing stone, straw bales, mass timber and earth blocks.
Continuing his journey with Syngrou Avenue Office Complex in Athens, in collaboration with Divercity Architects, he explained how they focused on context, heritage, materiality and climate to achieve a result that adjusts in the Athenian urban landscape.
Through the next project Julian showed some ideas on harnessing the Greek climate, by exploring Net Zero Carbon Greek building, ‘Super Roof’ & energy self-sufficiency, on a building that through expressing layers creates a tapestry of geometry, shadows and nature.
Also, on the scheme concerning the campus of Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, he focused on the idea of children – inhabitants of this educational buildings as future leaders and tried to enforce nature landscape and in the same time provide sustainable surroundings.
Closing his speech, Julian recognised climate emergency as a global problem and indicated collaboration as the way of solving it.
“Climate change is a global problem needing global solutions from the very best minds. We’ve been pushing hard for 40 years in UK mainstream sustainability and are now spreading that knowledge globally in countries like Greece and India using the ‘2+2=5’ principle of collaboration with local experts”
Read more about ESO 2025, “Embracing Chaos in a smart world” εδώ!
Credits of organization
Event title ΕΣΩ 2025: “EMBRACING CHAOS IN A SMART WORLD”
Typology Conference, Conference on Architecture & Design
Location Alexandra Trianti Hall, Athens Concert Hall
Date Wednesday 7 May 2025
Sponsors
PLATINUM SPSONSOR ALUMIL
GOLD SPONSOR ORAMA MINIMAL FRAMES
SIVLER SPONSOR EUROPA
BRONZE SPONSOR INTERBETON
ΕΜERALD SPONSOR ELVIAL
SAPPHIRE SPONSOR VIMAR
DISTINCTIVE SPONSOR HERACLES
GRAND SPONSORS ISOMAT, NEOKEM, ΜΑRΜOURIS, SATO, GRUPPO CUCINE, SIFAKIS, ΚΥΠΡΙΩΤΗΣ, ΚΕΒΕ, RADOS, SOLOMON, AVE, CRYSTAL CONSTRUCTION, AHI CARRIER, VERTICAL, ARCHITEXTURE, NAFPLIOTIS, ETHIMO, URBI ET ORBI, MOLESKINE, STORMY SA
CREATIVE PARTNERS THE DESIGN AMBASSADOR, STAGE DESIGN OFFICE, EVIN, SCENTLINQ PRO
COMMUNICATION SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARCHISEARCH, ARCHSTUDIES, ANDRO, FORTUNE GREECE, LIFO, OPEN HOUSE ATHENS, OZON MAGAZINE, THE GREEK FOUNDATION
HOSPITALITY SUPPORTER THE MODERNIST
COFFEE BREAK SPONSOR TAF
Content Creation & Communication Sponsor Archisearch.gr
Production Management & Artistic Direction Design Ambassador
READ ALSO: ΕΣΩ 2025: "EMBRACING CHAOS IN A SMART WORLD" // 'Preserving heritage is a modern architectural act': Ανδρέας Καραβανάς - OMA