Bere Admin February 27th, 2008
Justin Bere presented a lecture at Ecobuild 2008 on Passivhaus technology, which is now recognized by the RIBA as the emerging European standard for low energy design. The lecture was titled “Keep it Simple Stupid” (KISS) and explained how 15 years of Passivhaus research in Europe has resulted in proven design techniques that are clear and simple to understand and to verify for both designer and contractor. Justin argued that the clarity and authenticity of this ‘no nonsense’ approach is the essential next stage in UK sustainable design. The Passivhaus design approach overcomes the widespread confusion, failing targets, false rhetoric and ‘greenwash’ that presently plagues the UK low energy scene.
Bere Admin February 25th, 2008
20 tonnes of soil has now been loaded on to the Muse, Justin Bere’s own self-build experimental home and an all-native planting scheme has been installed in good time to get settled in before the growing season. Justin says: “at last we got 20 tonnes of soil on the roofs of my house and we have completed an all-native planting scheme, including a native hawthorn thicket, a native hazel woodland with native honeysuckle and two native wild-flower meadows. Also forty native birch trees have been planted along the gravel entranceway. The selected plants are all species native to the UK, which means they are perfectly suited to support native insects and animals, creating a comprehensive, symbiotic, fully functioning ecology. The plants were all grown in the south east of England and sourced from English Woodlands Continue Reading »
Bere Admin January 20th, 2008
By Jill Macnair
The Sunday Times
20 January 2008
Full On-Line Article
Home gave three leading eco-architects different budgets and one brief: to create a sustainable urban family dwelling. Our correspondent is impressed by the results.
exert…
Justin Bere, principal of the north London-based firm Bere Architects, designed a four-bedroom, 1,800 sq ft home costing £400,000 (plus land costs). His residential projects include Focus House, built in 2006 in Finsbury Park, north London, which won the Riba London Region Award 2007, among other prizes. His practice is a devotee of PassivHaus, an established German style of energy-efficient construction. Continue Reading »
Bere Admin January 15th, 2008
Justin Bere spent another week in Germany and Austria in January studying Passivhaus projects and technology. He also met Hermann Kaufmann who is at the forefront of Passivhaus design in Europe. Although he is not yet well known in the UK, Hermann Kaufmann is famous in mainland Europe for demonstrating how technically advanced low energy buildings can also be inspirationally designed. Justin believes that Hermann Kaufmann’s work represents the pinnacle of architectural design because he achieves the highest quality architectural design standards whilst also being constrained by the discipline of Europe’s most advanced energy saving standard, the Passivhaus standard. (see the BRE website www.passivhaus.org.uk)
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admin October 24th, 2007
By Pamela Buxton
Building Design
12 October 2007
Architect Justin Bere is so determined to be part of the solution to climate change that he’s set up his own glazing business
As an architect, it was never Justin Bere’s ambition to set up a window company. But frustration at the standard of UK-manufactured windows, coupled with his admiration for German-made Bayer products, led him to do just that, and this summer Double Good Windows was born.
Not only will the company operate as the UK agent for the super-airtight Bayer range, it also aims to encourage UK manufacturers to produce similarly high-performing windows of their own.
“I realised that people’s expectations in the UK are much lower than they need to be,” says Bere.
“I saw the opportunity to help bring about a rapid change in the environmental performance of UK buildings through something quite simple — windows and doors.”
Bere’s quest for premium airtight windows began six years ago, when he conceived the design for his own house in Islington, north London. Determined to make it as energy-efficient as possible, he designed his own triple-glazed windows with double seals, taking inspiration from the Swedish-made windows he’d seen at the 1960s offices by YRM at Greystoke Place in central London.
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Bere Admin May 15th, 2007
PassivHaus Study Tour
21 & 22 May 2007
Hanover, Germany
This seminar is aimed at housing professionals and professional bodies whom are involved in lowenergy housing. Pro-active company directors, decision makers, architects, contractors and developers will be represented at the study tour.
BRE is offering a unique opportunity, as a part of this study tour, to experience first hand what it means to live, work and design PassivHaus dwellings.
More information and Booking form
Bere Admin May 11th, 2007
Concept
The amazing thing about Comfort-Haus is that it doesn’t need a boiler. It has no radiators, no underfloor heating or air conditioning, yet it stays warm in winter and cool in summer. With insulation three times better than current building standards and air-tightness 14 times better than building regulations, the heat from people, appliances and the sun are retained in the building to maintain a comfortable year-round temperature.
Community
Comfort-Haus has been designed to allow communities to grow and evolve. It is easily adaptable to changes in its occupant’s requirements and allows people to grow old among their lifelong friends. The whole ground floor of Comfort-Haus can easily be converted into an autonomous “granny flat” with a carer accommodated above, so that families and communities can remain intact. Continue Reading »
Bere Admin April 5th, 2007
Published by Ecotech
Commentary by Justin Bere
5 April 2007
Each spring Germany’s Passivhaus Institute holds its annual conference within a European city. The conference probably represents the largest gathering of low energy construction research academics and professionals in the world and without a doubt it presents the most experienced, the most scientific and the most professional low energy and ecological papers presented to construction professionals at any single international conference. Continue Reading »
