Tomorrow's earth, today's journey: Exploring pathways to sustainability
Market View
Produced by:
Interview with
Carlos Bausá Martínez
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Tomorrow's earth, today's journey: Exploring pathways to sustainability
Market View
Produced by:
Interview with
Carlos Bausá Martínez
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
About Carlos Bausá Martínez
Carlos Bausá Martínez is the Head of Sustainability at Zaha Hadid Architects. He founded and leads the in-house Sustainability Team, which guides the architectural teams by providing essential performance metrics in Operational Energy Demand, Embodied Carbon, and Environmental Analysis. His team ensures compliance with major Sustainability Certifications and offers strategic guidance to integrate sustainability into architectural projects.
You've identified key challenges such as the generational and educational gaps affecting the adoption of sustainable practices in architecture. Could you elaborate on these challenges?
In architectural education, there has historically been a lag in prioritising energy-efficient and sustainable building designs, requiring significant professional development. To bridge these gaps, we focus on training and educating our team, emphasising the integration of rigorous environmental engineering principles early in the design process. This includes integrating Environmental Analysis, Energy Modelling, and Life Cycle Assessments at the initial stages, which are crucial for steering architects towards creating buildings that significantly mitigate climate change. By fostering a hybrid role that combines the creativity of design with the preciseness of science, we prepare our architects not only to meet today’s standards but to excel as designers of tomorrow, fully capable of realising the vision of Net Zero buildings.
Integrating engineering insights early in the architectural design process is essential for achieving energy efficiency. How does your company manage to incorporate these insights effectively?
Integrating engineering from the initial stages of the design process is fundamental to our approach. This early integration ensures that our architectural designs are not only innovative but also optimised for environmental sustainability. By collaborating closely with engineers from the start, we can tackle the complex challenges of designing buildings that are both beautiful and highly functional in terms of energy use. This strategy helps us avoid the common pitfalls of retrofitting sustainability features later in the process, which can be costly and less effective.
Integrating engineering from the initial stages of the design process is fundamental to our approach. This early integration ensures that our architectural designs are not only innovative but also optimised for environmental sustainability.
Balancing environmental goals with financial and operational objectives is crucial. How does your corporate strategy address this?
Our strategy revolves around demonstrating the long-term financial benefits of sustainable building features through detailed life cycle cost assessments. We show our clients that an initial investment increase of two to five percent in green building can lead to enhanced sustainability scores, as well as significant cost savings over the building’s lifespan due to reduced energy bills and lower maintenance costs. This approach supports our environmental goals and aligns with our financial and operational objectives for projects, making a compelling case for sustainable investments.
The impact of a dedicated sustainability team seems profound. Can you share more about how this team has influenced your company?
Having a dedicated sustainability team within our organisation has truly transformed how we operate. This team drives the implementation of our sustainability strategies, ensuring that all projects adhere to the highest standards of environmental performance. Their work has directly contributed to our success in securing projects that require stringent sustainability criteria. Moreover, this team plays a critical role in educating and motivating our entire staff, fostering a culture that values and prioritises sustainability in every aspect of our operations.
This team plays a critical role in educating and motivating our entire staff, fostering a culture that values and prioritises sustainability in every aspect of our operations.
How are digital solutions like environmental simulation and data visualisation tools integral to your sustainability strategies?
These digital tools are absolutely integral to our work. Environmental simulations and data visualisations allow us to anticipate and optimise the performance of our designs in real time. By employing these tools early in the design process, we can adjust our strategies to ensure that each project not only meets but exceeds local environmental standards. These technologies enable us to be agile and proactive, significantly enhancing our ability to deliver projects that are both sustainable and economically viable.
Engaging employees in sustainability initiatives is vital. How do you ensure active participation and motivation among your staff?
Engagement and motivation among our staff are fostered through comprehensive training and regular knowledge-sharing events. By providing ongoing education in sustainable practices and inviting external experts to share their insights, we create an environment that encourages curiosity and continuous improvement. These initiatives help our employees see the tangible impacts of their work on sustainability, boosting their motivation and commitment to our organisational goals.
By employing these tools early in the design process, we can adjust our strategies to ensure that each project not only meets but exceeds local environmental standards.
About Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects, established by the visionary Zaha Hadid in 1980, stands at the forefront of contemporary architecture. Known for its pioneering and bold designs, the firm has cemented its reputation through expressive, futuristic forms that redefine modern aesthetics. Based in London, it leverages advanced technology and innovative materials to craft transformative spaces. Noteworthy projects include the London Aquatics Centre, the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, and the Guangzhou Opera House. Committed to advancing Zaha Hadid’s legacy, the firm consistently strives for architectural excellence, shaping significant urban developments across the globe.
