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AJ Climate Champions: episode 2

AJ Climate Champions podcast – Annalie Riches: ‘We need more projects that show sustainable design isn’t ugly’

The latest episode in the AJ’s podcast series features an interview with Annalie Riches of Stirling Prize-winning practice Mikhail Riches

In this six-episode series, Hattie Hartman and her co-host George Morgan interview changemakers and innovators who are transforming architecture as we know it by designing in ways that respect planetary boundaries. Our six champions will offer inspiration as well as sharing essential knowledge about design in an era of climate emergency.

In episode 2 of the AJ's Climate Champions podcast, Annalie Riches discusses what Mikhail Riches has learned in hindsight by taking a good hard look at the Stirling-winning Goldsmith Street scheme; why Passivhaus isn't enough; and the critical importance of learning from completed projects.

If you’ve not yet listened to episode 1 with Maria Smith, you can do so here.


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Episode sponsored by

About Annalie Riches

Annalie Riches is co-founder of London practice Mikhail Riches which, along with Cathy Hawley, won the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize for Goldsmith Street, a social housing development in Norwich. It was the practice’s first Passivhaus scheme and an even larger project is now in the pipeline in York.

Over a decade ago, Mikhail Riches Hawley completed Clay Field, an equally pioneering passive solar housing scheme in Suffolk, which used hemp lime insulation. Since then, the practice – reconfigured as Mikhail Riches in 2014 – has completed a number of award-winning housing projects.

It is currently on site with the refurbishment of the Park Hill housing estate in Sheffield, the city where Riches studied architecture. After university, she spent three months as a circus trapeze artist before moving to Paris, where she found work as a model-maker in the office of engineer Peter Rice.

Riches also been a key player in the VeloCity proposal looking at how to rethink the countryside by increasing density in villages within cyclable distances of rail stations.

Show notes

Projects and resources mentioned in this episode

Clay Field (2008)

Mikhail Hawley Riches' 26-unit social housing scheme in Elmswell, Suffolk, uses lime hemp insulation

Goldsmith Street (2018)

Goldsmith street by mikhail riches with cathy hawley 2

Mikhail Riches and Cathy Hawley's RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Passivhaus scheme of 105 terraced homes and flats in Norwich

Park Hill Phase 2

Park Hill phase 2, currently on site

York

York housing programme by Mikhail Riches

Proposed scheme of net zero housing on several sites for York City Council

Missed the first episode? Listen here

About the episode sponsor

This year, Green Building Store is celebrating 25 years in business, as well as starting an exciting new partnership with low-energy consultants Enhabit.

We aim to help make it easier and simpler for you to design and build Passivhaus buildings. Green Building Store offers the following products and services, for wherever you are on your Passivhaus journey:

  • Triple-glazed timber & alu-clad windows & doors
  • MVHR – mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
  • Airtightness products
  • Specialist insulation
  • Consultancy & PHPP modelling.

We also have a huge library of free resources on our website, including films and technical briefings on a wide range of Passivhaus and deep retrofit projects.

Find out how we can help your project at www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk

Credits

Climate Champions is produced in association with ACAN, the Architects Climate Action Network

Podcast edited by Concept Culture

Music: Edmilson do Pífano, Forró de dois Amigos. Interpretation: Felipe Tanaka e banda Balaio de Baião

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