We reflect on some of the trends for the future of the Built Environment, following the London Build 2022 Expo on the 15th and 16th November in London’s Olympia.
What is the future of the UK construction sector and how canwe ensure the future built environment continues to meet the ever-shiftingneeds of people? Last week Movement Strategies attended the annual London BuildExpo to better understand these questions.
Hosted on the 15th and 16th November in London’s Olympia, London Build Expo brought together professionals from across the construction sector with eight stages hosting over 500 industry leaders to discuss key industry themes, promote the latest innovations and stimulate debate. From just a quick glance at the event programme it was clear that topics such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and digitalization would take centre stage.
Some of the most interesting discussions on the architecture stage centred around inclusive design. The message emerging from the talks were that the industry is looking to move away from a box-ticking afterthought to a people-first approach with inclusivity considerations embedded in briefs from day one. The design process will increasingly diversify these considerations to encompass a broader range of sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. For our part in the design process, Movement Strategies regularly works with design teams to help them better understand accessibility requirements. Going forward a greater diversity of thinking is warranted as we continue to make sure the needs of occupants and visitors remain at the centre of the design process.
In an industry that continues to be dominated by post-Grenfell considerations, fire safety innovations were a hot topic. Much of the discussions referenced fire safety provisions (and their failings), with frequent reference to the latest Fire Safety London Plan Guidance under review in 2022. As fire safety engineers collaborate with architects to improve the fire suppression capabilities of a building, Movement Strategies takes the people-centric approach and helps support the development of complimentary evacuation strategies that cater for the diverse requirements of the occupants.
The event provided an invaluable insight into current trendswithin the industry. Our team will be carrying on these conversations andlooking to stay up-to-date on latest developments so we can remain aligned tothe industry priorities as we help develop the Built Environment of the future.