Publications
Not many practices can say 'we wrote the book on sustainability'. But we can. Since our first publication in 1984 'Design with energy: The Conservation and Use of Energy in Buildings' (co-written with John Littler) we have been leading thinkers and influencers in how buildings can use less energy.
Our publications are listed here together with a selection of books we like. You can also find papers and thinking we publish informally, in house.
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- Environmental and Social Responsibility 2010-2011
Here at Max Fordham, we have lived and practised environmental and social responsibility since before it was a recognised business practice with accreditation.We have always cared deeply about using our engineering knowhow to deliver and run better, more energy-efficient buildings. And we have always recognised that looking after our people and the people and things they care about is a good way to run our business.But now we are catching up with Environmental Social Responsibility. We are…
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- Trading Ideas: Exporting the UK approach to building design
A debate on collaboration between engineers and architects was the focus of a lunch at MIPIM, hosted by the AJ in association with Max Fordham.Senior Partners Henry Luker and Adam Ritchie attended this discussion, which we called Trading Ideas: Exporting the UK approach to building design.We believe the client gets the best buildings when the design team uses a collaborative approach – better ideas emerge and more possibilities can be uncovered. It's a delicate and valuable…
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- Bettering Biology?
Is there a danger that in inventing protocells we are turning away too quickly from nature’s own ‘beautifully engineered self-assembly system’?Senior Partner Bill Watts asks us to take another look at the possibilities of biology for creating a wholly sustainable architecture that takes its aesthetic prompts from natural forms.This counterpoint argument was written as part of Architectural Design's Protocell Architecture issue, released in March 2011. For more…
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- Power Struggle
The infrastructure crisis represents an opportunity if we have the will to grasp it, says Max Fordham Senior Partner Adam Ritchie... Adam Ritchie writes a regular column for the RIBA Journal. This piece can be found in the March 2011 edition or downloaded as a PDF.…
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- Environmental Handbook
FeildenCleggBradleyStudio have launched an online version of the Environmental Handbook. The website a collaboration between FCBS, Max Fordham and The University of Westminster is intended to be an online resource for students (and anyone else) interested in understanding the basic principles of sustainable building. The site includes a Notebook feature which allows you to bookmark sections, highlight text and view your history. This information goes with you wherever you login. An…
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- Sustainability Matrix - Galleries, museums and archives
This is the fifth and last in the series of sustainability matrices published in the AJ in September 2010 under the title 'Decoding Sustainability'. It covers museums, galleries and archives. The matrix is a communication tool first developed in 2005 to help explain to the National Trust board of directors how their new headquarters building would meet their aspiration for 'best practice and occasional innovation in sustainability'. It helped to provide a balanced view of the…
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- Sustainability Matrix - Refurbished Offices
This is the fourth in the series of sustainability matrices published in the AJ in September 2010 under the title 'Decoding Sustainability'. It demonstrates the range of options in different criteria when refurbishing an existing office building. This matrix is slightly different from the previous versions. It looks at what could be improved as well as performance standards.At Max Fordham we use the matrices during early design to help communicate what sustainability driven decisions…
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- Schools Sustainability Matrix
This is the third in the series of sustainability matrices published in the AJ in September 2010 under the title 'Decoding Sustainability'. It demonstrates the range of options in different criteria for designing a sustainable school.At Max Fordham we use the matrices during early design to help communicate what sustainability driven decisions will mean to our clients. This is a generic version; we tailor strategies and options to make each matrix project specific and keep up to date…
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- Sustainability Matrix - Wider parameters
This is the second in the series of sustainability matrices published in the AJ in September 2010 under the title 'Decoding Sustainability'. It is the generic half of the matrix which is read in conjunction with the energy criteria specific to particular sectors. Therefore you will also find it attached to the back of each sector specific matrix.At Max Fordham we use the matrices during early design to help communicate what sustainability driven decisions will mean to our clients;…
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- Sustainability Matrix - Green Offices
This is the first in the series of sustainability matrices published in the AJ in September 2010 under the title 'Decoding Sustainability'. It is specific to new build green offices. The matrix is a communication tool first developed in 2005 to help explain to the National Trust board of directors how their new headquarters building would meet their aspiration for 'best practice and occasional innovation in sustainability'. It helped to provide a balanced view of the broad range…
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- Energy Performance of Schools paper
The professions involved in building design are being asked to align predicted energy use in buildings with actual energy use. Many buildings use more energy than predicted. This paper summarises a study carried out by Max Fordham LLP in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Bartlett (UCL) that, for the first time, quantifies the impact of building user choices on energy use. It also suggests ways of closing the gap to achieve more energy efficient buildings in practice as well…
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- Bridging the gap between predicted and actual energy performance in schools
This paper will be presented at the 11th World Renewable Energy Congress and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi this September, by Christine Demanuele. Top line findings have also been presented to the CIBSE Schools Design Group.…
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- A case against the widespread use of district heating and CHP in the UK
In the drive to reduce UK energy and carbon emissions local and central government is pursuing district heating linked to combined heat and power [CHP] or waste incineration. In this paper Bill Watts, Senior Partner at Max Fordham, exposes the flaws in the case for CHP and argues for a rethink on policy.…
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- Sustainable Design Guide
The practice was commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) to develop a civic sustainability guide.The guide is for use by CEC staff during the planning, design, refurbishment, maintenance and disposal of CEC property. It explains the main issues that should be considered by the planning, procurement, design and maintenance staff and provides guidance, examples and case studies to demonstrate preferred solutions and standards.Link: More InformationPublisher: Sustainable Development…
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- Sustainable Urban Design: An Environmental Approach
For the first time in history, over half the world's population lives in urban areas. The latest edition of Sustainable Urban Design addresses the issues faced by planners and designers in making these environments sustainable.Design guidance is illustrated with exemplary case studies by leading figures in the UK and abroad. Topics include: planning, transport, landscape and nature, energy and renewable energy, materials, water and waste.Extensively revised and updated, this second edition…
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- Photovoltaics in Buildings: A Design Guide
A guide for the use of photovoltaics in buildings, intended for architects, was commissioned from the Max Fordham partnership and Feilden Clegg Architects by the government's Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU).Publisher: ETSURef: S/P2/00282/REP…
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- Photovoltaics and Architecture
Intended for designers, clients and students, this sets out the basic principles of photovoltaic design and its implications in the UK market.Link: Buy from AmazonPublisher: Spon PressRef: 0-415-23182-5…
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- Environmental Design: An Introduction for Architects and Engineers
Written and edited by a specialist team at Max Fordham LLP and now in its third edition, Environmental Design gives guidance for the engineering of 'green architecture'. The book is based on the practice's experience of working in detail on holistic energy-efficient designs.Environmental Design sets out the principles of our approach, which we teach in many schools of architecture and engineering. It is essential reading for those concerned with the built environment, and its value…
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- British Council Sustainability Guide
Max Fordham LLP was commissioned by the British Council to develop a sustainability guide for the British Council's global estate. The guide is for use by British Council’s architects and their consultants during the planning, design and refurbishment of British Council offices worldwide. Specifically it provides users with key information on how to make office projects more sustainable, in an easy to read way, using diagrams and illustrations.The guide's development required close…
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- Max's speech
In 2008 Max was honoured with the Prince Philip Designers Prize by the RSA, recognised as “a pioneer of environmental design for buildings." His acceptance speech can be read here.…