brixtonpete
Well-Known Member
Why listing Brixton Rec wouldn't secure it as a community owned resource - making it energy sustainable would make it more pleasant and comfortable for users
There are two main reasons why Brixton Rec should be brought up to the best modern standards of energy sustainability. Firstly with an energy bill of over a quarter of a million pounds a year, representing more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2, the current energy usage cannot be justified for reasons of cost or the future of the planet. Secondly, an energy efficient Rec could have a far more comfortable environment than that currently on offer. Instead of being greeted by a cold draught as you walk from the swimming pool into the changing rooms, and having another one descending from above the lockers, the changing rooms could be warm and draught free.
The UK's current minimum energy standards lag well behind the best from around the world, particularly Germany and Austria, where the Passivhaus standard (EnerPHit for refurbishments) offers ultra low energy bills and increased comfort and air quality. Would a Passivhaus EnerPHit refurbishment be possible for Brixton Rec? Would a change of appearance be necessary to achieve such a standard? To get some answers I consulted Maiia Williams of Sturgis Carbon Profiling, who writes:
The UK's current minimum energy standards lag well behind the best from around the world, particularly Germany and Austria, where the Passivhaus standard (EnerPHit for refurbishments) offers ultra low energy bills and increased comfort and air quality. Would a Passivhaus EnerPHit refurbishment be possible for Brixton Rec? Would a change of appearance be necessary to achieve such a standard? To get some answers I consulted Maiia Williams of Sturgis Carbon Profiling, who writes:
"I am familiar with the Brixton Rec building. I believe external insulation is always a better option, if the building could be wrapped up completely. Mildmay Community Centre used external insulation as part of its retro works and achieved Passivhaus.
I am certain that the most prominent external features, such as concrete pillars and external cast stairs would need to be preserved in Brixton Rec for conservation reasons. For that reason I do not think that it would be possible to eradicate all the cold bridges completely using external insulation. So a better approach would be to come up with a strategy that combines the use of internal and external insulation that works for this building while preserving the heritage features.
The good news is that, EnerPHit can be done on any building! You just need to get the architect/ Passivhaus Designer that understands the principles.
Key pointers:
(1) you can replicate the existing external finish like for like. For example, we have used eps external insulation with brick slips in Westminster to great success on a rear wall of row of 12 terraced houses, and even replicated details like brick corbels and soldier course arches to ensure that the building looks exactly as before. The benefit is that it is very light weight and can be applied using plastic fixings.
(2) there are a lot of internal insulation products on the market that are both slimline, breathable and achieve exceptionally low u-value. In the same project it is not easy to tell the difference from the front between EnerPHit and a normal house. Yet one uses 80% less energy than the other.
As far as the answer to your question is concerned, the only person who can answer it is the project planning/ conservation officer. If conservation is a priority, a change of appearance is not necessary."
I am certain that the most prominent external features, such as concrete pillars and external cast stairs would need to be preserved in Brixton Rec for conservation reasons. For that reason I do not think that it would be possible to eradicate all the cold bridges completely using external insulation. So a better approach would be to come up with a strategy that combines the use of internal and external insulation that works for this building while preserving the heritage features.
The good news is that, EnerPHit can be done on any building! You just need to get the architect/ Passivhaus Designer that understands the principles.
Key pointers:
(1) you can replicate the existing external finish like for like. For example, we have used eps external insulation with brick slips in Westminster to great success on a rear wall of row of 12 terraced houses, and even replicated details like brick corbels and soldier course arches to ensure that the building looks exactly as before. The benefit is that it is very light weight and can be applied using plastic fixings.
(2) there are a lot of internal insulation products on the market that are both slimline, breathable and achieve exceptionally low u-value. In the same project it is not easy to tell the difference from the front between EnerPHit and a normal house. Yet one uses 80% less energy than the other.
As far as the answer to your question is concerned, the only person who can answer it is the project planning/ conservation officer. If conservation is a priority, a change of appearance is not necessary."
The Brixton Rec User Group seeks to secure the future of Brixton Rec and its continued long term use as an affordable community asset. One strategy being discussed is the possibility of having the Rec Grade II listed by Heritage England. While this would certainly preserve the structure, it would not in itself guarantee its continued use as a community resource. For example the Grade II listed Pioneer Health Centre in Peckham was sold off in the 1990s by Peckham Council for housing and the listed Park Hill Estate in Sheffield was sold by Sheffield council with promises of some social housing in return - mostly abandoned when developer Urban Splash got into financial difficulties. Residents in the few flats that have been completed complain that they are cold in winter.
The Peckham Experiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Park Hill, Sheffield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
While Brixton Rec’s building and use are currently protected by the Supplementary Planning Document and a written commitment from Cllr Lib Peck, it wouldn’t be beyond the bounds of possibility that in the future one of those consultants our council just loves might propose that it should be sold and converted into, say, a shopping mall. If the Rec's energy bill was as low as any new-build replacement that would greatly weaken such a proposal.
Users and other interested people will shortly be invited to a meeting to discuss the future of the Rec to be held on Tuesday 27th October at 6pm at Brixton Rec. Philip Boyle will be speaking about its architecture, followed by a Q&A.
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The elements that make up the Passivhaus standard:
Passivhaus involves a package of simple principles tied together with a sophisticated software design tool plus rigorous quality control at the build stage. The principles involved are:
• Insulation
• Elimination of thermal bridges (structural elements that break the insulation)
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)
• An airtight building envelope
• The use of the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) software.
• Good building site supervision
To be successful these elements must be incorporated as a complete package and not just cherry-picked. For detailed information see:
Passipedia - The Passive House Resource [ ]
Passivhaus involves a package of simple principles tied together with a sophisticated software design tool plus rigorous quality control at the build stage. The principles involved are:
• Insulation
• Elimination of thermal bridges (structural elements that break the insulation)
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)
• An airtight building envelope
• The use of the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) software.
• Good building site supervision
To be successful these elements must be incorporated as a complete package and not just cherry-picked. For detailed information see:
Passipedia - The Passive House Resource [ ]
. It needs insulating and the ventilation system completely changing to one with heat recovery, and to be done properly, should be part of an integrated plan, rather than done piecemeal. Who knows, if the Energiesprong concept takes off, Brixton Rec could be a candidate for an Energiesprong makeover, being brought up to the Passivhaus EnerPHit standard!
