Welcome to the Big Build Blog – 2009 edition!

Words and pictures: Peter White at BRE. Photographs are copyright, and the comments here are my personal observations.

Update 4 June

The show is now over, and has been a great success. Conference presentations and videos are to be uploaded shortly. In this final photo blog update, a few pictures from the past two days. If you missed last week's post, including Prince Charles' visit, see it and the other earlier postings first.

4 June
Margaret Beckett, MP discussing permeable paving Cloudy skies over healthcare centre
[above, left] Minster of State for Housing, Margaret Beckett MP, delivered the closing address to the INSITE09 conference this afternoon. Ms Beckett said "Looking out across the [BRE] Innovation Park, you can see the latest architectural visions being realised, cutting edge technology being brought to life in ways that are truly exciting". [Centre] Earlier in the afternoon, James Hulme presented the vision as seen by the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. [Right] Late afternoon sushine filtered through the Willmott Dixon Community Healthcare Campus roof, and some of the first clouds we've seen this week.

watching Thermoplan demonstration snadcastles built by BRE staff!
[above, left] Wednesday afternoon: Plenty of interest as NBT demonstrate the Thermoplan blockwork, as used to build the Prince's Foundation's Natural House in the background. Now the show is over, work will soon begin again to complete this building, ready for an official opening later in the year. [Right] creative sandcastle-building in the newly-built play area that forms a part of the sustainable landscape scheme, captured late on Thursday evening.

2nd June
We stretched parking to the limits today, on top of those using our free shuttle bus from Watford Junction. Conference session was well attended, although the afternoon sunshine lured some away after lunch. A very warm day, and it had become fairly quiet after about 4pm, as folks left to avoid motorway delays sitting in hot cars.

innovation park general view 1 innovation park general view 2 discussing permeable paving
[above, left and centre] Plenty of interest around the Innovation Park, with the hempcrete walled Renewable house to the right, Creo to the far left, these two views taken from the above Natural House, mid afternoon. [Right] Plenty of interest in the porous resin-bonded gravel pathways

Creo at INSITE 09 growing grass vertically and without soil a shady spot in the BRE landscaping
[above, left] Creo, and partners Aggregate Industries and BASF have been doing brisk business [centre] the hydoponic grass and vegetable wall from CityRoofs has created intrigue. [right] People have avoided the central paved area and preferred to seek out the shade provided by To Grace's elegant metal screens.

1st June - opening day

NNFCC receive Code Certificate from local MEP Richard and Richard discuss landscaping Philip Sellwood, EST at Insite 09
Opening day: [left] Richard Howitt, MEP for East of England (second from right) presents the Code for Sustainable Homes certificate to John Williams of the National Non-Food Crops Centre, partners for the Renewable House. [centre] Richard Howitt considers the sustainable landscape scheme with Richard Hodgetts of PRP Architects, who designed the scheme. [right] Phillip Selwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, addressing the INSITE09 conference.

Willmott Dixon Healthcare building tunnel vision sustainable streetscape
Visitors to INSITE09: around the newly opened Willmott Dixon Community Healthcare Campus; one of our younger visitors checking out the play tunnel in the landcape scheme, and right, the new HomeZone streetscape.

Week beginning 25 May:
Creao at sunset LED lighting under health centre roof Mohne dam model at BRE

Above left: The Creo apartments have been part built, with each stage of construction revealed to give you a chance to see how an ICF building works. The Willmott Dixon Healthcare Campus roof canopy now sports LED lighting. And right, a special treat for all INSITE visitors -- you'll walk past this WWII secret, hiding in the BRE grounds on your way into the show: the first of the model dams used by Barnes Wallis during the development of the bouncing bomb.

Part of the competition-winning landscaping scheme includes these vast 'green walls', seen here being installed earlier in the week. The lower part of the second wall here contains edible plants (sadly placed out of reach of passing INSITE visitors!). Tree planting was carried out by staff of PRP Architects and volunteers from Groundwork Hertfordshire.

One building that has not been covered in detail so far: the UK's first community healthcare campus from Willmott Dixon and partner Primary Asset, created by a skillful refit and refurbishment of the former demonstration school on the BRE Innovation Park. From left: colour coded flooring leads you from the self check-in facility, via the stairs with their anti-microbial copper handrails, and to a series of fully-fitted demonstration diagnosis and treatment rooms. The roof deck (seen last week) provides a tranquil rest and recovery area, with aromatic plants amongst the outdoor seating area.

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