Architects don't need to solve every problem with a building, with Charlie Luxton

Zero Ambitions Podcast

People off the telly don't tend to know the first thing about sustainability, let alone possess a properly anoraky understanding of the subject, but Charlie Luxton is different.

Jeff and Alex spoke to Charlie about his approach to sustainability, how to communicate about the benefits of sustainability, asking more questions to our clients, and about the state of architectural education, among other things.

For those who, like Jeff, have been living under a rock these past 20 years, Charlie Luxton has presented numerous shows across British TV, including Building the Dream, Homes by the Sea and Impossible Builds (More 4), World's Wierdest Homes, SuperCommuters, Best Laid Plans (Channel 4), Modern British Architects (Channel 5), Britain’s Hidden Heritage (BBC 1), Restored to Glory and Rebuilding The Past (BBC 2), Homes and Property (ITV) and The Great Treehouse Challenge (Sky Living).

Charlie and his wife Kate Luxton also run an architectural practice, Charlie Luxton Design, whose work seems to be annoyingly well conceived.

Kudos to Grace Fraser from heat recovery ventilation supplier Airflow for connecting Jeff and Charlie.

Notes from the episode

• Salk Insitute: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/louis-kahn-salk-institute
• Ditchley park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditchley_Park
• The Camden project Jeff mentions: https://passivehouseplus.ie/news/design-approaches/study-extreme-overheating-not-reflected-in-building-simulations
• Charlie's house - https://charlieluxtondesign.com/charlie-builds-house/
• Charlie Luxton Design's office, Black Barn Studios: https://charlieluxtondesign.com/buildings/black-barn-studios/
• Airthings - Internal air quality monitoring: https://www.airthings.com/en-gb/
• Skipton Building society's carbon profiling of its building portfolio: https://www.skipton.co.uk/about-us/our-environment
• Charlie's Cornish holiday home: https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/self-build/charlie-luxton/
• Helen Macarthur Foundation: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
• RHS Malvern garden built from waste materials: https://charlieluxtondesign.com/rhs-malvern/

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