Sustainability Report

Guided by Harrow Council’s brief for a circular, low-carbon approach, Art Park Harrow was designed with whole-life carbon in mind rather than formal certification. The design approach aligns with the LETI (Low Energy Transformation Initiative) Climate Emergency Design Guide, which emphasises reducing whole-life carbon emissions.

To support easy repair and future reuse, the project makes use of standard trade materials: OSB for internal walls and ceilings, plywood for floors and reveals, PAR softwood boards for external cladding, and corrugated steel for the roofs.

Overview

• Circular, low-impact materials: Lightweight jack-pad foundations minimise ground disturbance and carbon intensity. These precast supports spread loads without excavation and can be removed for full site restoration. Timber is used for elements that can be easily re-entered into material cycles.
• Reclaimed and modular systems: Shipping containers are used without structural alteration, retaining resale value. Steel-framed agricultural sheds are lined and clad for full disassembly. External ramps, stairs, and planters are predominantly timber for reuse or recycling.
• Efficient layout: All circulation is moved outdoors into the courtyard, reducing material use, embodied carbon, and construction waste, while enhancing social interaction.
• Wider context: Harrow Council’s ambition for carbon neutrality by 2030 provides the municipal backdrop for this low-carbon strategy.

Overview

• Renewables and electrification: PV panels supply clean energy, with surplus fed back into the grid. Fully electric heating is provided, including air source heat pumps for larger units.
• Passive performance: High-performance timber windows maximise natural ventilation and daylighting, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
• Water-smart ecology: Above-ground planters act as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage stormwater while reducing heat-island effects. Built-in self-watering systems minimise evaporation. Eleven square metres of biodiverse planting transform what was a sealed tarmac surface.
• Performance data: Although in-use performance data is not yet available, regulatory modelling under Building Regulations Part L  (BRUKL) predicts operational emissions of 5.43 kilograms of CO2 per square metre each year.
• Light-touch design: Operational carbon is reduced through a “light-touch” approach to foundations and envelope design.