Work at The Prince's Regeneration Trust for a Charity Next secondee

Posted 22nd December 2008 15:43pm by Sarah Fisher

It has been a really busy couple of months at The Prince’s Regeneration Trust. We purchased our first building! It’s the Old Duchy Palace in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, a fantastic Grade I listed medieval building. Meanwhile, we are working with a whole array of other buildings and communities up and down the UK, including a new project at Cleveland Pools in Bath, the only surviving Georgian pools in England. 

A particular highlight for me was having the opportunity to spend a day observing an ‘Enquiry by Design’ where The Prince’s Regeneration Trust and The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment are working together with other organisations to masterplan the future use of a former military hospital and surrounding area. It was a fantastically hands-on event, with all sections of the local community getting involved. I came away really inspired by the enthusiasm, collaboration and creativity which will get this exciting, albeit highly challenging, project off the ground.

Meanwhile, my research into improving the environmental performance of listed buildings has taken me across the UK on visits to an ‘energy village’ in Essex, tenement buildings in Edinburgh and – somewhat closer to home – the London Transport Museum, where solar photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof. While in Edinburgh, I also spent a day learning about work being done to support the supply and demand of traditional building materials and crafts, like Scottish roof-slating, carpentry and joinery and stonemasonry. It was fascinating to see how stonework is forensically examined at the Scottish Lime Centre to find an exact match for repairs and restoration work.

For now, though, I’m really looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break, and returning in the new year with batteries recharged! 

The Prince of Wales's Graduate Fellowship Programme in Sustainable Architecture & Urbanism

Posted 22nd January 2010 09:00am by Hank Dittmar

There is a global skills shortage in urban design and green architecture. In response to this shortage, The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment has established a Graduate Fellowship to meet the need for the next generation of architects and designers who will evolve traditional architecture and urbanism in response to the global climate and urbanisation challenges. We believe that comprehensive and practical action is needed to train designers who can evolve traditional approaches to planning and designing in response to our contemporary ecological crisis.

The two-year paid fellowship involves placements at The Prince’s Foundation in London and with committed practitioners in the United Kingdom.

Applications for the 2010 programme close 29th January 2010. To be added to the mailing list for details of the 2010 applications, please contact education@princes-foundation.org  

For more information on the programme and how to apply, please click here. 

The Prince of Wales’s Building Crafts Apprentices Programme

Posted 22nd January 2010 11:40am by Hank Dittmar

The Prince of Wales’s Building Crafts Apprentices scheme is an eight-month programme of applied study which offers building craftspeople the opportunity to enhance and advance their design knowledge and experience in traditional and sustainable building crafts.

The Prince of Wales’s Building Crafts Apprentices scheme offers talented, enthusiastic and committed craftspeople the opportunity to enhance their vocational skills with the design knowledge, work experience and coaching necessary to succeed in a career in the traditional building sector.

We are looking for building craftspeople who want to bridge the gap between basic qualifications and becoming a master craftsperson. Successful applicants will be rewarded with an eight-month programme of courses and work placements, during which they will be given the opportunity to develop their craftsmanship and use their skills in a broad, holistic building context alongside other building professionals.

Applications for the 2010 programme close 26th February 2010.  To be added to the mailing list for details of the 2010 applications, please contact education@princes-foundation.org   

For more information on the programme and how to apply, please click here 

Globalization from the Bottom Up

Posted 6th February 2009 18:15pm

“Globalization from the Bottom Up”, The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment’s sixth annual conference, was held on 5th February at St James’s Palace. The conference examined the issues of globalization and identified better ways of meeting the aspirations of the burgeoning urban populations of the Global South and establishing settlements that are liveable, resilient and founded upon local culture and building traditions. 

HRH The Prince of Wales, President of The Prince’s Foundation, and Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive, joined speakers from around the world. The speakers all highlighted the importance of distinctive and sensitive development, which respects indigenous culture and tradition and which builds upon and strengthens a sense of place and community. They also demonstrated how this approach creates opportunities, by capitalising upon the strengths and assets of individual communities.

The conference highlighted how and why such an approach works and speakers discussed individual communities which have been successfully revitalised in this way.

Hank Dittmar showed ways in which local identity and adaptation can be respected and serve as foundations for sustainable development. He commented:

“The Prince’s Foundation believes that working with local communities to show the importance and value of place and local particularities, in both new developments and regeneration, can assist revitalisation, whether in rapidly urbanising parts of the Global South or in booming cities. We believe that a sense of place is derived from buildings and public spaces that respect local climate and landscape, embody local history and use local materials, craftsmanship and design. We work with local people to identify these characteristics in order to distil and articulate what I call the “DNA” of a place, so that we can build new places which reflect and replicate that DNA. Our approach seeks to evolve and adapt vernacular design, learning from what has worked well in the past and mixing it with the best the twenty first century can offer.

This conference highlighted communities that followed this approach and show that they tend to be more robust both socially and economically and better equipped to realize a thriving future together.”

One of the results of today’s globalized culture is a growing “architecture of anywhere” which makes everywhere look the same. This is another manifestation of the ways in which vulnerable communities are being cut off from their roots and culture, with the attendant risks of fragmentation and dislocation.

While some might argue that homogeneity is inevitable, The Prince’s Foundation believes that it is possible to meet the needs and aspirations of individual communities in ways that reflect local culture and ways of building.

The Prince’s Foundation also maintains that cultural and social diversity are valuable assets in their own right and are important drivers of opportunity and enterprise. Places with a strong and distinct identity are differentiated, which helps them generate and sustain social and intellectual capital, the bedrock of sustainable development.

With examples from its projects in China, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone, and those of its sister charities and like minded organizations, The Prince’s Foundation’s sixth annual conference discussed these issues and presented practical solutions..

New vacancies at PFBE, PRIME-Cymru & In Kind Direct

Posted 27th April 2009 14:12pm by Alison Duguid

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment are looking to recruit an Urban Designer,  PRIME-Cymru are working to appoint a Rural Challenge Project Manager and In Kind Direct are advertising the job of Customer Services Administrator. Visit our Recruitment page for further information.

Update: please note these positions have now all closed to applications.

HRH The Prince of Wales reviews progress on his pioneering, low energy eco-home

Posted 18th May 2009 11:09am

A house that “doesn’t wear its greenness like a piece of haute couture”

HRH The Prince of Wales will review progress on his pioneering eco-home on Tuesday 19 May 2009, designed by his Foundation for the Built Environment and under construction at the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) Innovation Park in Watford. Made from natural materials including clay blocks, lime plaster and sheep’s wool insulation, “The Natural House” offers a simple, low-tech and easy to build alternative for volume housebuilders seeking to meet increasingly stringent low carbon targets for new homes. HRH has spearheaded the call for eco homes to recognise people’s overwhelming preference for traditionally designed buildings made of natural, non-toxic materials.

During a recent speech to the R.I.B.A, HRH The Prince of Wales, President of the Foundation for the Built Environment said:
“My Foundation has always been committed to finding a more integrated approach to greening building, inspired by traditional environments in which even such things as the alternate planting and paving of courtyards – encouraging the movement of air, so obviating the need for air-conditioning – and the clever placing of verandas or porticos, can make a building greener. The Foundation’s Natural House, now under construction at the Building Research Establishment’s Innovation Park, is an attempt to introduce a new model for green building that is site-built, low-carbon and easily adapted for volume building. It remains, however, recognizably a house. It doesn’t wear its “green-ness” as if it was the latest piece of haute couture; it is much more concerned with what works on the High Street in terms of good manners and courtesy.”

The Natural House is built from solid, aereated clay blocks, the roof tiles covered in clay tiles and insulated with sheep’s wool and outside walls are rendered in lime and hemp and internally insulated with wood fibre. It is a partnership project involving BRE, Natural Building Technologies and Kingerlee Homes and will be compete in Autumn 2009.

The Prince’s Foundation expects The Natural House to deliver significant energy savings right from manufacture to daily use, to offer good indoor air quality, to be simple and quick to construct and to provide a comfortable, liveable home which will appeal to the increasingly eco-aware homebuyer.

Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Foundation comments: “Climate change is forcing us to radically re-think the way we build our homes and we believe it’s vital that we design simple houses that can be built at volume which people will love and enjoy over the long term. We don’t think this is rocket science – our forbears built sturdy, attractive homes that we still cherish today using very simple materials and methods. We tend to assume that that low carbon must mean high-tech and artificial, but that’s not the only option. We must deliver low carbon in a way that is appealing to home buyers, and we must also address issues of indoor air quality, the use of natural materials from local sources and the creation of adaptable, flexible buildings.”

Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of BRE comments: “The aim of the Innovation Park is to show, test and trial a range of different design, construction, and technology options for sustainable homes and buildings. We are excited about the new body of evidence based knowledge that the Natural House will generate with its own unique approach to homebuilding for a low impact built environment.”

Key features of the Natural House are:-

Natural Materials

Instead of relying on “high technology” solutions, The Natural House takes a simpler approach relying on predominantly natural materials either grown or taken from the ground. The solid walls of the house are made by firing earth into strong, stable and lightweight clay blocks which have high levels of thermal insulation but lower embodied energy than conventional bricks. Walls are formed from a single skin of aerated clay block, with external lime render and internal woodfibre board to provide high levels of insulation with minimal heat transfer.

Outside walls are rendered in lime and hemp PLASTER ; roof tiles are clay and all timber for floors and windows is made from ethically and locally sourced timber, certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council.

The Natural House and sustainable communities

Whilst the house delivers vital energy savings within its own building “envelope” The Prince’s Foundation believes that massive additional savings can be made if groups of Natural Houses are built as communities, close to public transport and local amenities. These sustainable communities enable people to radically reduce their car dependence as they can work, shop and enjoy leisure amenities without getting into their cars.

“We want people to be able to get a litre of milk without having to use a litre of petrol”, says Hank Dittmar.

The Prince speaks to young Scottish entrepreneurs and visits urban planning conference

Posted 4th June 2009 09:39am by Alison Duguid

The Prince of Wales yesterday paid tribute to a successful Scottish entrepreneur helped by The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, at a conference held by the charity in Edinburgh. The PSYBT, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, is a charity which helps young people aged 18-25 start up and continue with a business.

The Prince described Michelle Mone, who founded Ultimo lingerie, as a "great ambassador" for The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and for Scotland. Michelle was helped by the PSYBT 13 years ago and she has since seen her business idea grow to become a major brand. The 37-year-old businesswoman is a board member with PSYBT and was a keynote speaker at the trust's volunteer's conference.

In his address to delegates, The Prince said Michelle’s story is an example of what can be achieved. She has been "so successful over all these years", he said, and had developed a business now known "all over the world". The Prince told delegates he has known Michelle for a number of years, as her business has developed, and said: "She is a great example, I think, of what can be achieved and she's a great ambassador not only for the trust but for Scotland."

The Prince also praised the achievements of PSYBT and the work of hundreds of the trust's volunteers in Scotland. He said that the PSYBT is now responsible for 7 per cent of all business start-ups in Scotland each year. "That, I think, is a remarkable achievement," he added.

Michelle said she may never have launched her global business without PSYBT's support:"To be honest with you, I don't think I would have started without them. It's a very, very lonely job being an entrepreneur. I think that the help and support was just so valuable that it helped me launch Ultimo and turn it into the biggest in the country. That's why I do all these talks for PSYBT and I've sat on the board for seven years."

Another young Scots entrepreneur at the conference was 20-year-old Fraser Doherty. The Edinburgh-based founder of SuperJam established his company six years ago after being taught to make jam by his grandmother. His product is stocked in about 1,000 supermarkets across the country. He said of The Prince’s visit today: "It's great to see that he takes such a hands-on approach to running his charity."

The Prince later attended a conference in Edinburgh on future urban planning. Delegates at the Palace of Holyroodhouse included the Scottish Government's chief planning officer Jim Mackinnon and Finance Secretary John Swinney.

The Prince listened to the closing stages of the conference, which was hosted by The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. The Prince, who is President of the Foundation, heard that young urban designers can maintain a "crusade" to improve design and architecture.

Mr Mackinnon told the conference: "These are exciting times in Scotland. I've got every confidence that the young designers will be leading that crusade."

The Prince's Foundation submits a planning application for new neighbourhood at Knockroon

Posted 2nd July 2009 13:04pm by Alison Duguid

Following consultation with the local community, The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment has submitted an outline planning application for the proposed new neighbourhood of Knockroon, on behalf of The Prince’s Charities Foundation.

This development, to be built on land acquired by HRH The Duke of Rothesay within his purchase of Dumfries House, will form an urban extension to Cumnock.

The submission has been made this week to East Ayrshire Council for a mixed use community comprising 770 housing units with associated shops, workplaces, community facilities and open spaces, all within walking distance. Of the 770 houses, 250 will be delivered by 2017, 330 by 2035 and the remainder thereafter. 

Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Foundation comments: "Creating sustainable and green neighbourhoods is all about finding solutions that will stand the test of time – not about gimmicks or quick fixes. In our view, this plan is broad and robust enough to deliver growth and quality of life over the long term linking to natural and economic assets. It will offer lasting benefit to its own residents as well as those living in adjacent neighbourhoods."

A decision from the local authority is expected in Autumn of this year. Two developers – Scotia Homes which is based in Aberdeenshire and Zero C which was involved with development at Poundbury, the model sustainable urban extension developed by HRH – have been appointed and subject to planning permission being granted, will prepare detailed designs and applications. 

PFBE publishes its annual report for 2008-09

Posted 3rd September 2009 14:47pm by Alison Duguid

The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment (PFBE) publishes its annual report for 2008-09 today, a year when it celebrated its 10th anniversary, and a decade of hard work that has steadily raised awareness of the need to put people and communities at the heart of the planning process.

The Annual Report includes a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales who is pleased that his work within the built environment over 25 years is now bearing fruit both in projects being built around the world, and in a growing number of professionals who have benefited from courses in sustainable urban design and architecture both in The Institute of Architecture and The Prince’s Foundation.

"I believe that The Prince of Wales's breadth of vision, which led to the establishment of the Prince's Foundation, the development of that vision through the skills and "hands on" experience of our own staff plus the reach we have gained through our international network of Members, has enabled the Prince's Foundation to make many vital contributions", comments Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of the Prince’s Foundation.

Anthony Hopwood, Chair of Trustees for The Prince’s Foundation comments: "The trustees are delighted with the work of the Prince's Foundation and confident in the way it is developing in line with the growing environmental, social and economic pressures on the way we build. We are seeing a much more public debate emerge on the way neighbourhoods are planned and designed. As a charity that champions the voice of the individual and community in developments that affect them, this can only be a healthy improvement."

The eleventh year of the Foundation’s life dawned as the world faced the triple threats of financial collapse, accelerating climate change and urban over population. Along with many other charities, The Prince’s Foundation wrestled with the difficult economic context, yet maintained momentum due to its focus on creating neighbourhoods with buildings that people will both want to use, and are able to use efficiently, a hundred years from now.

The report shows this method of sustainable masterplanning clearly chimed with many in the public and private sectors and in the planning system – pushing up demand for the Foundation’s expertise in project masterplanning, architecture of individual buildings and education.

To read further information, and  download a copy of the report, click here to visit the PFBE website.

Open House at The Prince's Charities building in Shoreditch

Posted 16th September 2009 15:09pm by Alison Duguid

This Saturday the Shoreditch building which is home to The Prince's Drawing School, The Prince's School of Traditional Arts and The Prince's Foundation for The Built Environment will be opening its doors to the public as part of the London Open House scheme.

The building is a former Victorian warehouse refurbished from old to functional modern with interiors by Robert Kime and furniture by Leon Krier.

Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the Shoreditch building on Saturday 19th September 2009 at either 10am, 11am or 12pm. 

For more information, visit the Open House website.