Jackie De Burca, Author at Constructive Voices

S3, E5 Dr Ciaran Byrne, Director, S.E.A.I. on Ireland’s Retrofitting Success Stories, Challenges & Opportunities

S3, E5: Dr Ciaran Byrne, Director, SEAI on Ireland's Retrofitting Success Stories, Challenges and Opportunities In this enlightening episode of the Constructive Voices Podcast, Jackie De Burca talks to Dr. Ciaran Byrne, the Director of National Retrofit in Ireland. He offers invaluable insights into the country's experience to date and the future of retrofitting in Ireland.About Dr Ciaran ByrneDr Ciaran Byrne is currently the Director of the National Retrofit Directorate […]

June 11, 2024

Architecture

Harnessing Architectural Design for Biodiversity Conservation

Do you know that over 1 million species are at risk of extinction? This huge number shows how very important it is to save our planet's life forms. Picture yourself walking in a city full of tall buildings and busy roads. Suddenly, you see a rooftop garden full of bright flowers and insects. This green space among all the concrete shows how architects are helping biodiversity. In our world today, […]

June 3, 2024

Architecture

The Future of Biodiverse Cities: Trends in Ecological Architecture

The Future of Biodiverse Cities: Trends in Ecological Architecture Urban areas cover only 3% of the Earth's surface. But, they use 60-80% of global energy and produce 75% of carbon emissions. This shows a big need to change how we make our cities. We should aim for places that are green and better for the Earth. Architects and planners are now using new ways to build. They focus on adding […]

June 3, 2024

Architecture

Urban Biodiversity and Architecture: Designing for Coexistence

Do you know that more than 60% of our planet's people live in cities today? It's a number that could go up to 68% by 2050. This shows how important it is to change how we live with other creatures in our urban areas. The growing issue of cities impacting our environment, encroaching on the wild, and recent diseases like COVID-19 are telling us to include other living beings as […]

June 2, 2024

Architecture

The Biodiversity Benefits of Sustainable Building Materials

Vulture populations in India have fallen by 95% since the 1990s due to a single drug in livestock. This big drop shows we need to save the planet's variety of life. It highlights why saving species is key and often forgotten in building work. The link between green building materials and helping nature recover is crucial but not often talked about in construction.People are starting to see how important it […]

June 1, 2024

Architecture

Architectural Strategies for Enhancing Urban Biodiversity

Did you know urban areas now cover about 3% of the Earth's surface? They also hold over 50% of the global population. But this growth is a big challenge for the nature living in our cities. That's where architectural strategies for enhancing urban biodiversity come in. They provide key solutions for better biodiversity connectivity.With cities getting bigger fast, urban ecosystems are in danger. This rapid growth harms natural habitat and […]

June 1, 2024

Architecture

Sustainable Cities: Integrating Biodiversity into Urban Design

By 2050, over 70% of the world's people will live in cities. Already, more than half do. This shift to cities offers a big chance to blend nature into our urban landscapes. This piece looks at fresh ways and real-life examples for cities full of life and ready for the future.Our planet is getting more urban all the time. So, adding nature to city designs is key. Green spaces, natural […]

June 1, 2024

Architecture

Wildlife-Friendly Urban Architecture: Balancing Human and Ecological Needs

By 2050, around 70% of us will live in cities. This figure highlights the urgent task of merging cities with nature. This link between our cities and the natural world is crucial. Wildlife-friendly urban architecture mixes biophilic design, green infrastructure, and sustainable development. It does this to make our urban spaces friendly to urban biodiversity and good for humans too.Ecological architecture combines sustainability and environmental consciousness in building design. The […]

June 1, 2024

Architecture

The Intersection of Architecture and Ecology: A Biodiversity Perspective

Did you know the global construction industry creates almost 40% of the world's carbon emissions? This fact shows we urgently need to rethink our construction methods. Architects through history have taken cues from nature in their designs. This approach, known as biophilic design, seeks to improve life by blending nature with our buildings.Besides, sustainable architecture and biophilic design grow more popular. They focus on integrating nature into buildings. This trend […]

May 31, 2024