Architect Gemma Jerome and Her City-transforming Approach Prioritizing Natural Incorporation in Design
Living in Harmony with Nature: Building the Future by Blending Construction and Biodiversity
Welcome to the world of green infrastructure, where buildings and nature coexist in perfect harmony. Dr. Gemma Jerome, the brilliant mind behind the UK's pioneering Building with Nature Standard, is here to guide us on a journey that promises to transform our urban landscapes. Discover how this innovative green infrastructure framework can revolutionize our living spaces for a healthier, happier future.
Building Beyond the Basics: The Birth of a Revolutionary Standard
Dr. Gemma Jerome's passion for sustainable communities led her to develop the Building with Nature Standard. Driven by her interest in health, social justice, and local-scale green infrastructure, she saw an untapped opportunity to blend development and nature in a way that benefits both humans and their environment. When the financial crash of 2008 put her initial dream on hold, she found a new path forward – one that would change the course of green infrastructure forever.
A Challenge Accepted: Navigating the Roadblocks to Green Growth
With the support of Innovate UK and the Natural Environment Research Council, Dr. Jerome spearheaded the development of a national benchmark for green infrastructure – a practical tool to help construction projects achieve high-quality, nature-friendly designs that cater to the needs of both occupants and the environment.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was a key collaborator in this endeavor, seeking to move from a reactive stance to a more proactive approach. By embracing early engagement in the design process, they were able to identify opportunities to integrate green infrastructure in a way that truly enhances the lives of residents.
Green Infrastructure for the 21st Century City
Faced with the complexities of environmental conservation in a rapidly urbanizing world, Dr. Jerome addressed two pressing questions: What does true success look like, and what obstacles are preventing us from reaching our goals?
Through extensive academic research and customer requirement testing, Dr. Jerome identified the key to unlocking the potential of green infrastructure: early engagement in the design process. With this insight, she embarked on a mission to create a practical "how-to" guide that would make green infrastructure accessible and achievable for all.
Transforming the Landscape: Building with Nature, the Revolutionary Guide
First introduced in 2016, the Building with Nature Standard offers a comprehensive roadmap to high-quality, sustainable construction. By incorporating nature into every stage of the building process, it ensures that developments are not only eco-friendly but also contribute positively to the well-being of the community.
Unlike other standards such as BREEAM and WELL, which focus on quantifying building performance, Building with Nature takes a unique approach. It emphasizes a supportive, regenerative narrative, offering a user-friendly guide that caters to a wide range of audiences – from developers and clients seeking accreditation to those navigating the planning approval process.
An Industry Game-Changer: Setting a New Standard for Sustainable Development
With its focus on well-being, water, and wildlife, Building with Nature is more than just another standard. It's a movement aimed at encouraging developers to create urban spaces that prioritize the needs of the environment and the community. By fostering a culture of collaboration among stakeholders, it equips designers with the tools and knowledge needed to craft sustainable, nature-friendly communities.
Making a difference on a national scale, Building with Nature has inspired some truly remarkable projects. The NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital, for example, received the inaugural Building with Nature Award in 2020, recognized for its intelligent integration of soft infrastructure throughout its biophilic design.
With the optimized green infrastructure facilitated by Building with Nature, the hospital's patients, visitors, and staff all benefit from improved health outcomes, thanks to the incorporation of numerous green spaces, sustainable drainage systems, and easy-to-navigate walking routes that offer a much-needed respite from the stress of hospital visits.
A Sustainable Vision for Our Future: Building with Nature, Building for a Better Tomorrow
Dr. Jerome and her team have made an indelible mark on the industry with Building with Nature. While there are other building standards available, it stands out as a unique, forward-thinking solution that caters to the specific needs of developers, clients, and planners alike.
By fostering relationships between stakeholders and promoting early engagement in the design process, Building with Nature continues to make a difference – one development at a time. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer to the world of sustainable construction, Building with Nature is the perfect guide to help you create a greener, healthier future for all.
In her pursuit of sustainable communities, Dr. Gemma Jerome developed the Building with Nature Standard, a revolutionary framework that emphasizes health, social justice, and local-scale green infrastructure. By blending construction and nature, this standard seeks to create developments that not only benefit human health and well-being but also enhance environmental conservation, as seen in projects like the NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which prioritizes green spaces, sustainable drainage systems, and easy-to-navigate walking routes for the betterment of its visitors and staff.
Through early engagement in the design process, green infrastructure guided by Building with Nature promises a 21st-century cityscape that combines health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and lifestyle in harmony with nature, thereby transcending traditional notions of urban development and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.
