Located in Kasungu, Malawi, the Maternity Waiting Village aims to improve the conditions of mothers before, during, and after giving birth. Most importantly, the design aims to prevent evitable causes of maternal death by providing solutions, that promote HEALTH AND WELLBEING. Most of Malawi’s population lives in rural areas, affecting their ability to access professional care during childbirth. Local public authorities have decided to act by building 130 maternity waiting facilities across the country in places close to healthcare centres. The facility should be able to accommodate expectant mothers and their relatives, starting from the 36th week of pregnancy until delivery. The previous prototype for the facility failed in multiple aspects, so the initiative partnered with MASS Design Group. MASS collaborated with public authorities, researchers at the University of North Carolina, doctors, nurses, and expectant mothers in Malawi to design a holistic prototype that can be used as a model for other maternity waiting villages. 

Maggie’s Yorkshire is a cancer care centre at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, designed as a group of large planters rising out of the hospital’s last remaining green plot and using the restorative effect of contact with nature.

The Enterprise centre is a university building that aims to encourage new sustainable businesses coming out of its academic research programme; the building itself is a suitable reflection of the values and ambitions of the university and the activities of The Enterprise centre.

Airtightness goes hand-in hand with a well-insulated building envelope and is the basis for a ’fabric first’ approach to designing low-energy buildings. Airtight buildings are comfortable environments free from unwanted draughts from gaps and cracks in the building fabric that cause heat loss and discomfort. Airtightness is achieved by good detailing and construction quality through the creation of a continuous air barrier with monolithic construction of airtight materials or with airtightness membranes and by taping all joints and by overlapping and taping membranes at junctions. To ensure good indoor air quality (IAQ), continuous, controlled background ventilaton is needed (e.g. MVHR) and careful specification of materials that do not offgas and cause health issues.