As architects at SGP, we are delighted to introduce our open-source and free-to-use Better Buildings website.
We are passionate about sustainability and want to do all we can to encourage the architects of tomorrow to be passionate too.
Designed for children at Key Stage 2, our interactive programme introduces the basics of sustainability in building materials.
The website includes animated characters, fascinating facts, interactive carbon indicators, questions and activities as it explores a range of traditional and alternative building materials. It culminates in the opportunity for the children to design their own low carbon building.
Design Santa’s Sustainable Workshop Christmas Charity Competition
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For more information on how to enter, visit:
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CLOSED
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First place £50 voucher
Second place £25 voucher
Third place £10 voucher
Freya – Age 6 (1st place)
Noah Age 8 (1st Place)
Niamh Age 9 (2nd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Frenchie Age 6 and Reuben Age 9 (3rd Place)
Feddie Age 13 (1st Place)
Santas Sustainable Workshop is made from food ingredients that were destined for landfill.
The workshop walls are made from Gingerbread bricks, baked in an oven using elf power electricity generated from their bikes. The roof is made from the oven baked Chocolate log shingles, carefully nibbled into shape by the youngest elves.
The glass in the windows is made from sugar heated up and then poured to create sheets of sugar glass.
The wind turbine of the roof, made from old sleigh parts, provides the electricity for the fairy lights.
The elves are very good at inventing and helping Santa Claus make and distribute his presents. The workshop is crammed full of their inventions.
The elves make the presents from recycled materials and carefully wrap them up using upcycled paper that they have decorated in the long evenings.
The biggest invention the elf’s made this year was the ‘Candy Cane Parcel Pooper’,  this drops the parcels into Santa’s sleigh ready for delivery on Christmas Eve. The elves take it in turn to power the pedal powered machine that run the conveyor belt and creates a stream of air that forces the parcels up the candy cane shoot and onto the sleigh.
Every year following the Christmas tradition, on Christmas day once all the works is done, the elves and Santa Claus invite friends over to help deconstruct and eat the workshop!
Bethany Age 11 (2nd Place)
Bethany Age 11 (2nd Place)
Bethany Age 11 (2nd Place)
Isabelle Age 15 (3rd Place)
This is my Santa’s workshop which includes sustainability. The whole workshop is run by solar panels which are on the roof. The reindeer faeces is recycled to make wrapping paper used for all of the presents and seen in front of the sleigh. Also all of the lights are LED and use renewable energy.
Seth Age 12
Seth Age 12
Tabitha Age 12
It has solar panels for when the presents are being manufactured so that the energy is conductor for them.
The door is made from recycled wrapping paper the ladder is made of recycled bottles. The Christmas tree is planted there so that they won’t have to cut a new one down every year so that their Carbon footprint goes down rapidly.
The children have been creative in their sustainable building designs.
We have given CPDs on our programme and how other architects can get involved.
We love seeing the designs the children have made and show them off in our office.
And the children love touching the samples box we have curated!
The Better Buildings team have been working together on the project for over 3 years. Lead by an idea of educating students at a Key Stage 2 level to understand embodied carbon and inspire the architects of tomorrow.
Interested in more?
Get in touch and find out how you can get involved.
