SciBau is focused on buildings, with the aim of implementing the following objectives:

Enhance retrofit / renovation and newbuild construction projects

SciBau takes a collaborative attitude. Therefore we work with other consultants, architects and designers to enhance their building projects by facilitating the integration of innovation within renovation, retrofit and construction processes. This can be a case of obtaining funds that can provide additional design / consultant fees for your team, plus money to pay directly for material and installation costs.

This enables us to enhance an aspect of your construction / retrofit project, such as window replacement, Building Integrated PV (BIPV), PhotoVoltaic Thermal panels (PVT), integration of vegetation (such as a BioSolar Roof strategy or insulation or other fixtures for facades and interiors.

We embrace the challenge of creative adaption of the existing building stock, in order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. We are aligned with the values of New European Bauhaus: we take into account societal, aesthetic and ecological factors. Our default position is to take a path of sufficiency / frugality in projects, in order to make best use of the existing building fabric. Demolition and newbuild construction will always require special justification.

Support R&D processes

Our primary motivation for being involved in R&D is to improve how we construct buildings. Often this is an incremental improvement, as necessitated by the need to assess, control and mitigate risks during the construction, adaptation and occupation of buildings. Rather than doing the minimum and blindly following codes, guidelines and regulations, we invest time to better understand the science of building pathology. This enables us to develop designs and technical interface details that remain durable in their context, to create buildings that withstand use, precipitation, UV, storms and earthquakes, as necessary.

We support development, validation and demonstration processes within R&D projects such as those funded under Horizon Europe. Once our ‘financial capacity’ has increased to a level recognized by the European Commission, our intention is to then act as Coordinator for a number of Horizon Europe / FP10 projects. In the meantime, we can support the coordination process via the ‘Technical Coordinator’ role.

We use Building Information Modelling (BIM) as our default process for the design, coordination and implementation of projects. BIM can serve as a basis for digital twins and other data visualisation techniques that can be used to facilitate design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance and future adaptation of buildings.

Support energy efficiency, circularity and thermal comfort

SciBau have developed a number of strategies for integrating passive techniques for thermal comfort, humidity stabilization and acoustic comfort. We take a ‘fabric first’ approach, so that the architectural design is configured in such a way that minimal electricity is needed to achieve good levels of light and temperature.  

Some of the most effective strategies can be achieved by going back to basics: For example orientating the building layout and façade elements to respond to the sun path for that site, so that the building is shaded from summer sun but warmed by winter sunlight. Other techniques, such as exploiting thermal mass and natural ventilation have been reliably used for millennia.

We aim to enhance these ancient techniques by incorporating the latest advances in material science, fabrication and digitisation. We work with collaborators to integrate active energy systems and decentralise micro-HVAC systems to give building users greater control over comfort in buildings, with minimal use of energy. Collaboration with our sister company Rovesta allows us to better embed buildings within wider energy grids and urban design masterplans.

The R&D work we engage with also supports greater circularity through reversible joints, so that components and buildings can easily be disassembled. We work with our sister company ArcGeo to enhance these strategies, as they engage with the value chain beyond architectural design.

Facilitate the upscaling of circular value chains by developing strategies for the fabrication, maintenance, adaptation, disassembly, re-use and recycling of components in buildings

Want to get involved? If so, you would be welcome to review our services or contact us to discus a potential collaboration.

We work with our umbrella organisation EstraHub to enable a more holistic approach to ecological design.