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Sustainability is not just about buildings that are energy efficient but also about reflecting, as in the case of hospitals, on a system of relationships between functions and individuals. How do you address this aspect?
Designing sustainable buildings means creating facilities that not only reduce environmental impact, but also improve the well-being of patients, healthcare personnel and the community through key factors such as prioritisting people, creating spaces that promote their physical and psychological well-being through, for example, natural light, green areas and comfortable spaces; designing flexible facilities that can easily adapt to future changes in healthcare and technological needs; integrating advanced technologies such as advanced energy management systems, sustainable materials and water-saving and waste-reduction technologies; and connecting hospitals with the city and the landscape by providing spaces that can be used by all and promoting community involvement.
The architectural and functional layout must guarantee a high standard of privacy, customisation, humanisation and comfort in order to shift the emphasis from the hospital as a place of care, creating a welcoming atmosphere with a focus on professionalism, safety and living well-being for users and operators. The hospital becomes a compact and fluid organism, closely integrated and coordinated with the existing buildings. To achieve this, it is necessary to adopt a flexible and open structural grid that does not lead to wasted space and unnecessary running costs. Our methodology, developed over decades of hospital design, has led us to define the guidelines for the hospital of the future.
When it comes to materials, what are the selection criteria and which make the greatest contribution to the building’s overall sustainability?
We prefer to use long-lasting, environmentally friendly materials, selecting those that are free of harmful substances to ensure a healthy environment and materials that improve thermal and acoustic insulation. In general, we prefer materials that are durable and easy to maintain to ensure the buildings’ longevity. In the CORE – Reggio Emilia Oncology and Haematology Centre (2015 CNETO Award) and in the MIRE – Reggio Emilia Childhood Maternity Ward (Honourable Mention at The Plan Award 2018) we used eco-friendly materials and automation technologies to monitor and reduce energy consumption and we implemented an advanced energy management system that facilitates communication between departments. We favour certified wood, valued for its renewable properties and low environmental impact, and ceramic materials because they are naturally sourced.
More specifically, how do you use porcelain stoneware and what advantages does it offer in terms of sustainability?
We use it in various ways in floor tiles, wall coverings, ventilated walls and decorative details. This choice is guided by its significant advantages in terms of sustainability, durability, efficiency, air quality and aesthetic versatility. Ceramics offer excellent insulation properties, helping to improve buildings’ energy efficiency. In particular, porcelain stoneware ventilated walls help regulate buildings’ interior temperatures, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling. Our preferred ceramics are made from natural raw materials that can be recycled at the end of their life cycle, reducing the overall environmental impact. They are also available in a wide range of colours, textures and sizes, permitting great design flexibility without compromising on sustainability.
How important is it to be ESG-compliant?
It is of paramount importance to Binini Partners, not only because of our desire to operate in a sustainable and responsible manner, but also to ensure that our projects are aligned with modern values of sustainability and social responsibility. ESG compliance facilitates the adoption of environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly practices by reducing CO2 emissions and the use of natural resources, promotes social responsibility by ensuring safe and decent working conditions, diversity and inclusion, and helps to ensure good governance by adopting transparent and responsible practices in business management. This vision is translated into concrete actions which, at Binini Partners, consist of a series of policies and certifications in both quality management, gender equality and the environmental management system. Receiving the Legality Rating (Rating di Legalità) is a further important recognition of our work on ethics and social responsibility. Working with suppliers who share these values is crucial to our projects’ long-term success.
