Ecobuild exceeds expectations

Ecobuild 2011 exceeded all expectations, delighting exhibitors, delivering standing-room-only audiences at conference and seminar sessions, and providing visitors with an unrivalled array of information, contacts and experiences.

Highlights from the exhibition floor – over 1,300 suppliers, offering an incredibly diverse range of products – included the StramitZED from eco-architect Bill Dunster, a code level 6 home that can be built for just £135,000, constructed using straw casettes within a timber frame.  Continuing the timber theme, Pasquill’s engineered timber structure was a show-stopper, a stunning hyperbolic paraboloid which demonstrated both the design possibilities and the great structural spans that can be achieved with glulam. 

Energy, both generating and saving it, was a prominent theme, with numerous technology options on display by with suppliers of PV and solar, and energy-efficient boilers, heating and hot water systems. Visitors keen to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Feed-in Tariff flocking to Ecobuild’s Solar hub and Practical installer attractions for expert advice and the chance to get hands-on.

Cityscape, which this year took Greening the city and Enhancing biodiversity as its themes was an enormous hit, packed with apprentice bee keepers and others keen to bring life to even the grittiest urban environment.  And at Natural, traditional…sustainable, crowds of enthusiastic visitors were treated to demonstrations of straw bale construction, dry stone walling and cob brick building.

Away from the exhibition floor, Ecobuild’s conferences and seminars gave visitors the most impressive free education programme.  Over 130 sessions, delivered by 750 speakers, took place over three days, all packed to the rafters whether it was Professor Brian Cox asking Can science save us? or an in depth look at latest building regulations in Regulations revealed.

Ecobuild’s new location at ExCeL proved to be popular too.  Exhibitors and visitors alike commented on the ease of navigation, the standard of the facilities, and the buzzing atmosphere that reached out into every corner of the event, from the central boulevard to the furthermost seminar room.