A recent in-house CPD session introduced the team to foamed glass and its possible uses in both modern and traditional construction.

Keeping technical knowledge up to date is an important part of architectural practice. Architects undertake continuing professional development each year, with practising RIBA Chartered Members completing at least 35 hours annually.

At John Coward Architects, some of that learning happens together through regular in-house CPD sessions. A recent session with North Yorkshire company Foamed Glass UK looked at the use of foamed glass in modern and traditional construction.

Made from 100% recycled glass, the material can be used in a wide range of applications, including infrastructure, landscaping, specialised structural applications, foundations, floors and rooftops. It provides thermal insulation, is lightweight but strong, and offers good drainage and filtration.

The team was especially interested in its compatibility with breathable building systems, which makes it potentially suitable for traditional buildings as well as contemporary construction.

The session helped us better understand the material’s benefits and where it could be used on the kinds of projects we work on.

It also looked at the potential thermal and cost benefits of using foamed glass within a ground-floor build-up. Where the material is appropriate, we would want to compare it with a more conventional approach, working with our quantity surveyors to understand whether there could also be savings for the client.

It was also useful to learn that foamed glass is now being produced in the UK, where until relatively recently the material had been imported from Europe.

The session gave the team a better understanding of where foamed glass could be considered across both new and traditional buildings, adding another material to the range of options we can assess when developing a project.