Barbora Vanek - Identified Individual in Focus
Barbora Vanek, a Building Performance Specialist at AHMM, is making waves in the architectural world by championing projects that incorporate biomimetic design and true biodiversity. Based in the Bristol office of AHMM, Vanek's team is at the forefront of regenerative architecture, working on projects like Metropolis and Arthur Stanley House.
Vanek's approach to design is rooted in the early stages, where she can have the most impact. She often collaborates with her team to re-use existing structures, as seen in projects like Angel Square and 1 Victoria Street. The Metropolis project, for instance, is a regenerative approach that combines reuse with cross-laminated timber (CLT)-steel hybrid structures, aiming to support biodiversity within architectural practice.
While Vanek acknowledges the challenge of making biomimetic and biodiversity-focused architecture commercially viable at scale, she emphasizes its urgency and potential. The construction industry has been recognized as a major contributor to biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions, and integrating true biodiversity—beyond material reuse and lifecycle assessments—is an essential challenge for future large-scale projects to help slow biodiversity decline.
A notable example of Vanek's work is the TQEC Research Hub in Bristol, a project that illustrates the art of reinventing structures that might have otherwise been demolished. The hub, like many of AHMM's projects, was conceived before regenerative architecture was commonplace, demonstrating the team's forward-thinking approach.
The Building Performance team at AHMM has grown significantly over the past four years, with expertise in areas like embodied carbon assessment. The team, including Vanek, has encouraged the shift in climate literacy within the practice and the wider industry through various research publications.
In addition to her work at AHMM, Vanek is involved in the Regenerative Architecture Index. She believes that regenerative architecture should be the framing paradigm of future practice, and that the construction industry, as one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, has a responsibility to step up to the sustainability challenge.
As large-scale architectural projects that incorporate biomimetic design and true biodiversity conservation are still relatively rare but critically needed, projects like Metropolis illustrate emerging approaches that blend materials innovation with ecological awareness, pointing to the construction sector’s growing role in combating biodiversity loss through design innovations.
Sports, like other industries, can benefit from the biodiversity-focused approach championed by Vanek. Her strategies could inspire new ecologically-sound stadium designs that reduce carbon emissions and support local wildlife.
Vanek's work in applying environmental-science principles to architecture could have implications in shaping future opinions about the role of technology in the construction industry. As we navigate climate change, technology could play a pivotal role in creating regenerative architectural practices.
Furthermore, the principle of regenerative architecture, as advocated by Vanek, extends beyond the realm of science and technology. It encompasses a broader view of the environment, including the economy and social welfare, thereby emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to combating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
