Sustainable Short-Term Constructions That Leave Their Mark

The UK Government has set out a roadmap towards improving the energy performance of new homes that is geared towards a long-term goal for being zero carbon by 2025. With defined Government targets for greener buildings, the construction industry can apply the same line of thinking to short-term structures energy efficient from the outset. 

It is, therefore, important to consider the sustainability ambitions of temporary constructions in the UK. Although they range in use, the design of buildings that have a shorter lifespan can often be overlooked as being a hidden opportunity when it comes to their environmental value. The planning and design phases of their construction welcome being built with renewable energies, greener materials, and using sustainable methods. They also serve as a positive and visible blueprint on the landscape for permanent structures everywhere. 

This article will define what is meant by a ‘short-term constructions’ and how building such structures in a sustainable way can add value to the wider community by engaging others to build responsibly in the future.

What are short-term constructions?

Short-term or temporary constructions refer to buildings that are intended for limited duration usage rather than having any expected permanence. In reality, they can be temporary housing and shelters that might in some way tackle the current housing shortage. Other short-term structures include spaces that are built for the retail sector, for unique spaces at music festivals and to support a number of different pop-up ventures in many public and private instances. 

There are many businesses who will opt to build makeshift spaces and temporary structures to test ideas out before committing to permanent premises. Meanwhile, trade shows, exhibitions, and numerous other public events incorporate temporary structures in their conference halls and at a range of venues. 

Whatever the reason, they are valuable facilities in every industry that bring people together and are integral to every community. Their presence in many different contexts is a measure of their significance for facilitating community interaction and supporting businesses of every size and shape. 

Throughout the year, temporary constructions enable all manner of events, commercial activities, and social engagements to take place and operate safely that might otherwise have not been viable in that particular environment or setting (indoor or outdoor). 

Built with renewable energy and green materials

Building temporary structures in a sustainable way comes down to the same principles of larger construction efforts. In essence, it’s about reducing their negative environmental impact by intentionally incorporating green materials and sustainable design elements into a businesses’ build and adopting renewable energy options into their structure. 

There are various ways that this can be achieved. One popular building method is the modular technique of using durable interlocking concrete bricks that can help to improve the energy efficiency and heat retention in temporary structures. Offsite prefabrication allows materials to be tightly sealed to ensure highly efficient standards alongside rapid onsite assembly. Constructing components this way reduces material waste and emissions compared to a conventional build. In addition, the reusability of precision-fabricated modular units preserves energy across repeated events and functions.

Additional sustainability building measures might involve the installation of solar panels, small wind turbines and recycled or repurposed materials across floors, green roofs or walls built to insulate the structure and lower waste. Power lighting and other electrical fixtures at temporary venues can help to cut down on grid electricity, and smart sensors, LED bulbs and recyclable fixtures will also minimise energy demands..

Value of building eco-friendly temporary structures

Constructing temporary event venues, pop-up spaces and community structures using eco-friendly designs and sustainable materials favoured by architects will make construction far more sustainable. Such materials and renewable energy systems have a lower environmental footprint compared to less sustainable options that might otherwise be used for the quick construction of temporary spaces. 

Because these structures are only needed temporarily, they present the perfect opportunity to experiment and showcase the latest developments in sustainable architecture like biodegradable materials and smart energy-generating technologies. For example, these modern pavilions were ‘built to disappear’ but served their purpose for representing environmentally conscious temporary construction. Creating temporary venues out of green materials sets the marker for more scalable adoption across permanent construction and infrastructure projects. Their successful temporary construction, being destined not to last, can also demonstrate the feasibility of rapid assembly for venues and short-term accommodation.

Promote sustainability in community spaces

Temporary structures like festival venues, markets and exhibition halls foster social engagement and can promote a broader message about sustainable building practices. In turn, staging events, exhibitions or selling items in short-term pop-up spaces can promote the wider adoption of renewable energies, green construction materials, net-zero building methods and other sustainability topics to a wider audience. 

Well-designed and attractive temporary structures are accessible public spaces which can ultimately showcase green values and technologies to thousands of visitors. Sustainable temporary structures also unite and engage environmental experts, local businesses, and government representatives. They can benefit from seeing viable structures and be encouraged to transfer the cost-effective sustainable constructions and green-building solutions into their future new build plans and developments. 

Legacy and impact of sustainable short-term structures

While only meant to serve short-term needs, the legacy of sustainable spaces can inspire the permanent incorporation of greener building solutions across the UK. These structures, although there for a limited time, can influence building projects of the future to be made and constructed with an environmental focus at their core, whether that's for amenities and private buildings. 

Despite being temporary fixtures in a location, they stand as monuments to the latest innovations in areas like solar energy, renewable energy efficiency, eco-conscious lighting, water conservation systems and waste-reduction infrastructure. Overall, sustainable pop-ups, short-term eco-buildings and temporary spaces serve as springboards for the comprehensive adoption of environmental designs and green building solutions in the future. Whatever their use within a community or reason for being built, they reiterate the importance of sustainability and green values in the wider community.