An opinion piece by Robynne Hammer, Chief Operating Officer, EDGE Showroom

We started EDGE because we saw the enormous impact that the construction industry was having on the environment, both in building structures and in their lifelong footprint. We thought that there had to be more sustainable alternatives to the materials that were used as standard in the industry, as well as a more sustainable alternative to how our furniture and interiors are designed, built, and disposed of. 

We began looking at alternatives and found that, although there were many companies offering sustainable materials and products within particular niches, there was no central hub to consolidate all of these resources and provide a comprehensive range of solutions to the growing market of people and businesses who are waking up to this rapidly developing climate emergency, and who are looking to make their living and working spaces more environmentally responsible.

EDGE London was born

We decided to bring together into one place all the amazing, innovative, sustainable brands that we had discovered, where all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, and where people can be given a clear vision of what the future of living and working environments can look like. EDGE has become a practical source showcasing many ways that we can design our spaces so that they integrate and not disrupt the environment.

Throughout the three levels of the EDGE premises, we have created pockets of visually interesting thinking spaces, a venue that not only looks but feels healthy by incorporating biophilic design with natural and recycled materials and energy solutions, together providing a calm and creative atmosphere making visitors feel eco-confident by seeing and feeling so many great alternatives.

The easy-to-navigate showroom demonstrates a range of innovative products and solutions to green living, with everything on offer from recyclable furniture, natural paints and flooring to energy-efficient lighting and so much more! Featuring brands which demonstrate the highest standards in emissions minimisation, circularity, sustainable materials sourcing, product quality and longevity, wellness and minimal use of toxic chemicals. We assess each partner on a case-by-case basis, and understand that accreditation, although ideal, can be expensive and inaccessible for small businesses, with this in mind we apply our own evaluation framework, requesting the relevant paperwork to support eligibility. This is all supported by our knowledgeable showroom manager and also our expanding team of experts amongst the brands and industry partners who are able to answer any question.

We’re incredibly proud to say that EDGE is a forerunner in this field, made all the more exciting in being based in the hub of London. We’re eager to continue the city’s tradition as an epicentre of innovation while nurturing its drive and efforts in sustainability and forward-thinking. We look forward to hopefully inspiring others around the world in other cities to follow our lead and help green buildings and green living become the norm!

In the light of news reports such as the tragic but unsurprising IPCC announcements last year on the state of our climate and the first-hand experience, many of us are feeling and seeing throughout the recent summer heatwave, the claims that one degree change in temperature would change the global map and put coastal regions at risk of extinction will become a reality. We understand this and want to make a difference, but how do you take action? This is the wake-up call that we shouldn’t have needed but one that will hopefully nudge people into positive action and get them to think more about what they can do to reduce their impact on the environment. Eco anxiety, especially amongst the younger generations is becoming more prominent and EDGE is already working with industry partners to tackle this and bring clarity to what terms such as circular economy, net zero carbon, climate resilience, biophilic design and biodiversity in our everyday conversations really mean, and how the design and construction sectors are addressing them.

One year on

A year on since we opened our doors and what a journey it’s been! From the initial showroom launch for the specifier community to a real interest and thirst for knowledge from a further reaching community all wanting to learn even more new ways in which they can design and build. Seminars, CPDs and workshops are just some of the captivating events we have had the pleasure of hosting this year. With a calendar filled with fascinating sustainability led partner presentations, EDGE has evolved from a showroom to a hub supporting environmental awareness, cultivating a community of like-minded individuals with a desire to build for a better future.

Our mission at EDGE, going into year two continues to bring together discussions around architecture and design making these more prominent, testing new ideas, promoting emerging talent and pushing the boundaries of governmental support.

We need more grants for green endeavours, clearer accessible guidance and government awareness to be put in place. European partners are leaders in the field, ahead of us in so many ways and despite no longer being part of that union, there are so many incredible examples being shared particularly in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands and Germany as to how the sustainable build environment grants must be made more available to businesses and individuals. As an international team at EDGE, our cultures and backgrounds have already helped shape our ‘can do’ attitude!

Working with experienced environmental professionals to provide detailed analysis of your designs to optimise building specifications and performance from inception to completion, we are in the process of launching a marketplace to help you realise your personalised environmentally friendly home and have set up EDGE Project which focuses on planet positive homes. This is where sustainable design underpins all new build and retrofit projects and where our goal is to reduce the overall construction carbon footprint by designing healthy living spaces that create a comfortable existence whilst operating with optimum efficiency integrating plant-based materials such as timber, straw, hemp, earth and bamboo, which are renewable and available on a global scale. These and many other materials come from abundant resources, absorbing carbon dioxide as they grow and are highly recyclable, greatly reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.

Finally, as we reflect on the past year, we discovered the showroom has grown from an initial 12 brands and a handful of industry partners to over 60 brands and an industry backing of like-minded organisations who understand what it means to utilise a unique place like EDGE.

To anyone with a sense of eco anxiety who wishes to understand more about practical changes they can make to their home and building plans, we encourage and invite you to visit the showroom now during our first birthday celebrations and participate in the talks program we are running as part of London Design Festival from 19-25th September 2022. We are excited and inspired to stimulate more architects, designers, architectural technologists, specifiers, developers, builders, construction professionals and the public and are sure that together we can make year two at EDGE a year of measurable milestones! RSVP today.