Sandbox from Buro Happold

What does ‘resilience’ really mean when it comes to infrastructure? 

It is more than just bouncing back from disruption. As Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, explains in our latest episode of Sandbox, resilience is about designing systems that can adapt to change, and recover quickly - especially in the face of climate events, energy crises, or digital disruptions. 

Infrastructure is deeply interconnected, and our ability to respond to emergencies depends on how well these systems work together. That is why integration matters. Resilience can’t be built in silos. It requires joined-up thinking, from policy and planning to investment and implementation. 

In this short FOMO5 episode, taken from the full episode, Paula joins host Andy Duncan and fellow Buro Happold expert Chris Glover, Director of Utilities and Energy, to explore how integrated infrastructure can help us build a more resilient, sustainable future. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.

How can major infrastructure be designed for tomorrow’s challenges?

From powering our homes to connecting cities, infrastructure is the backbone of modern life - yet it often goes unnoticed.  

In our latest episode of Sandbox, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’, our Buro Happold experts unpack what it really means to design infrastructure that is ready for tomorrow’s challenges. 

Tune in to discover: 

Our regular host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.  

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

What could a stadium look like in 2045? Our panel ‘header’ into the future in our latest ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5... 

From holographic sports games to multi-use community hubs and immersive concert experiences, the future of UK stadia is bursting with possibility. 

Taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising community spaces’, this short episode explores visionary ideas of what innovations could be made to stadia in 20 years' time.    

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.     

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

The future of stadia design: Built for the next generation, by the next generation.

Designing the stadiums of tomorrow involves a mix of considerations - from retrofitting existing structures to enhancing community impact and meeting sustainability goals.

In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘Beyond the game: Energising community spaces’, Paul Eddleston explores his work around designing community-centric stadia through Buro Happold’s Urban C:lab initiative, which encourages professionals to think creatively about the future of the built environment.

In the short episode, Paul discusses challenging traditional assumptions and re-thinking stadiums as vibrant, inclusive hubs that serve far more than just sport – they also unlock new possibilities for local communities.

Paul said: “We can turn around the thought of how we design, to be designed for everything but sport.

“We have the sport nailed, so maybe we can think of the building in terms of the 340 days it’s not in use and the sport will come naturally.”

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.    

 This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).

How could rethinking a stadium's infrastructure needs create a powerful new sense of place?

It’s not just about what happens on the pitch. With tens of thousands of fans attending major events, the infrastructure around a stadium plays a huge role in shaping the overall experience - from crowd flow and transport to public spaces and connectivity.

In our latest Sandbox FOMO5, Buro Happold’s Colin Byrne explores how stadiums can become powerful anchors for wider urban improvement:

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

How could stadia become the new heart of their community beyond game day? That was the question put to our guests in this episode… 

With the weekend on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to ‘kick back’ and listen to our sportiest episode yet of ‘Sandbox’. 

Stadia are more than just venues for sport - they’re economic and cultural powerhouses that bring people together. But what happens when the final whistle blows? And how can their full potential be unlocked for local communities all year round? 

This week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 dives into ways to re-imagine stadium spaces - from hosting concerts and school events to transforming underused areas into vibrant community hubs. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.    

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

On your marks, get set, LISTEN: Start your week with our latest episode of ‘Sandbox’...  

From football to cricket, sports are woven into the fabric of our lives. As one of our panel guests, Colin Byrne, brilliantly puts it: “If you look back in cave paintings in France about 15,000 years ago, they're depicting sprinting and wrestling matches. 

“And that sums up that we've always been interested in, always been watching, always been reporting on sport. And I think that's because these moments create these formative parts of people's lives and their upbringings.” 

Stadiums, the heart of these sports, create spaces for communities to unite. Yet, many of these iconic landmarks stand empty on non-match days.  

In our latest episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising Community Spaces’, our Buro Happold experts explore how stadiums can be transformed for year-round use. 

Tune in to discover: 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, are Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.   

So, ‘kick’ back and enjoy this episode, and why not subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.   

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

How lightly can we travel to be more sustainable tourists? 

With summer holidays fast approaching, many of us are planning trips across the UK or abroad to enjoy new cuisines, explore historic sites, and soak up the sun. 

In our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 features an insightful excerpt from Episode 10, ‘Sustainable Tourism: Travelling to a greener future.’ Hear from Lindsay Hawdon, former Sunday Times and Telegraph travel columnist, writer of fiction, and guest lecturer, on how tourists can travel sustainably and truly integrate into the places they visit. 

Lindsay shared how the pandemic led residents in Bath to rediscover their city as tourists, saying: “A kind of strange thing happened during COVID in Bath in that local residents discovered the city as tourists themselves. You know, suddenly there were no tourists visiting and you were able to sort of fall back in love with your city as a tourist might.” 

In this FOMO5, our regular host Andy Duncan also discusses some Buro Happold UK projects which you can visit this summer, from Mayfield Park in Manchester to Battersea Power Station, London. Read more about our projects by visiting the Buro Happold website. 

Tune in to this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 for all the insights. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.    

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

As temperatures soar in the UK, it's crucial to adapt our buildings to withstand the heat. 

Buildings vs Heatwaves: How do we boost resilience in extreme weather?  

Taken from our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 highlights an insightful extract from Episode 05, ‘Weathering Heights’. Join Smith Mordak, Chief Executive of UKGBC, and Lara Balazs, Associate, Buro Happold, as they explore how we can optimise energy use and enhance our homes for extreme weather. 

Lara emphasised the importance of understanding our homes better, such as using cross ventilation to save energy and stay comfortable. Lara said: “Getting comfortable with building physics and also with energy is such an important thing to be able to understand how you can use it better and just make sure that you're using our shared resources in a much more efficient way.”     

Smith, discussing the weather when it comes to energy efficiency, added, “The same way you check the weather before you decide what you're going to put on before you go outside, maybe we need to just be thinking a little bit more about the weather and our energy use.” 

Tune in to this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 to learn more about making our buildings more resilient and energy efficient. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.    

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).  

Summer in the City: How Engineering Shapes Seasonal Urban Life. 

With summer fast approaching and temperatures in areas across the UK set to soar above 25°C next week, it’s time to ask: are our cities ready to keep us cool, connected and resilient?  

In this special Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode we revisit some of the powerful moments from our previous episodes, to explore how clever engineering helps us cope with rising temperatures. From smart water management strategies through droughts, to the value of accessible green spaces and the roles of thoughtful design in supporting tourism and community life; discover the interventions that will help our urban environments thrive in the heat.  

Here is a quick overview of the key topics discussed in this episode: 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.    

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).