Lessons in Heat Resilience from Higham Hill Hub

As rising temperatures and heatwaves in the UK become more frequent and severe, community buildings need to adapt to continue to provide safe and shared spaces for local residents.

In North-East London, Studio Dera is designing a new community centre to replace existing facilities currently housed in a portacabin on an old bowling green. The new building will include a nursery, flexible spaces for community activities, and a large hall for meetings, exhibitions and performances.

A holistic approach to climate adaptation

Working collaboratively, we identified an opportunity to drive positive climate action within the local community as we ask, how can we keep people safe and comfortable during extreme heat?

Through a holistic design approach, we considered energy use across the entire building. The aim was to prioritise year-round comfort, reduce running costs and minimise environmental impact.

Letting the building breathe

Designing natural ventilation methods was key to our approach. We incorporated high-level openings and cross-ventilation to passively cool the building and remove excess heat, reducing reliance on energy-intensive mechanical systems. This simple, low-impact method has been used for centuries to cool buildings, yet it is often overlooked in modern developments, despite its crucial role in addressing rising temperatures.

We also evaluated proposed materials not only for their embodied carbon but for their impact on internal temperature and thermal stability. Many lightweight, modern structures overheat quickly and retain heat long after it is needed. Working with Studio Dera, we selected a palette of natural, thermally efficient materials that would help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

Material research: exploring hempcrete

An exciting opportunity emerged to explore the use of hempcrete, a breathable, bio-based material that sequesters carbon during the growth of the hemp plant and provides excellent thermal mass.

To better understand its performance, we partnered with researchers at University College London (UCL) to analyse how hempcrete could enhance thermal comfort during heatwaves while supporting net-zero goals.

This collaborative research helped lay the foundation for innovation funding and offered valuable insights into hempcrete’s potential in climate-adaptive community design. Compared to conventional concrete blockwork, hempcrete demonstrated lower embodied carbon and helped reduce peak indoor temperatures, without relying on active cooling systems.

A model for community climate action

Higham Hill Hub demonstrates how community buildings can be designed to be resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon. with natural ventilation, passive design strategies, and regenerative materials such as hempcrete, we can protect vulnerable people from extreme heat while creating affordable, welcoming spaces that support community wellbeing.