Sign in

Philip Oldfield

@sustainabletall.bsky.social
8.3K followers 298 following 1.6K posts

Head of School at UNSW Built Environment and Professor of Architecture. Writer, researcher & teacher, tall buildings, climate change, embodied carbon, cities

PostsRepliesMedia
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 1h
These bright yellow awnings on the refurbished Lyngby Town Hall in Denmark are delightful The architect is ERIK Arkitekter and the awnings are by Blendex
0121
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 1h
Research shows there were 430,365 heat-related deaths in Europe between 2000 and 2025 The proportion of those deaths attributable to human-induced climate change increased from 39% in 2000 to 68% in 2025 www.nature.com/articles/s44...
083
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
The success of modern Iranian brickwork is not just informed by history and craft… but is made possible with advanced digital design tools and software Here, for example, is an undulating brick facade created with parametric design, by architect Mehdi Farahmand
38517
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Apartment building in Tehran, Iran, designed by architect Alireza Javanmard The turquoise tiles on the underside of the solar shading are a very nice touch
18911
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Design for a new apartment building in Mallorca, by Aulets Architecture Shade is celebrated through a facade of adaptable timber blinds
1497
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
The quality of social housing being built in Paris takes some beating. Yes… this is new social housing! 107 apartments with solid stone facades, designed by AAVP Architecture. Photos by Benoît Santiard Would you just look at that beautiful balustrade!
1032880
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Would you just look at these beautiful timber blinds in this social housing in Navarra, Spain In a warming world, shading should be on ALL housing! The architects are Taller Basico and MRM Arquitectos. Blinds by Saxun Solar
219936
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Recently completed brick apartments, in the city of Kerman, Iran What I like about this is the *depth* of the facade, with recessed balconies providing shade and privacy By Asar Studio Architecture
19811
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Proposal to refurbish a series of public housing towers in Milan Increasing tree coverage, adding more substantive terraces, and a new facade with shading - by Architectural Research Workshop Before After
39717
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Terracotta and timber apartments in Isfahan, Iran The form works to self shade terraces and some of the glazed areas The architects are Use Studio
4638
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Competition winning design to replace a parking garage with new courtyard housing in Groningen, Netherlands By Studio Nauta Architecture Before After
1868
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Competition winning design for 31 social housing apartments in Barcelona Terraces, awnings and inner courtyards work together to manage light, air and space for residents Architecture by Jose Bergua
3698
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Apartments in Basel, by EMI Architekten Large family homes, with three or four bedrooms. As there’s no central corridor each living space is dual aspect, so gets plenty of light and ventilation And it’s a low carbon timber structure too. Build like this everywhere!
28512
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
100 new apartments, available across social and affordable rent tenures in Salford The building meets Passivhaus energy standards - meaning energy bills will be around 80% lower than normal By Buttress Architects
15312
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
In the most surprising news of the year, the plan to build a 46,000 seater stadium on top of a skyscraper at NEOM has been “shelved indefinitely” Who could have seen this coming?
2352
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Stunning new housing under construction in Amsterdam! 105 apartments, with a mass timber inner structure and brick facade - a great combination. By Monadnock Architecture - a short thread 🧵
39521
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Three storeys of lightweight timber structure added on top of 16th Century load-bearing townhouses in Linz, Austria Retains the historic building, increases density and reduces embodied carbon - triple win! By mia2 Architektur
1456
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
More ‘awning-maxxing’ in Switzerland - hardly the hottest place in the world, but where shade in buildings is taken seriously… A kindergarten and primary school in the city of Affoltern am Albis Designed by Kummer / Schiess Architecture
3819
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A lesson in how to maximise density on tiny scraps of urban land Built on a site of just 54 square metres, this apartment building in Berlin delivers 7 studio apartments By Büro Hacke
6608
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
New apartments in Zurich Two homes per floor means a shallow plan, which is easy to light and cross ventilate. Also interesting to see a generous amount of storage space (which is often welcome in apartments!) By Igual & Guggenheim Architecture
2364
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
New office building in Montpellier, by Leclercq Architects The facade is made from straw with a local clay-earth render applied on both the inside and outside Walkways, terraces and alcoves also extend the office space to the exterior
35415
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Adaptive reuse of a parking garage originally built in 1957, into 63 new apartments in Paris Includes three new storeys built of lightweight timber and steel added on top of the existing building. A thread 🧵 Before After
47720
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Beautiful new brick apartment building in Mashhad, Iran I appreciate the depth of the brick facade, offering shade, texture and protected balcony spaces The architect is Mahsa Sedaghat Sharifi
0514
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Recently completed cooperative housing in Basel. The shaded terraces look top notch! By Jaeger Koechlin Architects
1283
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Competition winning design for new house blocks in Zumikon, Switzerland Small footprint, with only two homes per floor. But… this means all homes are dual aspect, with lots of light and access to cross ventilation By Meier Hug Architekten
2261
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Design for 15 apartments on the edge of Paris A smart plan shows the benefit of a lobby, separating the private bedrooms from the living spaces. Double doors mean the living space can be opened up, permitting cross ventilation Architecture by Atelier de Chèzy
1345
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
An apartment plan that looks like a medieval city Hampstead mansion block, London, 2014. By Sergison Bates Architects
5444
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Such a gorgeous timber roof structure. Low carbon materials, beautiful form, and diffused light New sports hall in Lille, made from glulam timber. It’s also Passivhaus, so will have super low energy bills Architects are Bureau Face B and Bollinger + Grohmann
36710
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Who would think green tiles and peach-coloured blinds would look so good? Refurbishment of 33 social housing apartments alongside the Canal Saint Martin, Paris Neufville Gayet Architects
2532
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Design for the adaptive reuse of an old printworks and butchers shop in Paris, to create new housing Note, the existing masonry buildings have 4 new storeys of lightweight timber housing added on top!
16410
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Adaptive reuse of older buildings can be so transformational for cities! Here is a concrete nightclub and car park turned into a new library, in Kings Lynn. Before After
2336
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
So, this is quite stunning! Apartments in Tehran, Iran, by Pagar Architecture
2223
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
More great apartments in Switzerland. An office to be converted into homes Instead of corridors for circulation, there are seven stairs and elevators. This means all the larger apartments are dual aspect, with more views and cross ventilation
2283
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This is an important building by Groupwork Architecture 1,000 tonnes of solid volcanic rock provide the structure for this 10-storey apartment building, massively reducing steel and concrete This could be used up to 30 storeys, to create new housing and reduce emissions
85617
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This is beautiful arched balcony space, in a recently completed brick apartment building in Mashhad, Iran. Design by Amin Jafari and Omid Rahmani
1254
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Ten new apartments planned for the outskirts of Paris. Compact planning, but still manages to make those living spaces dual aspect, making cross ventilation possible! By Vida Architecture
3231
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
These curves are spectacular! Six apartments in Mashhad, Iran, by architects Amin Jafari and Farzaneh Hakimian
3494
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Great to see the Balearic Social Housing Institute (IBAVI) win the Obel Award IBAVI have created a model for the delivery for social housing using local materials, circular construction and climate-sensitive design. So many great homes created! www.dezeen.com/2026/09/01/o...
0323
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I’m asking you to again look at the quality of new schools being built in Switzerland This is in Zug, and designed by Gut Deubelbeiss Nill Architekten
6689
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
So many textures of brick in one building! Apartments in Tehran, Iran designed by architect Amir Taleshi. Shout out to the supplier too- handmade bricks of the Azimi Brick Factory
23710
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Awnings can help improve any building! Adaptive reuse of a 1960’s office building in Basel, to create a mixture of apartments and co-working spaces Before After
2405
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Design for 15 social housing apartments in Paris, by Parages Architects Renovation of the first three floors, with two news floors added atop. Wooden structure, stone facade, straw insulation and lime render! Beautiful to boot!
1374
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Brick apartments in Tehran, Iran In particular, I love the bricks with the ends dipped in turquoise glaze. Delicious! The architects are Hooba Design
1633
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
*Such* a simple and effective apartment plan!!! Four homes, with 2 stairs and 2 elevators. Each living space is dual aspect and spans the full width of the building, no corridors. Bedrooms in the next bay for privacy, with a mix of 2-and-3 beds Social housing in Spain!
1010916
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
So… is Trump going to demolish the Kennedy Center just because he can’t have his name above the door? www.dezeen.com/2026/08/27/d...
294
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Apartments in Tehran, Iran, designed by architect Firouz Firouz Clay bricks on the outside, set against glazed turquoise tiles to the balconies. Fantastic!
412821
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Design for 18 social housing apartments set around two courtyards Smart and careful planning means all living spaces can be cross ventilated, with lots of decent sized windows
1348
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
No evidence window view benefits students’ final exam performance www.linkedin.com/pulse/eviden...
150
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Love the subtle curves at play here in these apartments in Tehran, Iran… Architecture by Iman Takbiri
1411
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Design for 21 social housing apartments in Paris, by Atelier RITA Again, we see the benefit of having a living space span the full width of the building, providing access to light and cross ventilation. Great to see storage space documented too!
0305