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John Barry Lowe

@teachspruis.bsky.social
312 followers 163 following 29 posts

Architect, Director EDEN architects, Certified Passive House Designer, Architecture Design Fellow APEP-University College Dublin

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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Passive House Plus @phplus.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Mass appeal - The Thursday long read An architect’s four-year quest to build his family home on a Dublin laneway demonstrates how mass timber can maximise space and character in the tightest urban sites – with award-winning results, and fascinating performance insights. mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
Image shows the living room of a terraced house in Dublin, with a view of the stairs and into the kitchen. Grey/blue walls with many timber features
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
The PHAI Passive House Product Certification event last Friday in Dublin was a great opportunity to hear Professor Wolfgang Feist pioneer and founder of the Passive House Institute. Still huge scope for more compact MHRV's, heatpumps and combinations of both for passive house micro heating
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
The French Red Light Rules for Cyclists (Turn Right/Straight On) is a sensible approach for protecting cyclists and pedestrians from deadly motorised vehicles. The average new car weighs 1950 kg an increase of 400 kg in 7 years. youtu.be/yIcj9rIWgA8?...
youtu.be
Red Lights : trust cyclists !
YouTube video by Ministères Écologie Territoires
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
It never ceases to amaze me how nature can turn a pile of household vegetable waste into rich dark brown compost when left alone for six months. No plastic bags or waste trucks, just microbes and worms.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
IrishCycle.com @irishcycle.com · 09/02/2026
Left on red for bicycles to be trialled in Dublin -- "Contrary to preconceived notions... it provides improved safety," says French authorities. A pilot programme allowing bicycle users to turn right on red -- while yielding to road users with a green light -- is to be put in place at at least one…
irishcycle.com
Left on red for bicycles to be trialled in Dublin
-- "Contrary to preconceived notions... it provides improved safety," says French authorities. A pilot programme allowing bicycle users to turn right on red -- while yielding to road users with a green light -- is to be put in place at at least one south Dublin junction "over the next 6 months," the Minister for Transport has said in a written parliamentary reply.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
NPR @npr.org · 18/01/2026
Some safety experts want California to stop the cutting of quartz countertops saying it can't be done safely. Lawmakers, meanwhile, contemplate a ban on workers' lawsuits against quartz manufacturers.
n.pr
Kitchen countertop workers are dying. Some lawmakers want to ban their lawsuits
Some safety experts want California to stop the cutting of quartz countertops saying it can't be done safely. Lawmakers, meanwhile, contemplate a ban on workers' lawsuits against quartz manufacturers.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Emma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Loved this
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Passive House Plus @phplus.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
New issue out now! - Always worth waiting for, issue 51 of Passive House Plus is at the printers, but subscribers can read the digital version online now! mailchi.mp/passivehouse...
Images show to two magazine covers, one is in the interior of a living room, the other shows two people in a kitchen
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
I forgot to mention in lovely Belfast
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
From LinkedIn. Nice reminder from a founder at the end the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025 brilliantly hosted by @passivhaustrust.bsky.social and @passivehouseie.bsky.social . For new build PassivHaus is a no brainer but how do we apply PassivHaus EnerPHit to renovations ?
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
RTÉ Nationwide on Monday Oct 6th focused on the upcoming Irish www.architecturefoundation.ie #OpenHouseDublin . The first 10 minutes are about CLT Mass Timber and feature an in-depth look at Teach Sprúis tinyurl.com/4vthcajp For Open House Oct 11th -19th events see openhousedublin.com/whats-on/
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
It's amazing how many vistas in Dublin have been altered by the construction of this one single grim tower on Tara St D2. This photo is from Parnell Square in D1. How did it get planning ? If a 3D model was submitted to planners could it not be used in a city model to check these impacts ?
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
I joined the campaign group I BIKE Dublin for their monthly Bike Bop last Friday. Met at Parnell Square - opposite Hugh Lane gallery at 6pm and bopped around the city on our bikes for an hour. Punters loved it as did we bsky.app/profile/ibik... Last Friday of every month. See you Aug 29th
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
www.edenarchitects.ie @edenarchitects.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Honoured to have our work on sustainability acknowledged at the RIAI Architecture Awards 2025 where Teach Sprúis was highly commended in the SUSTAINABILITY category
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Thanks Andrew, maybe it might form part of a mix if biodiversity is given more weight in evaluating timber options
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013]. I'll soon figure out threaded posts
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
CLT has to be seen to be appreciated. On a recent trip to London I visited 2 beautiful community buildings : the Timber Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park [2013] and the Frampton Park Baptist Church [2013] Sourced with the help of the 2018 publication waughthistleton.com/100-projects...
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Ola Løkken Nordrum @olaln.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
My letter to the editor in the Irish Times today on why we ought to target one million people cycling every day instead of one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030. #ActiveTransport
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Architects are being urged to decarbonise buildings. If timber is part of the solution, how much biodiversity does forestry support? Nordic spruce used to make CLT is native to central Europe. Sitka spruce grown in Ireland is not. Why don't we grow more native Scots pine ? ecoplan.ie/can-scots-pi...
ecoplan.ie
Can Scots pine Save the Irish Forestry Industry?
Scots pine forests could not only enhance biodiversity and combat climate change but also provide a sustainable and valuable timber resource.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
For water biodiversity the Citizens Science program can help communities assess wildlife quality in water samples using the great recording form. More info lawaters.ie/citizen-scie... Thanks to Prof Mary Kelly-Quinn freshwater ecologist at UCD for showing it at Rewild Dublin ? 25 Conference.
lawaters.ie
Citizen Science - Local Authority Waters Programme
Citizen science actively involves citizens in science that generates new knowledge or understanding. Experience by LAWPRO in the 2nd RBMP cycle has shown that
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Teach Sprúis has been selected for the RIAI Architectural Awards 2025 shortlist. All 48 projects on the shortlist are part of the Public Choice Award. Votes can be cast until June 16th at www.riai.ie/public-choic...  The Public Choice Award and category awards will be announced on June 19th.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Jon Burke🌍 @jonburkeuk.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Whether through outright lies about the harmlessness of fossil fuels or the indirect lies of snake oil ‘Abundance theory’, both Right and Left politicians and commentariat have decided it’s easier to pretend global warming isn’t an extinction-level threat than it is to tackle it.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Sorry about the "emmissions" typo. Cannot see a Bluesky option for corrections.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Brussels based RotorDC have built a business around desconstruction and salvage. It is also a Cooperative. The support and interest of the Brussels region government has been critical to supporting its development. rotordc.com/home. Every region in Europe can have one of these.
rotordc.com
Rotor Deconstruction – Reuse of building materials made easy
We are a cooperative that organises the reuse of construction materials. We dismantle, process and trade salvaged building components.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
In Brussels I visited 2 impressive circular economy businesses. Inspired by BC Materials who make the léém brand low-carbon clay plasters, paints and earth blocks from the excavation material under Brussels. bcmaterials.org/products-leem
bcmaterials.org
Leem products | BC materials
Léém products are made with local, excavated loam / clay & sand because it's abundant, healthy and completely circular
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
March 16th I went by ferry/train from Dublin to Brussels. From ferry at 7:30 am to arriving in Brussels took 14 hours. With better train times it can be 12 hours. London Euston to Pancreas is a short walk. For CO2 emmissions of trains v planes see. www.directferries.co.uk/carbon_footp... Great trip
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Go Green @ecowarriorss.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
France’s new tidal turbines aim to power thousands of homes with clean energy supplying electricity to 8 million people. www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...
euronews.com
World’s most powerful underwater turbines are coming to French coast
One of France's first commercial-scale tidal energy pilot projects, NH1 is due to supply thousands of locals with clean electricity.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
theconversation.com/when-science...
theconversation.com
When science showed in the 1970s that gas stoves produced harmful indoor air pollution, the industry reached for tobacco’s PR playbook
The natural gas industry has spent years trying to undermine scientific findings about gas stoves and health. If this sounds familiar, that’s no accident.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Passivhaus Trust @passivhaustrust.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Buildings don't breathe! VERY useful animation from UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings UCL. Helpful myth-busting, explaining moisture and building materials with the aid of biscuits! youtu.be/Aky2HsB03Tk...
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
www.edenarchitects.ie @edenarchitects.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
We are delighted to announce that Teach Spúis is a Winner at the Wood Awards Ireland 2024 in the category Small-Scale Buildings. Read about the awards and see the catalogue of winning and shortlisted projects www.edenarchitects.ie/2024/12/13/w... #passivehouse #masstimber #clt
edenarchitects.ie
Wood Awards Ireland 2024 - Eden Architects
We are delighted to announce that Teach Spúis is a Winner at the Wood Awards Ireland 2024 in the category Small-Scale Buildings. The awards were announced at a ceremony in Farmleigh House on December ...
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Can you give a source for the informative table ?
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Myth busting about heat pumps www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
carbonbrief.org
Factcheck: 18 misleading myths about heat pumps - Carbon Brief
Heat pumps are an alternative to gas boilers and wood stoves for indoor heating. They...
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
An inspiring community jrnl.ie/6568875
jrnl.ie
Community group who saved road from coastal erosion urges State to reduce fossil fuel use
The Maharees Conservation Association in Kerry says Ireland is in ‘big trouble’ unless the government escalates plans to switch to a low carbon economy.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Before choosing bottled water over tap water, remember it takes more than 10X the water that a bottle of water holds to make the plastic bottle and transport the water. And that’s before considering the fuel and GHGs, the 1000 year bottle life, and the RIDICULOUS amount of $ we’re paying for water.
A boat being paddled through a huge mass of floating water bottle plastic
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Attention Street Design Nerds! One of the most intriguing cities in recent years at reconsidering streets for people instead of just for cars, Oslo Norway, has translated their great Street Design Manual into English and put it on-line. Worth digging into. #Oslo www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
Manual title page “Street Design Manual For Oslo”Street cross section drawing “spatial division of streets”Street cross-section emphasizing how the street tree root system goes underneath the wide sidewalks and bike lanesDrawing of roundabout With separate path for people on bikes.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Tim Baxter @timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · 04/12/2024
I haven't made one of these for a while, so here's a heatmap that shows the monthly global temperature anomaly for 1880–2024. This shows the difference between the average temperature in each month and the 20th century average for that month. Data from NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Put it on adverts for free and let someone collect it. Could be good for a greenhouse type structure
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
Are these average daily figures including when the room is empty ? How does that translate into performance in that space when 1,2,3 or 4 people are in there for a few hours ? Thats when the stats get interesting
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Look at www.inventer.eu available from ecological building systems
inventer.eu
Decentralized ventilation systems - invisible, energy-efficient, silent
Original decentralized ventilation system since 1999. 5-year manufacturer's guarantee. Free advice and planning support.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Interesting historical perspective. Heat recovery through mechanical ventilation does offer a clear way to reduce energy use.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Jon Burke🌍 @jonburkeuk.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
In less than 20 years, car culture has destroyed the traditional British suburb, with enormous environmental, social, and political consequences.
A suburban road with front gardens in 2008 and the same road bereft of front gardens, which have been paved over for cars, in 2022.
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 25/11/2024
Are you curious how the climate policies of political party manifestos stack up ahead of 🇮🇪 #ge24 next week? ❌ The three major parties - Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein and Fine Gael all failed our assessment ✅ the Labour Party came out on top www.friendsoftheearth.ie/news/labour-...
friendsoftheearth.ie
Labour tops manifesto assessment on climate, the three largest parties all fail | Friends of the Earth
Campaigners call for would-be Taoiseachs to be challenged on their party’s failure in Leaders’ Debate The Labour Party has come out on top in 
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Surprised the demand range seems so flat. 2 am a lot of demand there
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
@ivanabacik.bsky.social @hazelchu.bsky.social @mariesherlock.bsky.social @neasahourigantd.bsky.social Let's make Dublin the best city for cycling in Europe. A good start would be to make Arnott Street, Dublin 8 and streets like it two-way for cyclists.
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John Barry Lowe @teachspruis.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Looking forward to 3pm Concert in the NCH on Saturday December 14th #stmarysprocathedralgirlschoir #nch
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Reposted by John Barry Lowe
www.edenarchitects.ie @edenarchitects.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Honoured that Teach Sprúis has been shortlisted for the Wood Awards Ireland 2024 in a joint entry with G-Frame Structures Ltd. It is unique in Ireland for being both designed to Passive House Standard and using mass timber for the entire superstructure. www.edenarchitects.ie/2024/11/11/w...
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