Bill Dunster
MA Hons Edin RIBA qual 1984
Following years of research and development into high-density zero
fossil fuel urban regeneration, working with a local environmental
business charity, the BioRegional Development Group - the BedZED scheme
was presented to the Peabody Trust. In early 1999 the disused water
treatment site was purchased from the local authority and both the
BedZED project and Bill Dunster architects began. The practice
transformed itself into the ‘ZEDfactory’ – synthesising low
environmental impact product development, architecture, masterplanning
and financial appraisals.
Prior to forming BDa, Bill worked for Michael Hopkins and Partners for
over 14 years specialising in low energy and sustainable development.
Nottingham University New Campus was the final project Bill completed as
a senior associate for MHP. As project architect in charge, he took the
scheme from the initial competition bid through to completion. Opened in
December 1999 by the Queen the campus has since been awarded the RIBA
Stirling Sustainability Award 2001. Before Nottingham, Bill developed
the environmental strategy and detailed façade design for Portcullis
House collaborating with the leading environmental consultants in
Europe, including Arups. Bill has also taught at the Architectural
Association and Kingston University and spoken at many seminars and
conferences worldwide.
In 1995 Bill Dunster built
his own house, Hope House with his wife Sue, which is a prototype low
energy live/work unit in which he and his family live, and from where
the office operated before moving to BedZED. BedZed has won a range of
awards ranging from the Austrian Energy Globe Award presented by Mikhail
Gorbachev, the German Eurosolar Award through to an RIBA Housing Design
Award and was shortlisted for the RIBA’s Stirling Prize for architecture
in 2003, where it won the Sustainability Award.
Bill spends much of his
time launching the concept of ZEDquarters – an urban regeneration
concept for both new and existing communities interested in leading a
one planet life and work style.