Description

In this episode of Urban Forecast, Oli Lowrie sits down with Joe Jack Williams, Head of Regenerative Strategy at Bywater, to explore the future of low-carbon development, the realities of building in mass timber, and why the industry desperately needs better material literacy.

After 14 influential years at FCB Studios, Joe made the leap from architecture to development in pursuit of greater impact. He discusses the limitations architects face within client-driven briefs and why moving upstream gives him the ability to shape carbon outcomes from day one.

From embodied carbon blind spots to the challenges of moisture management, legislative misalignment, and the need for better data, Joe offers an unflinching yet optimistic view of how timber buildings can become the norm rather than the exception. He also shares insights from his RIBA-published Materials Book and Bywater’s unique partnership with Sumitomo Forestry.

This is a deep dive into how buildings are really made, how decisions ripple through the supply chain, and how the next generation of sustainable development must think in systems, not snapshots.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Architects are often limited by client briefs, and shifting to the developer side allows far greater influence over sustainability outcomes.
  
• Embodied carbon is rapidly overtaking operational carbon as the critical factor in building emissions, yet material impacts remain poorly understood across the industry.
  
• Timber can significantly reduce embodied carbon, but success depends on rigorous detailing, moisture management, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
  
• Fire risk in timber buildings is often overstated; moisture poses a far greater challenge, accounting for the majority of insurance claims.
  
• Current UK regulations, especially around residential heights and funding constraints, create unnecessary barriers to timber construction.
  
• Bywater’s joint venture with Sumitomo Forestry demonstrates how global expertise can accelerate safe, scalable timber development.
  
• Material decisions often have counterintuitive carbon implications; intuition alone is inadequate without robust data and scenario testing.
  
• Creating safer, more innovative design cultures requires teams to admit what they don’t know and embrace research-led practice.

 BEST MOMENTS

• “Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean there isn’t a hole in the ground attached to the project you’re making.”
  
• “Fire isn’t the big risk. Ninety-seven percent of timber claims are about moisture.”
  
• “We’re always on a learning curve, and it’s not always intuitive what the right answer is.”
  
• “Architects are phenomenally bright. Once they understand the system, they’re really good in that system.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.ackroydlowrie.com 

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

How to unblock the system of community funding with Mark Shearer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwCPMHe1GUs

The 1 percent housing trap with Chris Worrall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ujFO3E_RA 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with di