Vitra: Ben Ridley Embraces Sustainability & Combines it with Comfort

Ben Ridley is an architect and passive house designer, who founded his architectural practice in London. He favours a clean and minimalist interior featuring materials like wood, cork, cotton and leather. We love how Ben embraces sustainable living and combines it with comfort.

‘I like good quality furniture that lasts a long time and fits with the sustainable idea that you buy things once rather than replacing them regularly.’

‘As an architect I have always wanted to build a low-energy home. So when I found this run-down house in London, it was a great opportunity. My idea was to show what can be done on a traditional Edwardian building from 1907 to really lower the energy consumption and make it comfortable and sustainable. I tried to follow passive house principles: super insulated airtight construction, triple glazing and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. For the transformation I used natural materials like timber and local stone rather than concrete and steel. Stone really helps to keep houses cool on a hot summer day. This proves that sustainability can be an opportunity rather than a constraint.

Atmosphere is created with pure materials, with carefully chosen finishes and daylight. A limited material palette helps to create a calmer environment, and that extends to the furniture. Over time materials gain character through use, the accumulation of marks and dents.’

‘Furniture made of natural materials has a certain warmth to it. At home I like things to be clean and minimal, like a Zen space, a calm shelter to come back to after a busy day. When I see Astrid, my cat, welcoming me, I feel like I’m home. That is what I’m after: walk through the front door and feel relaxed. Minimalism is not an end in itself. It only comes to life through comfort.’