TALO Appoints Head of Design
as Part of Expansion
TALO, the specialist in highly sustainable offsite housing solutions, has appointed Gordon Ashton ARB as its first Head of Design.
A chartered architect, Gordon joins TALO having worked in practice for the past 20 years. His previous role was at AtkinsRéalis, which he joined in 2017, working as Associate Architect and MMC Housing Lead. He is also a BRE-certified Passivhaus Designer and a passionate advocate of sustainable design in the residential sector.
As TALO’s new Head of Design, Gordon will work closely with clients and their design teams at pre-construction stage, before projects move into the offsite manufacturing phase. This includes carrying out new project assessments and writing project specifications.
Commenting on his new role, Gordon said:
“TALO’s core mission of eradicating fuel poverty and raising the standard of new homes really appealed to me and fits very well with my own ethos and aspirations. As well as aligning with my values, TALO’s approach is agile, effective and collaborative. Their offsite system has been proven in Finland for decades and the pace of project delivery is seriously impressive.
Housebuilding badly needs transformation. Planning has become so protracted and the cost implications of that are often reflected in the end product, with too little focus on quality and sustainability.
TALO’s solutions use advanced offsite technology to deliver low rising housing to higher standards and vastly improved energy efficiency – cost effectively. The opportunities and level of enquiries we are now receiving are really exciting. It is fantastic to be part of this journey.”
Dr Anthony Greer, Corporate Strategy Director of TALO:
“We are delighted to have Gordon on board, particularly following the influx of new projects. To have an architect join our team who has specialised in residential, sustainable design and MMC, is such a great fit. His architectural background adds tremendous value for our clients and their design teams to collaborate on projects at the post-planning stage before going into the factory.
Early engagement of clients in the design process and educating developers and architects about our approach to offsite housing are critical to optimising the benefits of these solutions. By using intelligent design and elements such as standardised foundations, we can ensure cost efficiency whilst enhancing the fabric and sustainability of new homes in line with the decarbonisation agenda.”
Gordon’s experience has included collaborations with strategic landholders, local authorities and social housing providers, from master planning and concept design to planning, project management and technical delivery. He has developed and managed complex BIM L2 residential projects and has specialised in low energy housing design.
TALO brings proven timber offsite manufacturing technology from Finland to build ultra-low energy homes in the UK, which exceed Passivhaus energy standards and at no cost premium.
Its panelised superstructure system is delivered to site with triple glazing, a high level of insulation and internal plaster boarding pre-installed. This allows each home to be built and watertight in just a few days ready for fitting out and to achieve a level of air tightness and energy efficiency that is very difficult to achieve cost efficiently using traditional construction.
TALO partners with housebuilders, residential property developers and architects across the UK with the aim of increasing the productivity, quality and energy efficiency of low-rise homes – whether for market sale, private rent, shared ownership, or affordable housing.
For more information about TALO's timber offsite solutions for housebuilders and property developers, email hello@talo.co.uk.