Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Q. Is there an estimate of the carbon savings achieved by reusing existing on-site materials and second-hand furniture compared to using new materials?
Tamsin Hanke, Director at THISS Studio: “Through careful reuse of existing kitchen units, salvaged commercial furniture, and offcut materials, our office fit-out avoided an estimated 700-800 kilograms of embodied carbon emissions. This represents a significant carbon saving of between 70 and 90 percent compared to a conventional fit-out using all new materials.”
Savings
- Reused kitchen cabinets: 150 kg
- Long work desk: 200 kg
- Meeting table: 140 kg
- Metal shelving: 200 kg
- Reuse of kitchen carcass for wall storage: 50 kg
- Second-hand light fittings: 100 kg
- Surplus fabric curtain: 10 kg
Products
Tables: Designed by THISS Studio using repurposed materials
Steel worktop: Cut-Tec
Lighting: Artemide (second-hand)
Shelving: Repurposed
Chairs: Arper (second-hand)
Arm chairs: Hay (second-hand)
Stools: IKEA (second-hand)
Operational Emissions / Energy
Q. Was operational energy use considered in the design, for example, lighting, heating, and ventilation?
Tamsin Hanke: “The space that SALT found has excellent potential for low energy use. For instance, large windows are sheltered from direct sunlight. We discussed creating a separate enclosure for the meeting room, but instead decided to go ahead with a curtain to maintain cross ventilation while still creating acoustically private spaces within the one room.”
Q. How does the building’s existing structure support lower energy demand, for example natural daylighting or passive design features?
Tamsin Hanke: “Natural light, cross ventilation, and access to an outdoor area help passively cool the building. Lights are seldom turned on during longer days thanks to abundant natural light from two elevations of tall factory windows.”
Afterlife
Q. Are there plans for the furniture and fittings to be reused or recycled at the end of their life to ensure a circular lifecycle?
Tamsin Hanke: “Yes. The furniture has been designed with disassembly and reuse in mind. The table tops are easily removable, revealing intact catering tables beneath. The large 8-person desk is made from two smaller catering tables, allowing for flexible repurposing. At a recent event, for example, the cork tops were temporarily removed and the stainless steel tables were used as a drinks bar. Wherever possible, materials have been left in their original state, unpainted and uncoated, to make future disassembly, reuse, or recycling straightforward and efficient.”
