Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
In this project, the design strategies are rooted in reduction, simplification, and localization to achieve a low-carbon design:
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Longevity through Material Choice: The entire structure is made of reinforced concrete, chosen for its inherent structural longevity and minimal maintenance needs, ensuring the building surpasses typical housing cycles.
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Material Honesty and Reduction: Concrete serves as both the structure and the finish. By avoiding secondary coatings or claddings (like plaster or paint), the design reduces the layers of material required and minimizes the associated embodied energy.
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Local, Renewable Resources: Exterior wooden panels and shutters are made from local eucalyptus timber, a renewable resource from nearby plantations. This choice significantly reduces transportation emissions compared to imported materials.
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Simplified Construction: The simplified construction process minimized on-site waste and avoided the need for unnecessary finishes or multiple layers
Operational Emissions / Energy
The design prioritizes passive conditioning and on-site renewable energy to reduce dependence on mechanical systems.
- Passive Conditioning (Thermal Inertia): The monolithic reinforced concrete structure provides high thermal inertia, helping to stabilize indoor temperature naturally throughout the year.
- Passive Design Reduction: The design maximizes passive conditioning through cross-ventilation and carefully controlled solar exposure, ensuring year-round thermal comfort. This approach reduces operational energy demand by over 60% compared to conventional dwellings.
- Renewable Energy Generation: Active energy generation is provided by roof-mounted solar panels that produce 20 kW per hour.
- High-Efficiency HVAC: Active heating and cooling systems are powered by a geothermal system, which uses the stable ground temperature for high-efficiency thermal regulation.
- Water Conservation: The project integrates rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems to support irrigation and reduce the demand for potable water.
Service and maintenance emissions
Maintenance strategies emphasize material durability and avoiding resource-intensive upkeep:
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Minimal Maintenance Finishes: The use of raw, unpainted materials (concrete and eucalyptus wood) naturally minimizes maintenance requirements over the building's lifespan.
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Natural Wood Treatment: Exterior wooden panels are treated with natural oils instead of chemical varnishes, reducing the environmental impact of maintenance materials.
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Long-Term Resilience: The robust concrete shell ensures structural durability and permanence, meaning the house is built to last for generations with minimal structural intervention.
Afterlife
The design philosophy focuses on durability and adaptability rather than complex disassembly:
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Long-Term Structural Adaptability: The robust concrete shell is designed to endure multiple cycles of use.
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Internal Flexibility: The open floor plan and use of non-load-bearing partitions allow for internal spaces to be reconfigured over time as family dynamics or functional needs change, without affecting the primary structure.
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Durability and Repurposing: The core strategy is based on the idea of permanence rather than obsolescence—"building once, but building to last." Natural materials like eucalyptus wood and concrete are expected to age naturally and can be refinished or repurposed, extending their useful life.
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Reversible Use: Materials like eucalyptus wood and concrete age with dignity and can be refinished or repurposed, extending their useful life. This approach understands sustainability as permanence rather than obsolescence: building once, but building to last.
Key products in low carbon design
