Grapevine | Barsav Office | Media - Sustainability

Low Carbon

The design reduces embodied carbon through:

Locally sourced masonry (white volumetric brick modules), limiting transport emissions.
Long-life envelope materials—AAC block, fired brick, and stone—chosen for thermal mass, durability, and low maintenance.
Reduced glazing ratio, lowering the amount of high-carbon aluminum and glass typically used in urban infill buildings.
Passive shading integrated into the structure (angled brick louvers), eliminating the need for secondary aluminum shading systems.
Reusing the existing mature tree as a functional environmental asset rather than replacing it with new built components.

Efficient

Operational emissions are minimized through a network of passive systems:

Cross-ventilation enabled by the central void, angled windows, and terraced air-channels.
Micro-shading from the brick lattice, lowering indoor solar gain.
Vegetation-driven cooling through the preserved plane trees and planted terraces.
Reduced need for artificial lighting due to controlled daylight penetration.
Thermal buffering from AAC block and brick mass, moderating interior temperatures across daily cycles.

As a result, the building’s cooling energy demand is significantly reduced compared to conventional infill construction.

Low Carbon

The project limits long-term material replacement and maintenance emissions by using:

Low-maintenance natural materials (brick, stone, thermowood).
Replaceable façade elements—brick modules and movable leaf-shell elements can be repaired individually without dismantling the entire elevation.
Accessible terraces and louvers for straightforward cleaning and upkeep.
Minimal mechanical systems, reducing long-term service interventions and reliance on high-carbon equipment.

Adaptive Reuse and Flexible Design Considerations

The plan incorporates functional adaptability across all floors:

Typical floors feature a central convertible bay that can alternate between workspace, dining, prep area, or additional living functions without architectural changes.
Duplex unit uses platforms and intermediate landings that can shift over time—a strategy that reduces renovation cycles and material waste.
Terrace-to-room sequencing mirrors traditional courtyard typologies, offering long-term reprogrammable thresholds.

Disassemblable Elements for Circular Economy

Several building elements support circular material flows:

Volumetric brick modules are dry-set where possible and can be removed or reused during future alterations.
Thermowood cladding is fully recyclable and repairable.
Leaf-shell louvers operate as modular units with reversible fixings.
AAC blocks can be reused as aggregate with minimal downcycling.

The building’s structural clarity—frame + infill—allows for selective disassembly without damaging adjacent systems.

Sustainability Report