Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Casa Daia adopts a low-embodied-carbon strategy centered on industrialized timber construction through the Modular BV system developed by Crosslam Brasil and UNA barbara e valentim.
Key embodied carbon reduction strategies include:
- Use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (Glulam/MLC) manufactured from certified reforested eucalyptus.
- Replacement of conventional concrete and steel structural systems with renewable timber components.
- Prefabricated modular production in controlled factory environments, reducing material waste and transportation inefficiencies.
- Dry assembly construction methods minimizing wet trades and reducing construction-related emissions.
- Elevated lightweight foundations reducing excavation and concrete consumption.
- Facade cladding and deck systems made from reforested pine rather than higher-carbon finishes.
- Design for disassembly and future reuse, extending material lifespan and reducing future embodied emissions.
- Careful siting within existing clearings to avoid extensive land transformation and vegetation removal
Operational Emissions / Energy
Casa Daia reduces operational energy demand primarily through passive environmental design rather than mechanical systems:
- Passive Cooling and Ventilation
Cross-ventilation driven by prevailing coastal winds.
Large operable openings enabling continuous airflow.
Elevated decks improving underside air circulation.
- Solar Control
Deep overhangs and verandas reducing direct solar gain.
Strategic orientation minimizing overheating.
Shaded glazing reducing cooling loads.
- Thermal Performance
Solid CLT wall and slab assemblies provide thermal inertia and insulation.
Timber interiors reduce radiant heat transfer compared to concrete or masonry.
- Renewable Energy
Integration of photovoltaic energy systems.
Reduced dependence on centralized infrastructure.
- Water and Landscape Strategies
Rainwater harvesting systems.
Preservation of existing vegetation supporting microclimatic cooling.
Service and maintenance emissions
The project reduces long-term maintenance-related emissions through:
- Durable engineered timber systems manufactured for precision tolerances.
- Prefabricated modular assemblies reducing repair complexity.
- Dry connections allowing selective replacement of components rather than demolition.
- Exposed timber finishes reducing additional applied finish layers.
- Passive environmental control systems minimizing reliance on mechanical equipment requiring servicing.
- Lightweight modular construction reducing future intervention intensity.
- Locally sourced timber materials reducing replacement transportation impacts.
Afterlife
Adaptive reuse and future flexibility were central considerations in the Modular BV system.
Strategies include:
- Modular programmatic organization allowing different configurations.
- Structural independence between modules enabling expansion or relocation.
- Open-ended floor planning adaptable to hospitality, residential, or hybrid uses.
- Standardized timber components supporting future reassembly.
- Minimal permanent ground intervention allowing site reversibility.
The project strongly aligns with circular economy principles. Elements designed for disassembly include:
- Prefabricated CLT wall and slab modules.
- Dry mechanical assembly systems.
- Modular deck structures.
- Lightweight timber façade systems.
- Reversible structural connections.
This allows relocation, upgrading, reconfiguration, selective replacement, and reuse of components with minimal material loss.
Key products in low carbon design
