Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Efficient
- Several decisions around materials and construction were guided by durability. The approach treats a building that ages well and requires little replacement as a way of avoiding the embodied carbon associated with repeated refurbishment.
- COBION® low-carbon concrete was used to reduce carbon emissions during construction. This produces significantly lower CO2 emissions than conventional concrete while maintaining the required structural properties.
- The ventilated facade combines Tibo Verde paragneiss from northern Italy with metal and structured render on board. Natural stone was selected for its durability, minimal maintenance requirements, and ability to weather over time, with minor patination understood as part of the material’s character rather than as damage.
- The building uses masonry construction rather than plasterboard-based systems, supporting both acoustic performance and longevity.
Operational Emissions / Energy
Low Carbon
- The project prioritised performance in operation rather than certification for its own sake. Florian Residence was designed to meet, and in the relevant categories exceed, the highest Slovak energy-performance class for residential construction. Its technical concept was developed around genuine independence from fossil fuels rather than compliance with a checklist of individual measures.
- The project’s extended development period influenced the energy strategy. Permitting took more than six years, with approximately three further years of detailed design and construction. During this time, the concept was revisited so that the energy strategy could draw on mature, proven ground-source technology. The building was designed as a balanced system in which the geothermal boreholes, thermally activated concrete cores, central ventilation with heat and humidity recovery, and coordinated energy management support one another.
- Florian Residence is described as energy-positive in relation to heating, cooling, and hot water. The system is centred on 24 dry geothermal boreholes, each extending 110 metres below ground, with a combined length of approximately 2,640 metres. At this depth, the ground maintains a stable temperature throughout the year. Reversible heat pumps draw heat from the ground in winter and return heat to it in summer, providing heating and cooling without combustion or external plant noise. The geothermal boreholes are expected to have a lifespan of more than 50 years.
- Producing one kilowatt of heat requires approximately 0.2–0.3 kW of electricity. Summer cooling operates largely passively, with only the circulation pump consuming power.
- The boreholes are paired with a thermally activated concrete core that delivers radiant cooling. Together with underfloor heating, this provides a stable internal comfort profile. A gas boiler is retained solely as a backup and for reheating during extreme peak conditions; it is not intended as the primary energy source.
- Central ventilation with heat and humidity recovery further supports operational efficiency. Controls at apartment level include window contacts that switch the ventilation system to economy mode when a window is opened, a departure setting that places the apartment in a low-consumption mode, and a boost function for rapid ventilation when cooking or hosting.
- Water is managed on site through infiltration into six soakaway wells, supported by flood-protection measures, reducing pressure on municipal systems. Extensive green roofs are provided on the uppermost level and above the garage entrance, while the proportion of planting exceeds the required minimum. These measures support the local microclimate and biodiversity.
- Parking spaces are equipped for electric-vehicle charging and the waste-storage area is refrigerated to reduce spoilage and odour.
Key products in low carbon design
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