Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Efficient
- Magdalen House was not designed or assessed against a specific environmental certification or life-cycle assessment. Given the relatively small scale of the project, a formal LCA was not undertaken.
- The project’s embodied-carbon approach was closely tied to minimising the amount of construction required. Building on the existing plateau reduced site disturbance and excavation, while the use of timber piles limited the amount of concrete required for the foundations. The compact building footprint further reduced the overall quantity of materials used.
- More broadly, the project prioritises timber construction, local sourcing, and durable materials, with the aim of reducing material use while extending the building’s service life.
Operational Emissions / Energy
- Magdalen House was not designed or assessed against a specific energy standard. Given the relatively small scale of the project, a formal energy modelling process was not undertaken.
- Environmental considerations were instead integrated throughout the design process, including through the compact building footprint, wall composition, material selection, and long-term performance.
Service and maintenance emissions
Efficient
- Durability was approached through a close study of the Magdalen Islands’ vernacular building traditions, which have evolved in direct response to the exposed maritime climate.
- Cedar shingles, a predominant local material with a long history of use in the Magdalen Islands, were selected for the exterior envelope for their proven durability in these conditions and their ability to weather naturally over time. The windows were designed to open outward, allowing wind pressure to reinforce rather than work against the window seals.
- More broadly, the project was developed through an integrated design process with local builders and engineers, whose experience of the islands’ climate and construction conditions informed the detailing and material choices. Durability and long-term adaptability formed part of the project’s wider environmental approach.
Key products in low carbon design
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