Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Operational Emissions / Energy
The project reduces operational energy demand through hemp-clay and hemp-wool insulation, clay plaster, passive solar design, natural ventilation, and low-temperature wall and floor heating. The building has achieved a KfW Efficiency House 70 standard, with a documented energy demand of 106.10 kWh/m²/year, following the first phase of renovation.
Service and maintenance emissions
Service and maintenance emissions are reduced through the use of durable, low-maintenance and low-tech materials including the existing oak timber frame, rubble-stone masonry, clay plaster, concrete and black mill-scale steel. The project also prioritises simple, robust construction systems and retains much of the existing building fabric, reducing the need for replacement and ongoing material consumption. The use of locally sourced and natural materials further reduces the impacts associated with maintenance and replacement.
Afterlife
The open-plan layout and retained structural frame allow the building to accommodate changing uses with limited structural intervention. The existing barn structure was preserved rather than replaced, while the new office spaces were arranged within it in a relatively flexible manner.
The project follows principles of circular construction, using durable materials and construction systems that can be separated and reused where possible. The existing timber frame and masonry are retained in situ, while newer elements such as the steel staircase and timber components can be dismantled and potentially reused or recycled.
Key products in low carbon design
