Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
No formal embodied carbon calculation was carried out for this project. However, the design strategy inherently reduces embodied carbon through three approaches: adaptive reuse of an existing industrial building shell (avoiding demolition and new construction), the use of standard, widely available materials (metal studs, polycarbonate, spruce plywood) that require minimal custom fabrication, and a short production chain with all bespoke elements made in-house within a small radius of the project site.
Service and maintenance emissions
No formal service and maintenance calculation was carried out. The design does however prioritise low-maintenance, durable materials. Metal studs, polycarbonate, and spruce plywood are robust and age well without requiring frequent replacement or refinishing. The modular Totem Kitchen system by Atelier Belge allows individual components to be replaced or reconfigured without dismantling the whole unit, reducing future material waste. All bespoke polyester elements are produced by Fermetti in-house, making repair or replacement straightforward without long supply chains.
Afterlife
The loft's open floor plan and non-loadbearing partition system make it inherently flexible. The interior layout can be reconfigured or removed entirely without affecting the building's structure. The space originated as a furniture factory and was converted to residential use. The same openness and industrial proportions would allow it to be repurposed again for a studio, workspace, or commercial programme with minimal intervention.
The metal stud partitions are mechanically fastened, not glued or plastered in, and can be fully disassembled and reused. The channelled polycarbonate panels are dry-mounted and removable without damage. The Totem Kitchen by Atelier Belge is a fully modular aluminium system: every module can be unclipped, reconfigured, or relocated to another space. The aluminium itself is infinitely recyclable. Spruce plywood can be dismounted for reuse or recycling.