CHAPTER 7: CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES

This scheme follows a polycentric urban model which prioritises mixed-use zoning: planning that encourages the establishment of self-sufficient quarters of the city. At its core, this scheme promotes sustainability; regenerating deprived urban land to provide spaces for the sharing of local facilities. However, a number of strategies will be employed to reduce the embodied and operational carbon of the structure, and set a positive example for the rest of the city.

MATERIAL CHOICES:

The impact of use, (for the same purpose) of reclaimed construction, can be 2-12 x lower than the use of brand new equivalents (Life Cycle Assessment).

Locally sourced reclaimed red brick will be used for the heavy structural cores. These represent a large surface area of the buildings in my scheme, and so are important to construct sustainably. They are the most visible features of the buildings from street level, and so will also help to blend the scheme with the surrounding buildings on site.

The embodied carbon of CLT is relatively very low. It’s composed of wood, which if sustainably sourced with reforestation, is a renewable resource. No burning of fossil fuels is required during its production, and it sequesters carbon, making it a virtually carbon-zero construction material.

It is a pre-fabricated product, therefore there is very little waste associated with using it during construction. Any leftover wood can easily be recycled. It is a lightweight material that can also easily be deconstructed from a temporary structure, and used for a different project afterwards.

The floors are the most material-intensive building element in this scheme. Reducing the embodied carbon in this part of the architecture is therefore of paramount importance. Everywhere within the line of weatherproofing, CLT will be used for the floors.

Designing For Deconstruction

Some of this scheme will be designed to be temporary, to fit around the old and the new permanent structures and suit a unique and growing community. For these parts of the structure, appropriate joinery will be considered in order to ensure easy dismantling. Mechanical joinery, instead of sealers, glues and welding are the most appropriate.

By constructing with deconstruction in mind, materials can be re-used in future projects. This reduces waste and improves the embodied carbon of the next project. Opportunity for easy disassembly also engages communities, providing them with local construction and environmental knowledge.

Passive Sustainability

The central core in each of my public spaces can be taken advantage of when designing for comfort control. Natural light for the higher levels can borrowed through use of void in the core, where it is no longer supporting heavy loads. This will reduce the need for artificial lighting.

An effective ventilation system can also be located within the void, that can serve the capsules it supports. The housing units are relatively small and can be pre-fabricated off site, and then lifted onto the core structure.

This offers opportunity to insulate to a very high level, also improving thermal comfort and reducing operational energy consumption. Modular prefabrication also reduces material waste.