7. How ‘sustainable’ is timber?

7. How ‘sustainable’ is timber?

When comparing the carbon data from the three case studies; the Villa Savoye, the Farnsworth

house, and the Breuer house, timber is the most sustainable material – even without the inclusions

of ‘carbon sequestration’. This process of calculating façade typologies with varying construction

methods and materials is the prime use of this an ‘embodied carbon’ calculation in professional

practice. However, when considering the use of timber in buildings throughout the world it often is

specified from harsh environment(s), like Siberia where the wood is naturally more durable. This

results in the long transportation and distribution of material(s) to the site, which was not calculated

in this study but if further investigated would provide the scope for a transportation analysis.

In conclusion, this investigation has calculated the minimum scope capacity of the embodied carbon for the Villa Savoye, concluded as 386 kgCO2e/m2. When considering a SCORS rating, a performance

rating for buildings, it finds itself perched in the worst category for the emission of carbon. The

report has provided a consistent historical narrative to provide the contextual reasoning for the

techniques used by Le Corbusier, and that the reasonable assumptions made by the author are

justified in the calculations. Specifically, identified is the flooring system of the Villa Savoye which is

the single largest emitter of carbon, due to the quantity and variety of concrete used. The ‘embodied

carbon’ analysis has proved to be a vital tool to accurately calculate and present quantifiable data

the amount of carbon a building can produce, which is approximately 185, 280 kilograms of carbon

dioxide released into the atmosphere.

Comparatively, when considering the three façade typologies, the use of steel in the Farnsworth

house stands out to be the largest emitter occurred in the study. As discussed, the form,

architectural experience and o aesthetic may not be achievable through the low-carbon construction

techniques like the Breuer house, which uses a lightweight timber ‘balloon platform’ frame

compared to single plate glass and steel sections. The use of steel and concrete to ant capacity

dramatically make our buildings more corrosive and unsustainable and it becomes difficult to justify

the use of highly embodied carbon materials during the current climate crisis, knowing now he

implications for their use. Perhaps the most troubling aspect is that steel and concrete, as a material

is much cheaper and available than timber. It will be up to the architects of the next generation

wither or not they have the moral justification to adopt the use and principles stated in this report to

design, holistic ‘sustainable’ buildings.

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