Sustainability

Specifically, we work with sustainability on several levels. We use life cycle assessments (LCA) as a design driver, meaning that calculations form the basis for a careful consideration of geometry, materials, and technical solutions. At the same time, we constantly challenge and reassess the way we design and build by improving and optimizing our processes.

In our team, we have DGNB, LEED, and BREEAM consultants, as well as certified sustainability advisors. Additionally, we have expertise in areas such as lighting design, daylight calculations, occupational health and safety coordinators, accessibility auditors, and more.

Our focus in 2024

In 2024, our work with sustainability will be based on a number of positions within functionality, inclusion and documentation. We believe that:

...a decisive factor for reducing construction's climate and environmental footprint is long-term sustainability through flexibility. That buildings can change function over time, so that space and form can last through generations and the building thus has a longer life cycle.

...materials that are described as sustainable must be accompanied by valid documentation of their effect - otherwise we reject the materials or ensure sufficient documentation.

…good architecture is for all people and must be found in all our projects.

What additional value, beyond the environmental and climate-related aspects, is associated with sustainable architecture?

There is a very concrete economic advantage in saving resources. The more we delve into minimizing CO2, the more we see a correlation with lower construction and operational costs. It strengthens the synergy in a project and in collaboration across roles when there is a shared understanding that sustainability pays off.

There is also great synergy in having a very pragmatic approach to sustainability. The simpler and more logical, the better. For instance, if you have a large roof overhang, rainwater is directed away from the house, protecting it from moisture. And if you skip lacquering window frames and lamps, they become cheaper, saving lacquer and making them more recyclable.

We are currently in a paradigm shift. Just a few years ago, there was much more resistance to sustainable proposals in the industry.

Can everyone build sustainably?

Yes, but not in the same way. Similar to all other architecture, sustainable architecture should also be site-specific – one cannot take a template and apply it every time as "sustainable architecture." However, there are some commonalities. We know that:

• It is important to think circularly – reuse is good use
• Biogenic materials have significant advantages
• Materials should be local and not have traveled halfway around the world just because they might be cheaper.
• For some projects, it makes sense to minimize surfaces
• External resources such as sun, wind, water, and thermal heat should be considered as resources.

Are there risks associated with building sustainably?

One can easily design so-called "sustainable architecture" that isn't sustainable at all. If the project isn't thoroughly thought out or if the wrong materials are chosen, there's a risk that the project will need to be redone shortly after completion. This might happen, for example, due to the emergence of moisture, which is a real risk if one lacks knowledge of how moisture moves through a building surface and how to stabilize the indoor climate. In this way, an otherwise sustainable project can become unsustainable because it's not durable, leading to the use of more - rather than fewer - resources.