In the midst of the hottest global summer on record, the need to address climate change has never been more in focus. However, understanding a need is not the same as acting on – and delivering – change.
Every industry is having to rethink how they operate from the ground up, and ours is no different, says Claudia Tschunko of Arup, as she called for more data-driven design.
Pivoting to more climate-friendly practices will require us to learn from past experiences while wholly embracing the circular economy. This can only be achieved through cross-sector collaboration. The cities of the future will need to be adaptive and resilient, with minimised carbon footprints. Any new buildings and designs must be held to that standard.
Essentially, we are at a crossroads as an industry. To survive, we must be able to see building and planning in new ways, rethinking the foundations and previous best practices of the sector. If we are to plan for the future, we must adapt now.
The role of data-driven design
Design plays a fundamental role in mitigating climate change. If structures are, from their inception, built with sustainability in mind, they are less likely to need further carbon-intensive changes in the future.
At Arup, we have been gathering data across our building design projects for years, most recently using our carbon tracking software platform Zero – and we are by no means the only organisation that is doing so. By building on lessons from past projects and utilising data to make informed design decisions, we can optimise energy consumption, reduce waste and minimise carbon footprints in structures from the start.
Data-driven design and innovation such as this will enable our industry to think outside of the box, while envisioning real, workable solutions to make the most sustainable structures possible.
This includes principles such as designing for adaptability, retrofitting existing structures, reusing and recycling materials, and thinking about the full lifecycle of a building, from creation to demolition. By making smart design decisions, we can push our industry into the circular economy and ensure that our communities are built to last – without causing further harm to our environment.
Balancing objectives
By adopting a less tolerant approach to waste in the building industry, we don’t just have an opportunity to decarbonise the built environment – the circular economy can also drive beneficial social and market outcomes. Ultimately, circular principles underpin a more resilient community.
It is imperative to balance commercial viability with social benefits and environmental sustainability. Projects can – and should be – lucrative while being beneficial to the environment and community. Whether it’s through the creation of new business opportunities, contributing to local economies or enhancing environmental sustainability, these elements are interlinked and of equal importance.
Our work on the recently completed 1 Triton Square in London demonstrates that refurbishment can be exciting, attractive and incredibly sustainable. It was originally designed by Arup for British Land in the 1990s – with future regeneration in mind. Twenty years later, with the needs of customers having evolved over time, British Land saw the potential to increase the building’s size and transform it for today’s workstyles – opting for refurbishment to save time, money and carbon.
Our work on Triton’s façade represents one of the largest examples of circular economy practices in the industry to date. It required the removal, refurbishment and reinstallation of over 3,000sq m of façade – this approach alone saved over 2,400 tonnes of carbon and represented a 66% cost saving when compared to a new façade.
It’s an example of Arup’s marginal gains approach, whereby every possible system, component and strategy is analysed and refined to improve performance and deliver the most sustainable outcome.
Visions for the future
Working in the built environment gives us a unique opportunity to directly shape the world in which we live. In order to achieve this systemic change in our industry, we must leverage our findings to date while setting ambitious goals for the future. History offers valuable insights that can guide present actions, and futuristic concepts can provide the inspiration for making necessary changes now.
Ultimately, no one entity can achieve this alone. We do not exist in a vacuum. A new paradigm that includes joining forces across sectors, shifts in industry thinking and breaking away from traditional design concepts is needed. This might involve partnerships with technology companies, embracing disruptive tech like AI and machine learning, and seeking shared solutions with government organisations. Only then will we be able to adopt a model for building data-driven design that will serve our communities for centuries to come.
Claudia Tschunko
Associate director
Arup
Tel: +44 (0)20 7636 1531
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