SEEKING CARBON NEUTRALITY THROUGH ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

This thesis seeks to explore the extent to which architecture can achieve carbon neutrality. And the extent of the effect that processes occurring at the building, precinct and national level have on the carbon neutrality of a building.

The thesis begins by an understanding of the concept of the carbon cycle and carbon neutrality and does a case study on the first LEED recognized carbon neutral building.

The thesis then formulates an approach towards the study which begins by choosing a suitable research vehicle for the thesis research followed by a site selection. An extension building to SDE was chosen due to the availability of information that would aid the study. The site was chose on grounds of proximity and the least environmental impact.

A carbon mapping and accounting is done based on the SDE and NUS information. Strategies are explored under five categories and four levels of intervention. The five key strategies: energy consumption, reneweable energy, food, transport and design for disassembly are then further developed upon.

The new building has an estimated 47% reduction in carbon emissions based on the five key strategies. Each strategy is developed in detail to bring together carbon neutrality, integration and architectural expression. The key strategy which enables the integration of strategies is the design for disassembly, which results in the expression of the services as layers separate from the building itself.

The thesis concludes that Carbon Neutral Architecture has to be designed and integrated at the building and precinct level. Carbon Neutral Architecture also differs from low energy buildings in that the approach opens up explorations that would otherwise not arise in the design of energy efficient buildings. It recognizes that the quantifiable results are estimated based on assumptions and propose that future studies conduct an accurate audit of carbon footprint for more reliable results.