What if the built environment could be a solution to the climate crisis and not part of the problem? What if buildings could act like trees: capture carbon, purify the air, and regenerate the environment? Inspired by natural processes and ecosystems, Urban Sequoia envisions “forests” of buildings that store carbon and produce biomaterials to create a new carbon economy and resilient urban environment.
On Cities, Regions, and Built Environment Day, Skidmore Owings & Merrill presented a proposal on how architecture could go beyond net-zero to create carbon-emitting buildings negative.
The skyscraper prototype is said to be built from carbon-storing biomaterials such as hemp concrete and wood, along with direct air capture technologies available today, which SOM says could tie up to 400% more carbon during the construction of the building. 60-year construction period. Life year issued during construction.
The captured carbon could be resold for industrial use and turned into products, creating a circular ‘carbon removal economy’, while the algae and biomass grown on the facade of the building could be converted into biofuels for heating, cars, and planes.
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The need to change the built environment is clear. The construction sector is responsible for nearly 40% of all global CO2 emissions. As the urban population will continue to grow over the next decades, studies show that an additional 230 billion square meters of new construction will be needed by 2060.
Chris Cooper, the SOM partner, explains the strategy: “We are rapidly moving beyond the idea of CO2 neutrality. Gone are the days of talking about neutrality. Our proposal for Urban Sequoia – and ultimately entire “forests” of Sequoias – makes buildings and therefore our cities part of the solution by designing them in such a way that they store carbon and effectively alter the course of the earth. climate change. “
“It’s a path to a more sustainable future that is accessible today. Imagine a world where a building helps heal the planet,” said Kent Jackson, SOM partner. “We have developed our idea in such a way that it can be applied and adapted to the needs of every city in the world and has the potential to have positive effects in every size of the building. “
These strategies can be applied to buildings of any size and type. For cities, the SOM prototype is a high-rise building that can store up to 1,000 tons of carbon per year, which corresponds to 48,500 trees. The design includes nature-based solutions and materials that use much less carbon than traditional options and absorb carbon over time. Materials such as organic bricks, hemp concrete, wood, and organic concrete reduce the CO2 impact of construction by 50% compared to concrete and steel. A phased approach could reduce construction emissions by 95%.
Sources-
1.https://www.dezeen.com/2021/11/12/urban-sequoia-som-cop26/?fr=operanews
3.https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/cop26-reveals-urban-sequoia-model-som-sustainable-architecture