Project by Yutian Zhu
In today’s context of global warming, buildings account for a significant share of global carbon emissions. Traditional design often focuses only on operational energy use, but addressing embodied carbon from the outset is essential for a truly lowcarbon, sustainable building ecosystem. This project reuses a derelict red brick building in Brooklyn, integrating locally sourced recycled clay and light strawclay panels for insulation, selective demolition passive design, and end-of-life recyclability. By mapping the entire life cycle, the design minimizes embodied carbon, reduces transport emissions, and ensures all new materials can return to nature or be reused.
