After completing our Carbon-Based Design research project in 2020, we were left with more questions than answers. The study focused on ways to reduce sequestered carbon in buildings and examined material innovations, optimization of construction processes, design improvements, and the incorporation of modern insulation and other technologies.
But we are both urban planners and architects - and one statistic got us thinking further. In the built environment, the buildings themselves are only responsible for 3% of total emissions. So what about the remaining 97%?
Thus, "Carbon-Based Urbanism" was born. This research starts with the realization that the building is embedded in its environment and that the lives of its inhabitants are guided and shaped by the shape of the city and its planning. Together with our partners, the Gemeente Rotterdam and PosadMaxwan, we are researching what a future of urban planning could look like in practice that meets the goals of the Paris Agreement. The project started in early 2024 and will conclude in 2025 with a report whose results will provide valuable insights for urban planners, architects and citizens alike.
The project examines the city based on four key typologies - high-rise, city block, garden city and urban sprawl - and provides answers on the carbon footprint of each. Crucially, the CBU approach looks at more than just the building itself when measuring emissions. By considering the impacts of public space, user emissions, maintenance and other key areas, CBU provides an integrated understanding of the city - more than just the sum of its buildings. And by extending our measurements to the choices made by residents, we can better understand how the city shapes the lives of its citizens.
We measure everything from energy use to mobility, sanitation and holiday preferences. The resulting data enables us to develop recommendations for improvements to urban developments, helping communities and developers create attractive cities while significantly reducing overall emissions. Our research also identifies sustainable strategies that improve residents' lives and ensures that these decisions are factored into the process from the earliest stages of development.
Our project partners are PosadMaxwan, Gemeente Rotterdam, TU Delft, Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, DGBC, ERA Contour and Synchroon.
This project was made possible through the generous support of TBI, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and Gemeente Rotterdam.