How we think and develop the built environment, determines what impact architecture has on the access to natural resources, the fundamental conditions for biodiversity and the quality of life for its users.
limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C - Paris Agreement (2015)
Every level and scale, from design to city planning and landscape, interacts with climate goals.
Source: IPCC Sixth assessment report
Our office believes urbanism, architecture and landscape should contribute and serve as inspiration, urging to embrace responsible sourcing, sustainable design, and the preservation of our planet.
We are on a path of scaling up the use of biogenic materials – taking our learnings from a sustainable gas station of 500 m2 in 2010 to Prodock 10.000 m2.
In July 2023, WRK Architecten attended the world’s largest event on sustainable architecture: The UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen. The theme of the 2023 edition was LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND with the aim of creating a more sustainable built environment together.
WRK Architecten believes that every human being deserves a living environment that prioritizes well-being and sustainable development. Creating the environment every human deserves. We are dedicated to sustainability and creating pleasant living environments.
Therefore, we contributed to this event with the first version of wrk climate: a physical publication with architectural case studies, references and the wrk design principles as inspiration to discuss and exchange.
Returned from Denmark, our team continued developing wrk climate into the digital platform you can now find on the website.
principles
1. practice circular design
look further
Circular designing starts with a circular business model. Therefore, our office looks further than merely the circularity of the building. The entire process counts – right until the demolition. In addition, as the burden of proof is on the architect, architects need to ensure complete transparency on hidden consequences of their design, such as the carbon emissions of the design.
2. use timber and biobased alternatives
a colossal challenge
By using wood and other bio-based alternatives, much can be gained in terms of sustainability.
The European Union aims to be climate-neutral by 2050: an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, with 68% of the world’s population predicted to live in urban areas by 2050 , WRK sees the urgency in creating new buildings and transform properties – especially in cities. Architects therefore face a colossal challenge.
3. build better! by smart use of materials
hybrid constructions
As mentioned in design principle 2. timber and biobased alternatives, going for timber construction products is a sustainable choice. However building entirely with timber is in some cases structurally not the optimum solution and financially not always feasible. So we always advise about smart combinations of materials. The construction material pyramid is contributing in choosing the right materials.
Material selection matters.
4. be inspired by nature
greener living environment
WRK builds on the ecological context that already exists, with the aim of improving it. Not only by looking at what is less harmful to nature but also by searching for techniques to nurture nature. This includes for example promoting biodiversity in the design in as many ways as possible.
5. target Paris Proof
As the building process and material usage also determine the CO2 impact, we work in accordance with the Whole Life Carbon approach. This is a framework for achieving a carbon dioxide-free construction sector and includes target dates, definitions, and practical case studies that helps us to achieve zero CO2 emissions during the entire service life of a building.
case studies
