CO2 emission research

Vlaardingenlaan, Amsterdam

How can a pre-existing design be made sustainable retroactively, while being contrained by set material requirements, cost constraints, and conventional construction methods? In the design process for a residential building on Vlaardingenlaan in Amsterdam, we were tasked by the client to investigate more sustainable construction methods and materials. The game-changer: the increasing influence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports on property valuation and the anticipated future where carbon emissions will have a price.

So, we asked ourselves the central question: how can an existing design in its final stages be restructured to promote a more sustainable future?

Through a critical assessment of the design’s most impactful components and a comparative analysis with sustainable materials, such as circular concrete, timber-based construction, and other bio-based alternatives, our recommendations achieved a nearly 30% reduction in CO2 emissions. This marks a meaningful advancement toward Paris Proof standards in sustainable construction.

At WRK Climate, this commitment reflects our responsibility to lead in the transition toward bio-based and circular building practices while continuing to drive innovation within the architectural field.

In our comparative analysis of the current design we discovered opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions by applying alternative materials for:

  • the structure
  • window frames
  • façade
  • insulation and internal walls

CO2 reduction can be achieved by replacing linear concrete in the structure and foundation with circular concrete and/or timber construction. It is also possible to replace the insulation with wood fibre or Isovlas and the window frames with timber-alu frames. The internal metalstud and GIBO walls could be replaced with bio-based alternatives such as flax walls.

Finally, eco/circular bricks can be used in the façade. Brick strips reduce the façade’s mass, allowing for a lighter structure and foundation.

The 2015 Paris Agreement set limit values for new construction projects for the coming decades. For the residential project at Vlaardingenlaan 11, this means a limit of 180 kg CO2-eq. per m2 in 2025.

However, in the original design, the project's emissions are 403 kg CO2-eq. per m2. This means emissions of 7,307t kg CO2 eq. for the entire project.

Applying a timber construction offers the possibility of using a lighter foundation for this building section and the possibility of making this building section Paris Proof.

Applying timber construction offers the possibility of using a lighter foundation for this building section. In addition, it is possible to see whether this building section could perhaps be made Paris Proof.

CicloBrick

The basic raw material for Ciclobricks is sustainably extracted Dutch river clay, a renewable raw material which is infinitely and locally available.

In addition to this clay, 20% ceramic donor material is incorporated into the CicloBricks.

Flax, wood fibre and hemp insulation have a phase shift of about 11-12 hours.

Faay VP54 flax wall (54 mm) consists of a solid core of flax with a plasterboard on either side.

Faay harvests by-products from the linen and yarn industry.

The optimisation shows that it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by almost 30% if all alternative materials are used. This is, of course, a theoretical approach.

Among academics and scientists, there has been a long debate about whether storage of biogenic CO2 in life cycle assessments LCA) should or should not be included in climate policy. A consensus emerged among a majority of scientists: temporary CO2 sequestration (i.e. shorter than 100 years) should not be included.

Meanwhile, the debate has already entered a follow-up stage. The European standard EN 15804 assigns negative emissions to bio-based products and does include temporarily stored CO2. However, the Netherlands has not (yet) included this standard in the determination method.

In this sustainability study, the optimisation currently assumes CO2 emissions including storage. Although it remains a theoretical approach, we can conclude that this study has brought us one step closer to realising Paris Proof buildings.

At WRK Climate, this commitment reflects our responsibility to lead in the transition toward bio-based and circular building practices while continuing to drive innovation within the architectural field.

Click here to view the publication (NL)