It really is simpler than one might think to create a low carbon piece of architecture that's also beautiful. It just requires a few things, knowledge of local materials, a sympathy to what already exists and an acknowledgement of what is needed and what is desired.
Whilst LANDE is working on really amazing projects currently, we're not able to say too much about them right now. So in the meantime, this is a quick hit of architectural inspiration that follows the same ethos as LANDE.
In Normandy, a perfect example of adaptive reuse, using natural local materials exists. Designed by Anatomies D'architecture the project set itself targets to create a project with minimal ecological impact. 0% concrete, 0% plastic, and 100% natural materials sourced on-site or within less than 100 km radius.
Building with traditional, natural, vernacular materials has a long list of benefits, beyond just low embodied carbon. The internal air quality is greatly improved and acoustically, rooms constructed of timber, hemp and cork insulation, raw earth will significantly outperform and steel framed, breezeblock and PIR insulation build up by a long shot.
"The first step to building ‘Le Costil’ was collecting materials on-site within approximately a 100 km radius: Robinia logs (30km) for the wood pile foundations, raw Douglas (30km) for the building’s wooden frame, short circuit hemp (45km) for biobased insulation, recycled corks for rot-proof insulation, local raw earth (0km) for filling and coatings, and chestnut ‘ganivelles’ (120km) for bioclimatic cladding. Additional resources include hay, flint, cow dung, and a hazel tree found on-site.2" - Text taken from Designboom article.
It goes without saying that LANDE champions local and sustainable materials. But what's special about this project is the attention to detail, it creates architectural renovation project that is worth looking after. Preserving the history of the existing building, and revitalising it with a new purpose.
Images by: Lauren Kronental
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