Case study: Henning Larsen
Case study: MAST
Photo: Design by MAST, Visualisation by MIR
Harnessing the power of data in design Henning Larsen’s Urban Decarb tool helps understand the real impact of design choices in an urban development plan. Contributor
While quantifying the carbon footprint of buildings has improved in recent years,
– Henning Larsen
buildings cannot be examined in isolation. The immense impact of embodied
– Rambøll
carbon on an urban scale – meaning the emissions associated with the whole lifecycle of material components in our cities – is too often overlooked.
In collaboration with – Rambøll Innovation Fund
Henning Larsen’s architects, urbanists, and computational designers have developed Urban Decarb, a tool for integrating carbon knowledge of urban components in the early design stages of urban development. The tool covers all the physical elements of the city, from roads, buildings and surfaces to infrastructure, landscape and what’s underground, as well as mobility and energy supply, elements that make up around 60% of a personal carbon footprint.
Designing for life on water Visionary design studio MAST is at the cutting edge of architecture on and around the water.
Based on synchronised datasets associated with the geographic context of the project, Urban Decarb presents the designer with approximations that make it possible to assess the impact of their design decisions early on, by comparing the carbon cost of scenarios as they are being modelled in real-time.
Contributor – MAST
The tool introduces new and unique knowledge to the design process, so projects remain in alignment with both global and local climate strategies and legislation. It is also a means of deepening contextual understanding to include a carbon focus and create an immense environmental impact when scaled.
MAST (Maritime Architecture Studio) was founded by the Danish-Australian architect duo Magnus Maarbjerg and Marshall Blecher. Their combined design studio and workshop is based in the boat yards of Copenhagen, giving them a unique insight into the technical conditions required to build on water, as well as the social dynamics that create meaningful and sustainable water environments. Their mission is to help cities develop sustainable and innovative waterscapes that benefit people and the planet. For several years, they have discussed the relationship between the city and the water and worked intensively on developing new sustainable concepts and concrete methods for building on water.
It holds significant strategic value for landowners, authorities, and developers who want to engage in a conversation about how they can optimise and strengthen the sustainability profile of their project, and acts as a first step towards a greener, more sustainable urban development plan.
Photo: Henning Larsen
Projects include ‘Copenhagen Islands’, a floating islands project designed to create a park, or ‘parkipelago’ on water that can be used for myriad leisure activities. An aim was to focus attention on an improved harbour environment, global climate change and increased water levels – some of the biggest problems the world is facing today. Another project, innovative floating pontoon system ‘Land On Water’, is modular and flat-packable, overcoming some of the problems inherent in traditional CO2-heavy floating pontoon solutions, typically made from concrete, styrofoam and steel. MAST's rapidly growing portfolio includes floating homes, harbour baths, and urban development projects in Denmark and abroad. It has been awarded international accolades including the Taipei International Design Award, the Beazley Design Award and the Danish Design Awards.
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Creativity as a driver for green transition
Chapter 8
UNESCO World Capital of Architecture
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