Frank Jossi’s Post

Back in May 2019, a group of architects led by 17 Stirling Prize winners declared a twin climate and biodiversity emergency, calling for immediate change in order to drive down carbon emissions. In the same year Matthew Barnett Howland’s Cork House (designed with Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton) won the Manser Medal, the Stephen Lawrence Prize, the RIBA Award for Research and was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize. Featuring monolithic walls made from solid loadbearing cork, the project was carbon negative at construction and is essentially a kit of parts, which could be deconstructed at the end of its life. It saw the beginning of a new focus within architecture on natural and less-harming materials. The materials so often favoured by the construction industry – concrete, steel and brick – are complicit in the climate emergency. Concrete is the second most consumed substance on the planet after water, while in the UK we use 2.4 billion bricks, producing 2.6 billion kg of CO2 emissions, every year. As designers, architects are complicit in prolonging the use of harmful, energy ­hungry and oil-based materials. But this is beginning to change. Continue reading: https://bit.ly/3SwIOnd #Materials #Construction #ClimateEmergency

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Retrofit/Adaptive Reuse/or "Facelift" is the Way to Go! As we navigate the future of architecture and construction, the shift towards sustainability and carbon consciousness is unmistakable. For that we need a paradigm shift in our design and construction thinking. This paradigm shift necessitates a holistic transformation in how we approach design and construction. From eliminating demolition to prioritizing retrofit-and-adapt strategies, from enhancing construction efficiency to widespread adoption of bio-based materials, each aspect plays a crucial role in reducing our carbon footprint. The era ahead demands a meticulous reevaluation of every material choice, manufacturing process, and energy expenditure, emphasizing a future where carbon neutrality and environmental preservation are paramount. -------------------------- Below is my sketch for the retrofit of Markville Mall's facades and entrances (Markham ON), when working as a designer at Petroff Partnership Architects. #SustainableArchitecture #CarbonConsciousDesign #BioBasedMaterials #GreenConstruction #FutureOfBuilding

Join Guillermo Saavedra from Miami Curtain Wall as he delves into the importance of understanding materials, their limitations, and best use-case scenarios. Learn how different environments influence material selection and why it's crucial to choose the right products for the right location. #BuildingMaterials #MaterialScience #MiamiCurtainWall #Architecture #Engineering #Construction #Waterproofing #Curtainwall #Glazing #RealEstate #BuildingEnvelope

What if structures like the Empire State Building were constructed from wood? Vancouver architect MGA | Michael Green Architecture posed this thought-provoking question at Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023 in a conversation about the potential for more carbon-sensitive construction. Green, a pioneer in sustainable architecture, champions the use of mass timber—a material that binds wood fibers through an industrial process—as an alternative to steel and concrete, which contribute to the hefty carbon footprint of large-scale construction. #AspenIdeasClimate

“The definition of DfD highlights the approach of building with thinking of a reverse construction. This reverse construction also includes the collaboration of different sectors such as architecture, building science, chemistry and garbology, from the selection of materials used in the building to the connection details.”

Thank you, Fermín Tribaldos, for giving the stage to earthen construction alternatives. I was fortunate to see Martin Rauch ten years ago by now during an event back in 2014 at the K21 in Düsseldorf titled "Slow Architecture." Since then, I've been captivated by the idea that our built environment must offer more than just fast-paced, profit-maximized developer projects that provide little benefit to users or the planet. Every sentence of this short video is pure gold and resonates deeply with me: 1. “Earth is essentially gold” - earth is a naturally smart material: load-bearing, offering great inertia for thermal comfort, unbeaten in its environmental impact and microclimate benefits compared to any processed cement mix or even mass timber. 2. “We know how to do it” - the knowledge to build with earthen material already exists drawing from centuries of traditional practices and modern engineering techniques, ensuring durability, sustainability, and pure aesthetic versatility. 3. “Earth is versatile” - suitable for various architectural styles and climates, making it a viable option for widespread implementation beyond its current niche status. 4. “Two-thirds of the people on this planet already live in earthen buildings” - we should aim for 100% to provide sustainable and affordable housing for all by stopping to promote highly processed cement or oil-based insulation. 5. “I feel more like a machine developer than an earth builder” - highlighting the need to innovate and automate processes to make earthen construction more efficient and scalable. Working in this industry, I see a tremendous opportunity to shift towards more sustainable construction practices. By embracing earthen materials, we can create buildings that are not only environmentally friendly but also beautiful and functional. Architects, not Architecture. is a great format to showcase the few brilliant minds running sustainable proctices. However, we need to push this most urgent matter even further: 1. Educate - Raise awareness through workshops and social media. 2. Innovate - Invest in research to improve techniques and technologies. 3. Advocate - Push for policy changes supporting sustainable building. 4. Collaborate - Partner with industry leaders and institutions. 5. Automate - Develop scalable, automated building processes. 6. Demonstrate - Support pilot projects showcasing earthen construction. Let's work together to make this vision a reality and build a future that benefits both people and the planet. #EarthenConstruction #RammedEarth #3dPrinting #Robotics #Automation #Sustainability

A milestone in rammed earth construction - by Martin Rauch, ERDEN / Lehm Ton Erde Working with renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, prefabricated rammed earth walls were produced on-site with raw material excavated from local quarries and mines for this building. While the project received critical acclaim, it was a challenge 🥵. He knew he needed 1.5 years to make it happen, but the client and insurer were skeptical. No other building company could or wanted to build it. The builder agreed only with this deal: if the building wasn't completed using clay, Rauch would receive only half the payment. This agreement provided a pathway forward, allowing Martin Rauch to begin the project while managing the financial risk. The construction license was another hurdle. He contacted the chamber of commerce and explained the unique aspects of the project and the lack of construction companies with the expertise or willingness to take it on. His efforts were successful, and he was awarded a commercial license, making him the first master builder licensed specifically for earth constructions. ▶️ Martin Rauch participated in our recent event in Stuttgart. You can watch his talk (in German) on our website under “Archive”. https://lnkd.in/dDmzzNdK #architectsnotarchitecture #AnAtalks #architects #architecture #martinrauch #lehmtonerde #herzogdemeuron #erdenat #earthbuilding #sustainablearchitecture #rammedearth #ecofriendly #greenbuilding #sustainabledesign #earthconstruction #eartharchitecture #sustainability

Did you know the number of mass timber buildings are expected to double every two years through 2034? 👀 Building with wood is not just about using a renewable material, it's also a really smart investment. Engineered wood: – Results in higher sales rentals, and lease rates than non-wood structures in several cases. – Adds a unique selling proposition to your portfolio with natural and aesthetically pleasing architecture. – Helps estimate your overall budget with more accuracy. – Accelerates construction often resulting in a faster return on investment. – Often decreases construction costs and building’s operational costs. These are just a few of the economic advantages. 🍃 To get the full list, download our whitepaper "10 Advantages of building with mass timber", and learn why more and more property developers are specifying wood for the financial benefits: https://lnkd.in/dg3w49Hi #masstimberconstruction #sustainableconstruction

RE: Concrete or Beaches, the death and rise of architecture From sand you have come. To sand you shall return. From a broad palette of wondrous materials that implodes the limitations of standard solutions, you shall rise again. The world can't sustain one-way thinking, just as it can't sustain one-way consumption, as this leaves the world trembling on one leg, creating a shaky foundation. In the same way that the steak on your plate is finding alternatives, so is the sandwich element of the wall. What was once limited by a given is now a diverse palette of options, allowing for further considerations into local resources, climate, and the needs of people, and it all seems beautifully choreographed as the various elements aligns, rewinding architecture and the world ahead. https://lnkd.in/deNXUjsZ https://lnkd.in/d-qUjJz7