Design Methodologies for Decarbonization

This paper advocates for a shift in sustainable thinking in architecture, emphasizing the crucial role of building lifecycle decarbonization in the design process. The carbon footprint associated with constructing buildings is often overlooked or disregarded, as it is typically addressed after preconceived designs have been finalized. This misplaced prioritization of financially driven performance metrics, a historical emphasis on reducing energy consumption, and a lack of regulation in carbon accounting have resulted in significant carbon emissions. To effectively address the climate crisis as architects, it is essential to establish an ethos of material-centric design that integrates decarbonization into every stage of the design process. The paper quickly recounts an evolution in sustainable thinking within architecture, followed by a new methodology on foregrounding decarbonization in design. Finally, it analyzes two case studies (one dealing with pedagogy, the other dealing with practice, and ends with projective next steps.