”We look forward to integrating LCA analysis as a planning tool in the early stages of design rather than as post-planning validation. It is in the design and planning phases when LCA can truly make a difference.”
– Moojin Park and Benjamin Scheerbarth, Co-founders of Office ParkScheerbarth
Office ParkScheerbarth (OPS) is a Berlin-based practice in architecture and urban planning. Founded in 2019, the firm is led by Moojin Park and Benjamin Scheerbarth. Drawing from architecture, urban planning, and social science, OPS integrates multiple perspectives into each project, opening up various modes of production for both the project and the built environment at large.
Office ParkScheerbarth incorporates LCAs and uses One Click LCA as the industry-standard tool in the early stages of building design to reduce embodied carbon, optimizing their projects for sustainability from the start.
For their award-winning project Haus 2+ in Berlin, Office ParkScheerbarth used One Click LCA to calculate and reduce the embodied carbon of the project.
Haus 2+ is a mixed-used timber building situated along Berlin’s Spree River in Holzmarkt 25, a cooperatively owned cultural complex. Previously, the site was a wood trading port, gasworks, wasteland, and club before evolving into the lively cultural district and outdoor public space that it is now. The client's brief was to design an extension of the already-existing Haus 2 that would have a welcoming entrance, house four to six units for local businesses, and have a roof terrace. It also required using sustainable materials on a tight budget.
Through professional experience, ongoing research, and dialogue with universities, OPS has developed a foundational understanding of material properties and their impact on a project's sustainability. However, the team faced challenges when measuring the impact of transportation and the efficiency of certain materials.
For Haus 2+, OPS chose One Click LCA to perform LCAs in the early stages of design and to calculate the embodied carbon impact from cradle to gate (A1-A3). The software's intuitive user interface and graphic reports helped OPS gain a deeper understanding of the construction materials with the highest carbon impacts and compare different elements. Seeing a detailed breakdown of the embodied carbon of the project also heightened the OPS team's sense of responsibility as designers.
Striking in color and form, Haus 2+ consists of six units for local businesses, including a bakery, tattoo studio, and physiotherapist. The project was constructed from September 2022 to August 2023. The vibrant and curved geometric design features an all-timber structure and red-painted larch cladding intended to stand out among the patchwork buildings nearby.
Equipped with insights from One Click LCA, OPS selected building materials for their low carbon impact and recyclability. Haus 2+ combines three timber construction systems: exterior walls from spruce-pine frames, slabs from spruce box elements, and internal walls from bonded OSB mass timber. All wood is FSC-certified and sourced from Europe. The three-story building is a 'friendly parasite' that uses the neighboring building's existing external stairwell to eliminate CO2-intensive circulation space and optimize energy efficiency. Additionally, Haus 2+'s construction systems enable easy assembly and disassembly for reuse.
Using One Click LCA, the OPS team calculated the embodied carbon of the project, which was 218 kg Co2/m2 with 43 tons total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions during life cycle stages A1-A3. These values were categorized as benchmark A.
In 2023, the Holcim Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable construction, awarded the project the 2023 Europe Regional Bronze Winner. The jury was impressed with OPS's expansive use of timber in Haus 2+ to create new connections between the building and its surrounding environment while optimizing energy efficiency.
Powered by the insights offered by One Click LCA, OPS conducted LCA analysis during the early stages of design for Haus 2+, measured the efficiency of various materials, and calculated the embodied carbon of the award-winning project that was committed to a sustainable approach from the start.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Office ParkScheerbarth and One Click LCA exemplifies the impactful role that early-stage life-cycle assessments can play in sustainable building design. By employing the One Click LCA tool, OPS was able to meticulously measure and reduce the embodied carbon of their projects, ensuring that sustainability was a fundamental consideration from the outset. The success of the Haus 2+ project in Berlin, with its innovative use of timber and sustainable materials, highlights the potential of LCAs to transform architectural practices and deliver environmentally responsible designs.
OPS’s dedication to integrating LCA analysis during the design phase rather than as a post-planning validation step underscores the critical importance of early intervention in achieving sustainability goals. The recognition received from the Holcim Foundation as the 2023 Europe Regional Bronze Winner further validates the effectiveness of this approach.
As the construction industry continues to seek ways to mitigate its environmental impact, tools like One Click LCA will be indispensable. They provide the necessary insights and data-driven guidance to architects and planners aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects. Office ParkScheerbarth’s experience with One Click LCA serves as an inspiring example for other firms aiming to enhance their sustainable design capabilities and contribute to a greener future.