Buildings of 2050: What can be achieved with zero-carbon structures?

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In 2018 buildings and construction accounted for 39% of global energy and process-related CO2 emissions, with the manufacturing of building materials accounting for 11% of the total global emissions. Structural steel and concrete are predominately used in construction with demand expected to rise over the coming decades. Producing zero-carbon concrete by 2050 that can be scaled and economically implemented within industry is not feasible. Although materials can be recycled, particularly steel, by using energy produced by renewables is possible, the supply will be constrained and potentially uneconomical and therefore the uptake within the construction industry will be limited. Delivering absolute zero by 2050 is possible in most industries such as transport, manufacturing, agriculture as they can all be electrified using renewable energy; however, the most challenging restraint is the use of bulk materials such as steel and cement in the construction industry, with cement releasing large volumes of CO2 through the chemical reaction to form clinker. Restraining the use concrete in construction will hinder development, energy supply, and economic activity, particularly in developing countries, and therefore alternative carbon neutral materials are needed. The global floor area of buildings is projected to double by 2060 with an additional 230 billion square meters, which equivalent to re-building Paris every week, therefore, curtailing the quantity of material used in structures, particularly in floors, is critical to ensuring that net zero can be achieved by 2050. To reach net zero by 2050 will require a paradigm shift in the manner that structural engineers approach the analysis and design of structures and the materials that will be used. The aim of this project Is to investigate the use of timber vaulted floors to reduce the quantity of materials used in buildings by exploring the natural properties of timber in conjunction with the benefits provided by vaulted structures. Current studies are showing that timber provides a sustainable route to reducing the embodied carbon in structures compared to concrete and steel for a given floor area provided the timber is sustainably sourced. Timber also acts as a biogenic carbon sink through photosynthesis and therefore entraps carbon within the structure until at least the end of life of the structure. This project will be achieved by combining a creative, participatory design process with physical prototyping, comprehensive structural and environmental impact analysis, and practical case studies. During the project a reliable, repeatable, and versatile methodology will be developed for the design and optimisation of timber vaults that can be used by practicing engineers in building projects to reduce embodied carbon all the while ensuring that structural strength, deflection, and vibration performance criteria are met.