Carbon Copies

Carbon Copies is a collaborative investigation into the embodied carbon impact of residential building typologies, exploring how the materials we build with shape our environmental footprint. The built environment accounts for over 40% of global carbon emissions, and meaningful change will require not only renewable energy but a transformation in the materials, supply chains, and systems behind construction.

This research examines how natural materials such as straw, lime render, and timber can reduce embodied carbon while maintaining thermal performance and architectural quality. Through a series of 1:1 models, the project compares the carbon profiles of different material assemblies, offering a tactile way to understand the environmental impact of design decisions. Carbon Copies aims to reframe our perception of materials — from static components to active participants in ecological systems.