Place Léon Aucoc

Bordeaux

Lacaton & Vassal

Embodied Carbon

6240

kgCO₂e

kgCO₂e/m²

Barrels of Oil

Hectares of Forest

Cost

7030

GBP

GBP/m₂

In 1996, Bordeaux City Council commissioned architects Lacaton & Vassal to develop a proposal for a small public square. The architects spent time here studying the square and talking to the local people. Their proposal - do nothing - maintain what was already there. They suggested replacing the gravel, cleaning more regularly, and treating the lime trees.

Approaches:

doing nothing

intervention

policy

Notes:

Based on 1040m2 using 95000kg of gravel (UKGBC).

References/ further links:

Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, "Place Léon Aucoc" [n.d.]. Lacatonvassal.com <https://www.lacatonvassal.com/index.php?idp=37> [accessed 26 February 2024]

About
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Embodied carbon is 'the emissions from the construction materials, the building process, [...] as well as from deconstructing and disposing of [the building] at the end of it’s lifetime' (UCL).

The figures featured on this website were calculated using Structure Workshop's Carbon Calculator v4 (unless otherwise stated).

Each case study includes carbon equivalents - the equivalent barrels of oil burnt and the equivalent hectares of US forest growth per annum to offset it. The figures these are based on are available here.

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In future the website aims to compare 'whole life carbon' - this is 'the carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction and the use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal' (Greater London Authority, 2022).