SUSTAINABILITY

FOCUS ON NATURAL MATERIALS WITH LOWER EMBODIED CARBON

We put a lot of emphasis on using natural materials. Wood, stone, terracotta, glass... we love learning about new products, how they are manufactured, and new ways to use them. We believe natural materials are not only more beautiful, they are also more sustainable. For example, natural stone countertops have a much lower carbon footprint than laminate or synthetic quartz, because much less energy was required to make it. To create stone tile, for example, it is cut from the earth and transported to the jobsite. A porcelain tile, on the other hand, needs to be fired in furnaces at extremely high temperatures, and therefore has a much higher embodied carbon. We try to avoid synthetic, petroleum-based and ultra-processed materials whenever possible. 

LESS WASTE

Natural materials add a layer of depth and history to our projects, especially working in the historic context of Brooklyn.  They tend to age better, developing a patina over time that adds richness, instead of looking tired and worn out, as synthetic materials often do. Since they age with more dignity, they can have a longer life span, which means fewer replacements, and therefore less waste. The construction and demolition industry is one of the most wasteful parts of our economy, generating approximately a third of the waste volume sent to landfills.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In the United States, residential and commercial buildings consume a staggering 28% of the total primary energy. In the residential sector, this is primarily due to space heating and cooling, and domestic hot water. We design our projects to last for decades (if not longer), which means the way we design now will have a huge effect on our energy consumption for years to come.

PASSIVE HOUSE

We are trained in the Passive House method of building, and are members of the North American Passive House Network. Buildings constructed this way can achieve energy savings of up to 90%, compared to conventional construction, while creating spaces that are extremely comfortable, quiet, well-ventilated, pest-free, and long lasting.