Global architecture, design and planning firms — including possibly the world’s largest design firm Gensler — are sharpening their climate focus, reshaping entire supply chains to reduce emissions. In the book Design for a Radically Changing World (Pub(d). 2024) by co-chairs of Gensler, Diane Hoskins and Andy Cohen, they write:

“Too often, the idea of design is limited to aesthetics. Design, however, is about impact. It creates the buildings and spaces in which we live, which shape us in profound ways.”

Believers in the inherent optimism of design, but also its problem-solving abilities, they continue: “We are beginning to see a new chapter in design, one that reflects humanity’s broader worldview.”

This shift in worldview — catalysed by climate change — is ushering in a movement in architecture that focuses on wellness, sustainability, reducing carbon emissions and longterm environmental integrity.

Locally, innovative new design and construction techniques are being adopted to reduce carbon outputs and demonstrate respect and admiration for te ao Māori (the Māori world view), which encompasses a sensitivity to and respect for the natural world.

In the words of Nat Cheshire, Director at Cheshire Architects, “If we’re not focusing on te taiao [the natural world], we’re writing ourselves into insignificance, missing the one exhilarating opportunity for our art to affect massive, desperate pan-human change.”

In 2024, a focus on the environment must include understanding and adapting to future climate risk. While it’s true we need to rapidly reduce emissions, climate change is already increasing risks for our homes, most noticeably in flood-prone areas and along our coasts. In areas exposed to escalating hazards, properties are likely to find it increasingly difficult to retain insurance.

We know from research undertaken by New Zealand’s Deep South National Science Challenge that insurers are required to be solvent following a 1 in 250-year non-earthquake risks, including storms and floods. To deal with increasing climate hazards, it is likely that insurance companies will reduce cross-subsidisation and move towards more strict risk-based pricing, increasing premiums for specific hazards. 

Belinda Storey in her work with Deep South has observed:

“People tend to be very good at ignoring low-probability events. This has been noticed internationally, even when there is significant risk facing a property. Although these events, such as flooding, are devastating, the low probability makes people think they’re a long way off.”

Given the tendency to underestimate the significance of climate risk, having up to date data is key. In New Zealand we are one of the future countries in the world who have developed a mathematical model of the Earth’s natural systems so intricate that it can predict the behaviour of our atmosphere, land and seas, well into the future. The outputs of this earth system model work are being downscaled to increase national understanding the impacts and implications of climate change.

Architects have a key role in helping to prepare by better understanding climate risk and supporting a climate resilience future. Efforts could include designing for high winds and increasing site permeability to encourage a natural flow of surface water is common overseas and has recently been described as ‘sponge’ city design.

From what we are seeing, there is a lot of data and opinions in the sustainability and climate space but less so on the principles or hierarchy of where to start, so the team at The Lever Room have developed the following principles to use as a guide.

Five future-proofing principles:

1. Focus on areas that can’t be reduced after building completion

As we further decarbonise the grid and design for passive ventilation, operational carbon emissions will gradually decrease. However, since embodied carbon is spent before the building is used, it’s a sunk cost and cannot be reduced after building completion. As we strive for net zero by 2050, embodied carbon will play a crucial role in whether we succeed.

2. Climate Analysis

Conduct a climate analysis for the project location to understand current and future climate conditions, including changes to temperature and rainfall patterns, high winds and extreme weather events. Once a climate analysis has been undertaken designing for climate resilience is key.

American architect Louis Sullivan created the notion ‘form follows function’. In 2024, perhaps it is better to use the notion of ‘form follows climate’.

3. Design for adaptability and longevity

To save embodied carbon, construct buildings that are durable and long-lasting, so we don’t need to build new ones as frequently and create buildings that can easily adapt to changing needs to avoid tearing down and rebuilding structures when requirements change.

4. Reduce materials and use energy-efficient techniques

Reducing the quantity and range of materials used can significantly reduce the overall embodied carbon in a project. Opt for natural materials that have a lower carbon footprint or choose retrofit solutions over building new.

Employ construction methods that require less energy. For example, using prefabricated components can be more energy-efficient compared to traditional on-site construction.

5. Protect against greenwashing

Ensure you are using a system and assessment method that backs you up. There are a range of software solutions that estimate the environmental impact of building designs.

For example, with One Click LCA you can create a typical building with ready-to-use building materials. Other solutions like SimaPro, used by The Lever Room are great additions as they allow bespoke assessment and hold huge databases allowing for specific real-world product calculations — plugging any data gaps.

To avoid unintentional greenwashing when performing an embodied carbon assessment, a good rule of thumb is to include all significant building components that are responsible for providing the building’s primary functions.

Into 2024, architects are at the forefront of integrating key decisions on sustainability, design and cost — each one an opportunity for innovation, as well as a challenge.