ALUMINIUM: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CITIES quantifying the in-use benefits of aluminium in architecture and built environment In 2012 over 775 million tonnes of aluminium were estimated to still be in use in buildings and infrastructure. The release of this material for recycling, and resultant scrap aluminium availability, is influenced more significantly by life expectancy than improvements in collection rates. Commerzbank Building, Frankfurt, architect Foster + Partners, 1997. Ian Lambot
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AL
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quantifying the in-use b
enefits of aluminium
in architecture and b
uilt environment
In 2012 over 775 million tonnes of aluminium were estimated to still be in use in buildings and infrastructure. The release of this material for recycling, and resultant scrap aluminium availability, is influenced more significantly by life expectancy than improvements in collection rates. Commerzbank Building, Frankfurt, architect Foster + Partners, 1997.
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Aluminium should be recognised as a material that is very durable and when appropriately utilised and maintained provides long-term sustainability.
Carefully specified and tested finished aluminium is extremely durable and its functional service life is significantly longer than the associated guarantee periods.
Reversible assemblies of aluminium components facilitate refinishing, relocation or recycling advancing the long-term sustainability of buildings and resource stewardship.
Aluminium is almost infinitely recyclable with no loss of material qualities. Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than primary production and avoids over 100million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
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San Gioacchino, architect Raffaele Ingami, 1897, the 1.3mm mill finished aluminium cladding of the dome of this church in Rome is performing well after nearly 120 years.
Although aluminium was a new material to architecture at the turn of the nineteenth century Otto Wagner when specifying the Postparkasse (1903) had a very clear idea of its durability, photographed in 2013.
The anodised aluminium windows of New Bodleian Library, Oxford, architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, 1938 – are due to last another 60 years.
Bronze anodised aluminium curtain walling of 1 Finsbury Avenue, architect Arup Associates, 1985. Aluminium finishes on key projects, dating from 1938 to 1985, were physically tested - all are outperforming the original guarantees.
Aluminium Centenary Pavilion was designed by Jean Prouvé in 1954, this pavilion has now been assembled in three locations: banks of the Seine in Paris, Lille and now Paris Villeprinte.
Aluminium has many qualities that make it ideal for use within architecture and the built environment - it is:Durable, Recyclable, Flexible, Light and Strong, Powerful, Economic and Sympathetic. Ballingdon Bridge, Suffolk, designedby Michael Stacey Architects, 2003. The pedestrian handrails, assembled with bespoke aluminium extrusions, are capable of stopping a 42 tonne truck.
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Aluminium has an important role in reducing the demolition of existing building stock through deep retrofit, reglazing and over cladding, thus providing comfortable internal environments whilst reducing energy demand.
Life cycle assessment is a means of modelling the embodied impacts of a material, product or building assembly. It considers the flow of materials and energy over space and time providing a quantifiable basis for decisions regarding environmental impact and performance.
Power mix is the most significant driver of environmental impacts of an aluminium product. Global energy mixes fail to reflect the benefits associated with the use of all fuel sources. Manufacturer and location specific data for products (EPDs) provides a truer reflection of impact.
In-use benefits: in order to accurately represent the full environmental impacts of a building product the use phase including maintenance must be included in the life cycle assessment.SE
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Galaxy SOHO, Beijing, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, 2012.
Guy’s Hospital Tower, London, architect Penoyre & Prasad, 2014. This anodised aluminium over cladding and reglazing of the world’s tallest hospital tower has a carbon pay back period of less than 13 years.
A coal fired power station in Dattein, Germany.Commerzbank Building, Frankfurt, architect Foster + Partners, completed in 1997.
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The focus of architects and engineers should shift towards end of life material recovery rather than high-recycled content to improve the environmental impacts of the building and construction sector. Demolition of Heathrow Terminal Two in September 2010.
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edited by Michael Stacey
Aluminium and DurabilityTowards Sustainable Cities
Michael Stacey
Aluminium Recyclability & Recycling Towards Sustainable Cities
Michael Stacey Architects
Michael Stacey Architects
S4AA:Cymru
CwningenPress
CwningenPress
CP
CwningenPress
Ca
rlisle, Frie
dla
nd
er, Fa
irclo
thA
luminium
and
Life C
ycle
ThinkingTo
wa
rds Su
stain
ab
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ities
Stephanie CarlisleEfrie Friedlander
Billie Faircloth
Aluminium and Life Cycle ThinkingTowards Sustainable Cities
Aluminium and Life Cycle Thinking Towards Sustainable Cities
Towards Sustainable Cities - Quantifying the In Use
Benefits of Aluminium in Architecture and the Built
Environment Research Programme is funded by the
International Aluminium Institute [IAI] and undertaken
by Michael Stacey Architects with KieranTimberlake and
the Architecture and Tectonic Research Group [ATRG]
of the University of Nottingham.
Aluminium and Durability was written by Michael Stacey
ed., with researchers Toby Blackman, Laura Gaskell,
Jenny Grewcock, Michael Ramwell and Benjamin
Stanforth, with further input from Stephanie Carlisle and
Billie Faircloth of KieranTimberlake.
The Towards Sustainable Cities research programme is
structured around the primary benefits of aluminium, as
articulated by the Future Builds with Aluminium website
(http://greenbuilding.world-aluminium.org), which is a
sector specific component of the Aluminium Story (http://
thealuminiumstory.com). Towards Sustainable Cities is a
three-year programme quantifying the in use benefits of
aluminium in architecture and the built environment.
A primary aim of this research is to quantify the in
use carbon benefits arising from the specification of
aluminium in architecture and the built environment,
to complement the relatively well understood emission
savings from the use of aluminium transportation
application and through the recycling of aluminium
scrap. A vital goal of this research is to quantify the
potential contribution of aluminium towards the creation
of sustainable cities; a key task as now over half of
humanity lives in urban areas.
‘There are probably 100s of examples of aluminium based architecture, that are fit but forgotten.’ This research establishes that aluminium based architecture is fit but no longer forgotten - this excellence should be celebrated.
Michael Stacey
Aluminium: Flexible and LightTowards Sustainable Cities
A deeper understanding and use of life cycle assessment, environmental product declarations and other manufacturer-specific LCAs will enable designers to make informed material and product choices.
Aluminium has a key role in creating architecture that is affordable and comfortable, enhancing human well-being and adding value by design.
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UK Pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010, Shanghai, designed by Heatherwick Studio, 2010.
Aluminium is flexible by design: it can be cast, roll formed, spun, superformed, extruded and even digitally printed, making durable components for the next generation of architecture.
Towards Sustainable Cities: Quantifying the In-Use Benefits of Aluminium in Architecture and the Built Environment Research Programme is funded by the IAI and undertaken by Michael Stacey Architects with KieranTimberlake.
This research is quantifying the in-use carbon benefits arising from the specification of aluminium in architecture and the built environment, to complement the relatively well-understood emission savings from the use of aluminium in transportation applications and through the recycling of aluminium scrap. A vital goal is to quantify the potential contribution of aluminium towards the creation of sustainable cities – a key task now that over half of humanity lives in urban areas.
