You're invited to join the AIA Philadelphia Committee on the Environment to learn more about the 2030 Commitment, to share knowledge, and to improve practice. Architects have an important role to play in addressing the climate crisis. In Philadelphia, buildings alone contribute to more than 70% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. We are proud to offer another engaging workshop in a series of workshops on embodied carbon.

Join us on June 13th for our second session 'Biogenic House Sections' in the‘ Low Carbon Assemblies’ series to hear from Marc Tsurumaki, founding Partner of LTL Architects, an internationally recognized practice based out of New York. Their work is featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and featured at the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale among other numerous accolades.

Marc’s presentation will focus on embodied carbon, materiality and building systems. He will be presenting a compelling argument for rethinking the material basis of architecture in a time of environmental crisis. Asserting that the most viable means to radically reduce embodied carbon in new buildings is to use plant- and earth-based materials, he will share approaches from case studies around the world on how we can catalyze new types of houses that reduce or sequester carbon, engage regenerative life cycles, and create healthier spaces for living. 

He will be highlighting the significance of reducing embodied carbon by looking at life cycle diagrams of different building assemblies (wood, bamboo, straw, hemp, cork, earth, brick, stone and re-use) incorporating life cycle diagrams demonstrating how the raw material is processed into building components. He will be sharing case studies from his book Manual of Biogenic House Sections published by ORO editions in 2022.

Building on the best-selling Manual of Section, the new book represents 55 innovative houses from around the world through intricately detailed cross-sectional perspectives and axonometrics complemented by photographs of construction processes, interiors, and exteriors. Analytical drawings make an approach to architecture based on circular material logics and a more holistic relationship to our shared environment.

Attendees in-person will be able to view the exhibit which is on display from June 1- June 27th. The exhibit will have large scale prints from the start of each material chapter in the book including Wood Frame, Mass Timber, Bamboo, Straw, Hemp, Cork, Earth, Brick, Stone, and Reuse. These show a life cycle understanding of the given material and its processes of fabrication.

Snacks and drinks provided at the event. We encourage attendees to bring refillable bottles for water.

Credits: 1 AIA LU

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