Materials
Looking at how materials used to be sourced shows us how they could be re-used and re-purposed in our current era. These approaches can help re-use, rather than the production of new materials.
We can look at current supply chains to see where resources are coming from and try to make it as small, local, and circular as possible. This image shows where the component parts of reinforced concrete used in Scotland come from. Cement from limestone is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions in the world accounting for around 8% of the total.
Our built environment can be an analogy for how our society as a whole functions and responds to pressure and crisis. Traditional construction is designed to accommodate the world around it. Lime mortar masonry walls manage moisture, rather than blocking it out. Older buildings are more flexible. They are designed with local materials for ease of maintenance.
