Carbon and craft: Lessons from the deconstruction, relocation, and reuse of a traditional Japanese house’s timber structure

Abstract

This paper presents and analyses the Chair Laboratory in Kawaguchiko, Japan as a case study of structural reuse. An inventory analysis is conducted from collected data, followed by a life-cycle-cost analysis of deconstruction, transporting, and reassembling the structure. The results are compared to two alternative schemes (timber non-reuse and steel) to benchmark the savings associated with reuse. The material quantity take-down and life-cycle-cost analysis indicate a 46%-71% reduction in GWP due to reuse (on the order of 17-20 kg CO2e/m2 of savings), at the expense of a 39% increase in cost. The cost increase is dominated by additional labour-hours for disassembly and adjustments. This data presented in this reuse case study gives realistic quantitative and qualitative insights on the feasibility, benefits, and barriers to reuse. Policy-makers and designers can use these insights to inform policies and make design decisions that encourage structural reuse and, consequently, a lower-carbon built environment.