Multiscale spatiotemporal characterisation of embodied environmental performance of building structures in Geneva from 1850 to 2018

Abstract

Load-bearing systems in buildings, significant in material use and embodied greenhouse gas emissions (EGHGE), have lacked detailed analysis on their environmental and functional relationships over time and space. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of building structures in Geneva, Switzerland, considering factors like material usage, EGHGE, and urban development. A new method using a similarity-weighted function projects environmental impacts onto a GIS-based building stock, analysing 48 archetypal and 84,477 stock buildings built from 1850 to 2018. Results show a 37% reduction in structural volume per floor area and a 10% increase in mass over time. Buildings predating the masonry-to-concrete transition would produce 7% more EGHGE if constructed today. Multi-residential buildings emit 14% less EGHGE than single homes. A new indicator amortizes upfront environmental effects over a building's lifespan, aiding in historical comparisons of building stocks. This approach underscores the need for spatial-temporal environmental impact mapping to understand sustainable urban development dynamics.