39% of global CO₂ emissions are attributable to buildings and construction, with 11% coming from embodied carbon. This is largely locked in at the design stage. [1]

80% of embodied carbon decisions are made during the early design phase, yet most architects do not have tools to evaluate them at that stage. [2] This creates a massive accountability gap between intent and impact.

While databases like EC3, EPDs, and LCA exist, they are not embedded in design work flows and require manual input. [3]

The built floor area is expected to double by 2060, equivalent to adding a New York City every month. [4] Most of this growth is projected in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. [5] Hence, context-specific inputs become important and yet our design tools remain context-less.

The U.S. alone generates over 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste annually—twice the volume of municipal solid waste. [6] However, end-of-life is seldom part of the design process.

Architects are among the few professionals who make decisions that lock in carbon for 30, 50, or even 100 years. It is important that we update our tools to reflect this responsibility.

[1] Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, UNEP, 2021 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction.
[2] World Green Building Council, Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront, 2019.
[3] Carbon Leadership Forum, Embodied Carbon in Buildings Primer, 2020.
[4] International Energy Agency (IEA), The Future of Buildings, 2019.
[5] GlobalABC/UNEP, Regional Roadmaps for Buildings and Construction, 2021.
[6] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2023 Fact Sheet.

TESSERACT is a real-time material intelligence layer for architecture.

Research-led plugin that integrates environmental metrics –

– into the architectural design process. It functions as a live data overlay inside modelling environments like Rhino, enabling designers to move from abstract awareness to situated accountability.

– into the architectural design process.

It functions as a live data overlay inside modelling environments
like Rhino, enabling designers to move from abstract awareness
to situated accountability.