Sustainability

I try to live and implement sustainability - in terms of the SDG's - privately and professionally. A commitment to life-long-learning is part of that.
at the studio  

Economy for the Common Good
(ECG)

Convinced that there is a need of rethinking our econmy, I joined the Economy for the Common Good with my studio back in 2014. Since then I did several compact balances. I haven't requested a certification yet, as the content counts more to me than a certificate. I use the matrix of the ECG to reassess my actions als small company and to set strategic goals. Next to the ecological criteria to me the social criteria are very important, like f.i. a fair togetherness and a work-life-balance.

Purchase

Printing on recycling paper is goes without saying as well as buying bio- and fairtrade producs for food and cleaning.

Though sufficieny stays ahead - purchasing only what is really needed. During the pandemic, I managed to get closer towards a "paper-free" office.

My choice on electronic devices is driven by durabiliy, maintenance and reparing, as well as low energy consumption and preferable "Blauer Engel" or "Cradle to Cradle" certified products.

As architects we are obgligated to have a professional liability insurance. There unfortunately I haven't been able to find a provider, that acts really sustainable.

Mobility

My favourite mean of transportation is the bike.

Therefore I prefer working on projects in the proximity. CO2 emissions caused by other means of transport like public transport of car are being compensated at the end of the year since 2018.

For the construction site supervision of house U I did more than 1.100km by bike - training units for the mountainbike tours that I do for leisure.
Energy supply / Website

 

 

 

 

 I use 100% ecological energy and chose my bank and the website host as well by ecological criteria.



planning process:  
sustainable building

In the field of sustainable building there are several aspects important in the planning process, that I was able to deepen my knowledge through the postgraduate master "Klimahaus", my work at the technical university of Munich, as a consultant for the bavarian architects chamber, as well as through the since 2020 ongoing exchange with collegues of architects for future.

I amconvinced that every architectural impact should accept the challenges of the ecological, economical and socio-cultural sustainability. Considering the ecological part, we strive arfter architectural and technical quality with docus on recource-efficiency and renewable materials that can be re-used or re-cycled. A responsible use of energy, water and land as well as short hauls influence our projects. Regarding the economicyl part we consider the Life-Cycle-Costs. Building experience shows that maintencance costs and waste management costs often exceed the building costs many times. Considering the socio-cultural part this means to as on one hand a "design for all" and on the other hand keeping in mind the impacts of a project on tenants, neighbours and workers - also during construction. Planning considers aspects like climatic conditions, comfort, indoor-air-quality, ...

To sum up, to me sustainably building means thinking ahead, a responsable use of ressources. Architecture for its users, that gives space to future users, and is resilient to local climate conditions and helps climate protection.

Low energy retrofitting

"Hinterfragt Abriss kritisch" (rechallenge demolltion) and "beschleunigt die Energiewende" (accelerate energy transformation), tow requests of Architects for Future. Low-energy retrofitting and working on existing buildings houses a big potential to nabafe the transformation of the building sector. .

Back in 2011, for my master thesis at the free university of Bozen, I worked on improvements of low energy renovation of multifamily dwellings dating back from the 50's - 60's. The work focuses on the Retrofitting of multifamily dwellings in occupied buildings. Starting point of this paper are social aspects, aiming to improve the situation for the tenants during and after the construction works, as well as optimizing the overall costs and avoiding building damages, caused by incomplete interventions. Focusing on improving the thermal performance of the building envelope, taking into account existing problems, the work shows alternatives to the classic Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS).

Today I still consider these buildings haveing a big potential.

inncercity ridensification/
addition of storeys

Sustainabily city development requires an urban centre ridesification to work on keeping green spaces and against further urban sprawl. Urban center ridensification - as addition of storeys to extisting buildings - offers not only advantages for the future tenants but also for existing neighbours as f.i. heat islands can be reduced and the outdoor air quality can be enhanced.
If you consider investments into an existing building or you have an object that needs low-energy retrofitting, please contact us at info[at]christinapatz.com. We will be happy to give you advise on sustainabily investments that enhance the value of your bulding property.
holistic planning Having worked in the Netherlands, I did positive experiences on effecient work methods, cooperative working and working in holistic teams. It is an enrichment as well for the architect as for the client to work in team with the various speciatlsts and planners and users from the very beginning of a project onwards.
life-cycle-assessment An holistic consideration of the impacts of all construction projetcs on human and ambient are important to me on my projects. Life-cycle-assessment therefore is a suitable tool.

timber construction

 Due to ecological, technical and haptic reasons I emphasise working with this renewable material. Timber offers next to the ecological advantages, advantages like building quality, certainty on buldings costs and short(er) construction periods.
Health related qualities Good indoor-air-quality is getting more and more important in times of raising air pollution and an increasing number of people who suffer from allergies. The use of low-emission materials and a sufficient air-change rate enhances the indoor-air-quality. Knowlegde on pollutants in new and already built materials, other risks on health in buildings (f.i. mould, radon-gases) I pass onto my clients.