VGA’s approach to environmental design and sustainability has developed and evolved over the years. Starting from first principles, our approach avoids artifice, employing fully integrated design strategies where low energy and sustainability are intrinsic rather than applied.
It is finally clear that construction and planning must play a key role in reducing our collective carbon footprint, minimizing environmental impact, and establishing more sustainable living methods.
We firmly believe that this must be achieved through a holistic and pragmatic approach by the entire design team.
All our projects embrace low-energy design, regardless of type and size, from high-density residential developments to the refurbishment and extension of listed public museums.
From conception to design development, our work takes into account a range of related issues: lifecycle cost, potential ecosystem damage, resource scarcity, carbon emissions, energy consumption, waste, recycling, lifespan, and maintenance.
We use the principles of LEED and BREEAM protocols to evaluate all new projects in a structured, transparent, and comparable process, reviewed annually. We encourage our clients to adopt this approach by demonstrating value on completed projects.
To date, we have a track record of n. 3 LEED Gold certified buildings and n. 2 BREEAM Very Good certified buildings.
We have extensive experience in reimagining and repurposing existing structures to enhance their longevity, while improving energy performance and preserving embodied carbon.
We always encourage clients to choose lifecycle cost, whole-life carbon modeling, and post-occupancy evaluation for all projects, to reduce the use of both embodied and operational resources.
We build on a long history of collaboration: our best sustainability consultants have worked with us for at least 25 years and continue to offer innovative design solutions.
All our architects work closely with all consultants, contractors, and subcontractors, emphasizing the benefits of timely and targeted collaboration, to discuss material options, structural solutions including off-site technologies, waste mitigation strategies to aim for zero construction waste to landfill, and support the circular economy.
We do not have a “sustainability group” within VG because all our staff are deeply committed to creating architecture that enhances the environment and leading construction towards a zero-carbon future.
