LIFE CYCLE DESIGN
Life Cycle Design by Francesca Thiébat explores how environmental and economic sustainability can be integrated into architectural design through a life cycle approach, considering not only the construction of a building but also its performance, maintenance and long-term impacts.
Drawing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodologies, the book introduces the Life Cycle Design Model (LCDM), an experimental framework developed to support decision-making throughout the design process. The model operates on two levels: a Design Matrix that helps architects compare alternative design strategies, and a quantitative assessment tool based on €CO, an indicator that brings together environmental impacts, energy performance, time and costs.
The methodology is explored through case studies selected from the architectural work of PAT., of which Thiébat is a co-founder, establishing a direct connection between academic research and architectural practice. By making complex environmental and economic data accessible to both specialists and non-specialists, the book proposes an integrated approach to sustainability as an essential component of architectural design.
