CarbonSpace, a transparent, web-based tool designed to help architects and designers address embodied carbon from the very beginning of the design process, has been released by MVRDV. Developed by the company’s research and development arm, in collaboration with Studio AvW, the platform is now freely available to the public. Its goal is to enhance carbon literacy, promote data transparency, and support low-carbon design across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
The built environment accounts for around 39% of global carbon emissions, with embodied carbon emissions generated by materials and construction, representing a significant portion. While industry awareness is growing, tools for accurately measuring and reducing embodied carbon often require detailed models, extensive datasets, and paid access. By the time these analyses are complete, opportunities to influence design decisions are often lost. CarbonSpace seeks to change this by providing instant feedback from the earliest design sketches.
Unlike conventional carbon assessment software, CarbonSpace functions as a decision-support tool rather than a validation tool. It enables designers to input basic quantities, such as floor area, façade area, or foundation volume, and receive immediate estimates of embodied carbon impacts. By working with rough data or even “rules of thumb”, the tool empowers design teams to compare material and structural choices early on, ensuring carbon considerations remain central throughout the design process.
“CarbonSpace won’t solve the climate crisis on its own, but it will help architects design with carbon from day one and make informed decisions,” said Sanne van der Burgh, Head of MVRDV NEXT. “We want to create a shared language for carbon so the industry can collaborate, learn, and progress together.”
The platform draws on a streamlined, international database based on Ökobaudat, the German Federal Government’s open-source dataset. It also offers pre-set libraries of common building components and materials, enabling faster and more consistent carbon estimations across project types. This has already influenced MVRDV’s own work, encouraging lighter designs and helping teams monitor embodied carbon through every project phase.
To enhance usability, CarbonSpace includes an open API that integrates with design software such as Rhino, Revit, and Microsoft Power BI. These integrations allow users to create custom dashboards and data visualisations, supporting portfolio-wide tracking of carbon performance. MVRDV uses this feature to benchmark the embodied carbon of its projects and monitor progress towards 2030 climate targets.
In partnership with the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), MVRDV is extending CarbonSpace’s reach to support a global framework for embodied carbon benchmarking. As part of CTBUH’s Sustainability Initiative, the tool will underpin a shared dashboard for professionals and researchers to exchange data, compare projects, and advance sustainable design for tall buildings worldwide.
The release of CarbonSpace as a free, public tool reflects MVRDV’s belief that open collaboration is key to tackling the climate challenge. Users are invited to test the platform, share feedback, and contribute data to the Carbon Race, an anonymised dashboard that tracks collective progress toward low-carbon building design.
Now available in public beta, CarbonSpace represents an important step towards a more transparent, data-driven, and collaborative approach to digital construction and sustainable architecture. By enabling early, accessible insights into embodied carbon, MVRDV hopes to empower design teams to make faster, better-informed choices, shaping a built environment that is lighter, smarter, and more responsible from the start.
Read next: UK carbon budget plan ‘Halfway There’ – Build in Digital
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
