Architecture as Sustainability

Concepts:

  • The 3 pillars: which are the socio culture, environment and socio economics
  • The 4 operational principles:

– The impact of humanity on natural systems shouldn’t exceed.
– The use of renewable sources.
– The use of non-renewable sources.
– The emissions into the environment.

  • the 3 Rs:

– REDUCE: the consumption of non-renewable energy and rare materials
– REUSE: the existing and remodeling it
– RECYCLE: and transform materials to allow a second use to them

  • Life cycle assessment:

the LCA studies the environmental impact of products starting from their production to their dismantling, and that is by studying the energy consumption and emissions.

Canada’s earth tower by Perkins Will is a future project that is set to be the tallest hybrid wood tower in the world, it was designed on a comprehensive set of environmental aims that was never achieved before. the main idea is to make as much room as possible for green spaces and using fully natural and non damaging materials, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

Personal reflection:

Coming from all the past units , architecture of the future is all about sustainability and low energy consuming building, therefor we as architects should focus more on actions rather then theories. In fact over the 50 years, environmental laws have been set all over the country, yet we don’t have as many ecological buildings as we claim.

From another point of view, architects, designers and even consumers must make crucial design decisions, to reduce damage caused by their creations to make the most out of sustainable projects in the future.