Building the future, not just a structure...

After our last blog "Biophilic Design & Architecture", we were inspired to expand and look into sustainable design. 

Waste glass transformation

Sustainability is “a form of development that meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Therefore, it is said to be a growing trend within the architectural industry.

Although there might be some confusion between the words “green” and "sustainable”, there are various differences between them. “Green” buildings are not always “sustainable.” The main characteristic of a green building is to help reduce your carbon footprint that you leave on the natural environment. This includes energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, implementing natural ventilation systems; and using construction materials that reduce the use of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

With sustainable design, you’ll always have to keep the big-picture in the back of your mind, by how our choices affect more than just the present. Its aim is to eliminate the negative impact on the environment by its comprehensive approach in selecting and integrating materials, resources and processes. This can be used for multiple purposes and account for long-term consumer satisfaction, environmental preservation and connection. Therefore, creating and maintaining conditions under which humans and nature can exists in productive harmony.

We can describe “sustainability” by how biological systems has endurance to be productive and diverse over time. We can encourage this way of thinking by using sustainable products that lower the impact on the environment, that are either completely renewable or are sustainably harvested. 

Therefore, giving the potential for the long-term maintenance of our well-being, which also correspond with the well-being of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources.

Made from recycled plastic trash

It’s very important to evaluate the way materials are produced and transported. Only structures that meets the zero energy standards – with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions – can be considered sustainable. Therefore, incorporating sustainable design can lead to numerous amounts of changes within the building industry.

Structures that contribute to urban sprawls, which consume high levels of energy and resources, can’t be considered sustainable. For example, the wood used to build a house. Wood is generally considered an eco-friendly or green product, because it is natural and durable, but it is not always sustainable, this could depend on whether it comes from a sustainably managed forest. Wood will be sustainable if the company that cuts down the trees does not permanently deplete the forest or use factories that release toxic gases. It must be harvested in an environmentally responsible way.

On the other hand, what happens to materials when deconstruction takes place? Where do we go with all the building waste materials? Most people working in construction would just leave is at the dumps, but surely there must be a way to restore or recycle waste materials when deconstructing a site.

There are so many methods in how to incorporate sustainability. The best part is that it isn't hard to be sustainable with in your own environment.

Architect Robert Stern, Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, noted that “in ten years we are not going to talk about sustainability anymore, because it is going to be built into the core processes of architecture.”

Bottle bonding technique

Sustainable design encourages the process and not the product. If the product has elements of nature and is produced in an eco-friendly way, then it will be acceptable. However, designers won't choose products that impacts the environment in the production phase. The thought process that the designer needs to apply is an extremely skillful process. You have to be aware of all related issues of the environment to design a great sustainable building.

Bigger-picture evaluations at the start of a project can lead to better long-term decisions, to an overall greater success. The aim is to create a better future.