Garden Office Blog

In search of sustainable architecture

By Steven Willis on 2nd March, 2011

With the clear shift towards a greener, more environmentally-friendly way of life in recent years, it’s no surprise that architecture is one of the areas that has come under particularly close scrutiny, and ‘sustainability’ has become an ever more desirable element of design, build and functionality.

Sustainable architecture as a concept is wide-ranging and covers many issues that may otherwise be considered disparate, but when viewed together combine to create a supportive set of elements that complement each other.

Here are some of the main areas of sustainable architecture;

Materials

The choice of materials used throughout the development of a building are an obvious first consideration when it comes to ascertaining sustainability. Sustainably sourcing natural materials such as wood, and ensuring a minimally-impacting production process for synthetics would be the key areas to achieving sustainability at the outset of a build.

Durability and longevity are also significant factors when it comes to ascertaining the sustainability of a building’s materials. A sustainably-sourced material that wears out to the point of requiring a replacement before the end of the building’s life-cycle dramatically loses eco-friendly credentials.


Energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of a building is achieved through insulation – the ability to retain heat. Buildings with high performance insulation naturally require less heating (and cooling), while conversely those with low quality insulation leak heat and demand excessive energy consumption.


Running the building sustainably

It’s often observed that sustainable buildings encourage sustainable activities, and this is certainly true in some cases. Spending time in a space that has been designed with environmentally-friendly performance in mind can promote an eco-conscious lifestyle.


Rainwater harvesting

A simple way to improve the sustainability of a building is through rainwater harvesting. Achievable through the use of one or two water butts, rainwater harvesting is a useful process that creates a resource of ‘grey’ water that can be used for flushing toilets or gardening, negating the need for using cleaner water supplies. This is one of the ways in which a building can actively contribute to conservation.


Impact on the immediate environment

Besides the many sustainable factors that come into play during the design, construction and usage of the building, one of the most immediately evident issues comes with the physical location and how the building interacts with the surrounding environment. The complex nature of planning law is based largely around this issue, with strict regulations preventing the development of any building that would be considered out of step with those around it. As well as interaction with other structures, the building’s juxtaposition with the landscape is also a key consideration.

True sustainable architecture blends seamlessly with surroundings, or offers a complementary, beneficial visual addition. This prevents a jarring aesthetic, or a positioning that aggressively demands the surroundings to be changed in the building’s favour.


Category:  Architecture and Design

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