Sustainable Architecture Part 2: A Wrong Approach

Construction has been one of the most resource-hungry and least viable industries in the world due to which people in the 21st century have started adopting the principles of Green Architecture and Sustainability. Unfortunately, there is a big misconception regarding the concept of ‘Green Architecture’. As in, the people have a wrong understanding about the term “Green Buildings”. Green Buildings does not just imply on creating huge lawns and making the building look green in color. It is rather the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based on ‘resource efficient’ and ‘ecological principles’.

Based on what Green Architecture really is, in order to achieve sustainability, people have begun to use expensive materials trying to make the building energy efficient but they fail to realize that the materials that are being used for the purpose are high energy intensive materials and are not serving much purpose in the context of Green Buildings. Use of Local materials, recycled materials and natural materials have to be brought into practice and should be utilized in a right way. Making Buildings expensive and then calling it Green Buildings is not what the entire concept is about.

The two concepts that need to be kept in mind to achieve sustainable development are the passive and active features of green building design. Passive features of a Green Building are the design features that are to be incorporated in a Building so that it requires use of lesser energy resources by the users of the building and also maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Active features of Green Architecture imply on the use of equipment that works on Renewable resources and help in the conservation of natural and non-renewable resources.

Though active features are being implemented, adopting the passive features is a challenge to the architect. This is because the current paradigm of thought treats building as an economic process, rather than an ecological, social and cultural phenomenon responding to people’s needs and aspirations. Thus, there needs to be a collaborative approach of the client along with the architect in the design process of the building.

The following design features can be incorporated in the modern buildings:

1)  A building cannot be sustainable unless its interior design is not in tandem with it.

2)  Solar and Wind energy should be made use of and the orientation and placement of a site should be looked into.

3)  Positioning of windows should be such that they allow cross ventilation, thus creating climate sensitive design.

4)  Day lighting reduces the need for artificial lighting thus saving energy.

5)  For furniture, instead of hardwoods, renewable materials like rubber wood, bamboo and cane can be used.

6)  Glass can be used as facade cladding with opaque insulation thus helping in keeping the building cool. Special Venetian blinds further cool the rooms.

7)  Landscaping should be done on roofs to minimize solar gain.

8)  Innovative construction techniques for roofing such as domes, arches and precast brick panels should be used as they reduce energy consumption of a building.

9)  Non-mechanical systems for cooling and heating should be preferred, introducing air-conditioning

when necessary. 

10) Rainwater harvesting is an important aspect of sustainability.

If we are successful in understanding what Green Architecture really is, using recycled and natural materials instead of expensive materials, enabling everyone including the client and the architect to think in terms of sustainability instead of aesthetics and treating construction as an ‘economic process’, and thereby adopting the design features and principles of Green Architecture then we will definitely be able to design not just “A green Building” but also create ‘ A Green environment’.