understanding sustainable architecture

[...]... should be assessed Taken literally, the term sustainable architecture focuses on the sustainability of architecture, both as a discipline and a product of the discipline It carries with it the imprecise and contested meanings embedded in ESD, and denotes broader ideas than any of the individual understandings of ESD, in particular, the notion of sustainable architecture includes questions of a building’s... is the way in which sustainable architecture is and should be conceptualized, and the beliefs, goals, processes and advice that underlie its promotion Our aim is to inform this conceptualization by promoting discussion and understanding of commonly ignored assumptions behind the search for a more sustainable architecture, arguing that design decisions must be based on a coherent understanding of ethical... the way our values and our knowledge inform this process We argue that: • • • Sustainable architecture is a cultural construction in that it is a label for a revised conceptualization of architecture; Within this revised conceptualization, by designing (more) sustainable architecture we perform a ‘beautiful act’; A sustainable design’ is a creative adaptation to ecological, sociocultural and built... examination of sustainable design discourse and practice will reveal something of this regulation.1 Overall, practitioners modify their concept of their discipline to embrace these new themes, concerns and ways of practice.2 Sustainable architecture, then, is a revised conceptualization of architecture in response to a myriad of contemporary concerns about the effects of human activity The label sustainable ... recognize design for truly sustainable architecture through a search for ‘responsive cohesion’ Our aim in this book is to be transformative by promoting understanding and discussion of commonly ignored assumptions behind the search for a more environmentally sustainable approach to development We argue that design decisions must be based on both an ethical position and a coherent understanding of the objectives,... for our conceptualization of architecture was apparent at the time Susan Maxman, then President of the American Institute of Sustainability 7 Architects (and with Olufemi Majekodunmi, then UIA President, named under the commitment) wrote that sustainable architecture isn’t a prescription It’s an approach, an attitude It shouldn’t really even have a label It should just be architecture (Maxman 1993,... sociocultural as well as environmental context The associated question of ‘What does sustainability mean for architecture? ’ forefronts architecture and looks for ways in which it must adapt The question of ‘What does architecture mean for sustainability?’ forefronts sustainability and positions architecture as one amongst many contributing factors in achieving a meaningful human existence in a milieu... quantified and understood in terms of the behaviour of systems? How do we deal with non-commensurable objectives and advice? How can we make and recognize sustainable architecture? In dealing with these questions we argue that the notion of sustainable architecture as a product, as attributes of buildings, is not only problematic but often counterproductive as it can lead to simplification and the undervaluing... built environment – in their design, production, use and eventual re-use – up to sustainable design standards (UIA 1993) The commitment was unequivocal but what does it mean – what follows from the commitment? We have already noted the imprecision associated with concepts of sustainable architecture and development, and sustainable design’ is a label that has been assigned for many different reasons... Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification (United Nations 1992d).12 While all four have some implications for sustainable architecture, two are more directly related Agenda 21 has the goal to ‘halt and reverse the environmental damage to our planet and to promote environmentally sound and sustainable development in all countries on Earth’ Moving the discussion of sustainability from theory to a plan .