What is Green Architecture.? Green architecture or green design, advocates sustainable energy which helps to minimize the harmful effects of the project construction projects on environment and human life. As in the 21st century humans are exploiting the environment through artificial products, increased plastic use and many more issues, architects and designers are trying to invest more time researching and developing green architecture techniques. Architects like Glenn Murcutt’s 1984 Magney House has been an experiment in green design for decades.
Many communities prefer green architecture as a choice of home. As these buildings are not only a positive sign for the environment but they also help the user live a simpler and easier life.
1. Straw Bales
A century old method has found its way back in this architectural world. Hitherto, used in USA before World War II; This naturally provided material by mother earth is used to build a building’s walls inside of a frame by replacing other materials such as concrete, gypsum, fiberglass, plaster and stone. The advantage of using this material is that it naturally provides very high levels of insulation and helps in maintaining the temperature by providing warmth in winters and maintaining coolness in summers. Not only that, it’s renewable and highly affordable too.
2. Rammed Earth
This material which resembles the color of earth is another sustainable material which is used to build heavy buildings and even has the ability to resist earthquakes and stand on its feet without shaking. It also provides excellent sound insulation and avoids voices from echoing. Though, one disadvantage that we have come across is that this material cannot be used in extreme climates, specially tropical ones due to its low insulation.
3. Wood
It’s impossible to talk about sustainable architecture and not include this material. Although. Once discarded it’s now being considered once again with some changes made to its original form, viz, in the form of mass timber/ structural timber/ or CLT(Cross-laminated timber) where stacks of soft wood and deciduous wood are stacked together crosswise to form a lego like structure. It is said to have both sound and heat insulation, even earthquake resisting qualities but that’s not completely proven. Though, a lot of things while dealing with this material depends on the kind of climate you live in and the quality of wood you use. We can tell you that it surely will be taking over the future.
4. Bamboo
Used sinceeras, the combination of light weight, tensile strengthand renewability. Used for framing buildings and shelters. Its strength increases as it gets older. Though, there are some clear disadvantages too, viz, the bamboo shrinks diametrically, its starchy interior is attractive to insects and can be rotten and filled with them. Moreover, it can’t be painted easily and that’s a problem too.
5. Steel
This material is used and not consumed, it is also recyclable without down-grading, without loss of quality is its beneficial property. There are some problems though, it can be easily corroded, its fireproofing costs can be a bit on the higher side.
Buckling is also an issue with this structure along with changing temperature.
