The narrative of humankind and its consanguinity with the environment is age-old. Whether one sees humans as aggravators or ignorant beings, is inconsequential. Ultimately, they are stuck in a perpetual tug-of-war between their desires and responsibilities. When they first found themselves in need of resources that would abet their survival, they started digging a small metaphorical as well as a literal hole. Upon discovering that this hole held, in abundance, everything that they required, humans eventually succumbed to their greed. This created a shift from ‘need’ to ‘want’. Humans started digging, not merely to survive, but to fulfil every desire they may harbour. Slowly, they’ve dug themselves into this massive hole. This is where sustainable and regenerative practices come into the picture.
Philosophy of Sustainable and Regenerative Design
Michael Reynolds: a radically sustainable being and designer, has quite articulately stated that-
“If every building was to consume its own sewerage that’d be huge. Then if every building made its own power, and heated and cooled itself, and caught its own water rather than sucking water out of the aquifers- the ramifications of how people live in their own units could affect things in an unbelievable way.” (Reynolds, 2020)
He has quite efficiently summed up the ideals of sustainable and regenerative design, which at their core are simply about giving back to the environment instead of just taking from it.”
Green Architecture Projects
Here are examples of two green architecture projects that may be regarded as pioneers that redefine the future with their approach on sustainable and regenerative design.
- Bosco Verticale- By Boeri Studio
Milan’s Bosco Verticale is a twin-tower residential project that houses 480 large and medium trees, 300 small trees, 11,000 perennial and covering plants, and 5,000 shrubs. By using a wall of leaves as an alternative material, this vertical forest builds a microclimate in and around the building.
The majorly deciduous trees, apart from contributing to the structure’s exterior beauty with their ever-changing leaf colours, also aggrandize its sustainability by creating a barrier against pollutants, heat, and noise.
The “green skin” has proven to be a proponent of sustainable and regenerative design through indisputable numbers. It absorbs about 19 kg of carbon dioxide per year, has reduced yearly energy consumption by approximately 7.5%, and provides a biological habitat for 1,600 species of birds and butterflies.
The project also received LEED Gold in 2014, the highest level of energy certification.
2. Pixel Building- By Studio 505
Pixel is Australia’s first carbon-neutral office building, with a score of 105 Green Star points and 105 LEED points. The first thing you notice about the building is its colourful facade, which is a simple yet intricate assembly of zero waste, recycled colour panels providing maximized daylight, shade, views, and glare control.
The building implements sustainable and regenerative practices throughout its design. It uses a newly designed and patent-protected concrete mix called “pixelcreate”, that halves the embodied carbon as compared to traditional 40MPa concrete mix designs. It is also ensured that a large portion of the building envelope can be reused in case of future demolition. The building also features a green roof and functions largely on passive cooling and fresh air circulation.
Additionally, the building utilizes a gas-fired absorption chiller with ammonia refrigerants, fixed and tracking photovoltaics, and wind turbines, as a healthy shift towards renewable energy systems.
Buildings as Living Organisms
These projects are different from others in the sense that they view a built structure as an organism rather than an object. Considering buildings as living entities enforces the belief that they too must contribute to their surroundings. The natural and the built environment are not exclusive. They are components of the same ecosystem, interacting with each other, and playing their respective roles.
Such buildings not only shape physical spaces, but also exert an influence over the broader perception of what architecture should be. A building can not exist separate from its environment. Though this wasn’t the case in the past, as environmental conditions have further degraded, any structure that isn’t actively contributing to the solution, is complicit in the creation of the problem.
A Future Shaped by Sustainable and Regenerative Design
As the world collectively faces environmental challenges that are constantly on the rise, sustainable and regenerative design proves to be not just a good alternative but a critical necessity. Such design philosophies create a desired shift from a mindset of consumption to one of replenishment.
Sustainability is an older concept, preaching that development should not be inhibited but rather done with a judicial use of resources in order to preserve them for future generations. Although it is indisputably necessary and has proven to be productive, one can say it has come from a place of fear. Fear of irreparable damage, and the exhaustion of resources. On the other hand, regeneration is a radical and new-age philosophy that not only minimises damage but also creates a net positive impact.
The future we see arriving on the horizon, is inconducive for humankind unless there is s a significant shift to such sustainable and regenerative design. These times call not for corrective measures, but for setting precedents. This will redefine future structures so that instead of merely minimizing the previously inflicted damage, buildings will generate energy, purify the air, manage waste efficiently, and integrate harmoniously with their ecosystems.
References:
- https://www.environmentshow.com/michael-reynolds-quotes/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20every%20building%20was%20to,things%20in%20an%20unbelievable%20way
- https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticale-stefano-boeri-architetti
- https://aiph.org/green-city/guidelines/case-studies/case-studies-bosco-verticale-milan/
- https://www.studio505.com.au/work/project/pixel/8.html
- https://cdn.archilovers.com/projects/4b28f524-bfac-47eb-93db-cc44f16bd2e4.pdf
