Sustainability can be defined as fulfilling the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations while maintaining the balance between economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being.
In other words, it can also be defined as a shared goal involving people living in harmony over the long run.
While sustainability has always been a topic of controversy for a long time amongst designers, it has now become imperative for architects to use it in their designs, not only as an aftermath but right from the beginning of the design process.
As stated by the UN Environment’s Global status report in 2017, more than 35% of the global final energy use and nearly 40% of CO2 emissions related to energy are accounted for by the building and construction industry each year. Construction is thus one of the significant contributors to global energy consumption. It is, therefore, necessary for architects and designers to lean towards using sustainable methods in construction.
As metropolises expand, the earth remains the same in size. Meaning the excessive use of natural resources only results in their depletion. Construction is one of the significant fields that use these natural resources. Thus, it has become essential for designers to incorporate sustainability in design right from the beginning of the design process.
In today’s architecture, design is no longer just a process of considering form and function; one must consider environmental constraints and develop integrated solutions. Especially after the pandemic, the construction industry has taken a shift. People are focused more on a ‘healthy lifestyle’, and that includes the surroundings they live in. They want their external and internal environment to be healthy and to provide positive energy. Thus, sustainable practices are emerging more compared to how it was before the pandemic.
As per the study conducted by MIT, sustainable design practices have become standard in many countries. These factors include Issues related to energy, creating a healthy environment, and the indoor environment quality. The use of sustainable features varies from firm to the type of structures and the location they’re based in. But most of the current trends under this topic are as follows:
Sourcing locally:
Sourcing locally available materials has always been the first step toward sustainability. While starting the designing process, the first thing to be considered is the materials that would be readily available around the site. This not only reduces the cost of transport but also helps in reducing energy consumption at the same. Another positive aspect of sourcing locally is that the local craftsmen know the construction techniques around the same material. That could be used in the design as a salient feature increasing the aesthetics of the same.
Passive design strategies:
One of the most important factors to be considered while designing. Many designers in the past have focused on these strategies to make their structures live on their own. That is, not using much external resources inside the structure. While planning the design, one has to consider the sun’s path and wind directions and place the openings accordingly. This helps allow natural light and wind into the house, reducing the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning.
Use of natural resources:
In other words, using passive energy systems in buildings. Collecting solar energy through solar panels and converting the energy to use in electrical supplies. Rainwater harvesting to balance water consumption. Using HVAC systems to naturally cool and heat spaces while reducing energy consumption. The Garden roof is another concept that has evolved lately and has been used in many urban projects. This helps buildings breathe in the fresh air and also controls the CO2 levels. Apart from that, it provides an aesthetic appearance to the buildings.
Reutilising existing materials:
It is a very common approach toward sustainability that has been used by many designers worldwide. While undergoing redevelopments, most of the time, previously used materials are discarded and left unattended. They end up being dumped or unused. Many designers these days have started reconsidering this. The materials that are in good condition and can be reused in some ways are refurbished and turned into furniture or decoration pieces. E.g., Plastic (generally thrown into landfills) can be reutilised into furniture. Some designers use glass chips in kitchen or bath countertops by casting them, etc.
Material choices:
Another significant trend in sustainable architecture these days is choosing the right material. Focusing on the material that causes no harm to the environment is very important. It means using renewable materials and generating less environmental damage after discarding them. Examples of such can be quick-growth trees, bamboo, or cork. These can be used in flooring or walls, depending on the structure. In places where soundproofing is required, rubber is used as a flooring material or in building music studios, as it is 100% renewable and better than synthetic rubber.
Repurposing structures:
Repurposing structures have been in trend for a long time now. But post-pandemic, it has become an ongoing trend. During the pandemic, we realized the need for multipurpose spaces that can be readily available. With thousands of patients needing medical care, it was challenging to build temporary care centers, and that was a huge concern. It was a massive lesson for both the government and the construction industry.
With significantly less space to build new structures, repurposing is the best solution for temporary buildings. Reutilising existing structures with different purposes during a temporary crisis is now an exciting topic amongst designers.
With developing technology, it is evident that man has forgotten to care for nature and its resources. And over the period, nature has shown how it only harms the living. It may have taken a pandemic and a few other disasters for man to finally understand what it means to care for nature we rely entirely on. Though late, people have now started to recognise the importance of a healthy environment. They strive to create the best living for themself, including the home they live in. Sustainability, an issue worth discussing for many years, has finally gained much-awaited recognition. And hopefully, designers across the world do not let this trend die.
References:
Sustainability (2022) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
Eco-friendly architecture: The Importance of Sustainable Design (no date) FibreGuard. Available at: https://fibreguard.com/blog/eco-friendly-architecture-sustainable-design#:~:text=Sustainable%20design%20is%20the%20practice%20of%20creating%20buildings,approach%20ties%20in%20with%20our%20values%20at%20FibreGuard.
How sustainable design trends are shaping modern aesthetics (2020) Invaluable. Available at: https://www.invaluable.com/blog/sustainable-design/
Zymeri, D. (2019) How sustainability is shaping modern architecture, Greenroofs.com. Available at: https://www.greenroofs.com/2019/01/29/how-sustainability-is-shaping-modern-architecture/