The need to switch to sustainable resources in architecture.

Architecture is one of the significant contributors to global warming and climate change, which makes it the most ‘vulnerable to transform’ factor for retaining the ecosystems thriving on the planet Earth. The United Nations Global Status Report for ‘Buildings and Construction’ presented in 2020 shows that the architecture sector is responsible for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions, including building construction industry emissions. With the evolution of societies and culture, the architecture and social infrastructure moulding these societies evolved in tandem; from addressing ‘human needs’ to addressing ‘JUST human needs’ with a selfish undertone, the living planet now needs an urgent rejuvenation system. With more and more countries becoming victims of disastrous calamities birthed by climate change and war situations, sustainable architecture is a beaming ray of light in the dark tunnel of the construction industry, plagued with capitalism and corruption. 

Impact of existing architectural practices on the environment

In urban areas, the most profoundly used construction materials are cement, glass, and masonry; these materials are responsible for an increase in the urban heat island effect. Making them in situ requires a lot of energy, followed by the emission of subsequent amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These materials make excellent heat-absorbing exteriors for buildings, which then fail to create a pleasant microclimate indoors. The air conditioning systems installed to tackle the problem of indoor heat also release harmful greenhouse gases, thus raising the external air temperature. Commercial buildings in metropolitan cities shine with reflective glasses and curtain walls; their monotonous facades reflect tremendous heat into the atmosphere and threaten birds living in the local ecosystems. The sites surrounding buildings paved with concrete pavement blocks obstruct rainwater from penetrating the soil, washing it away into the gutters.

The gigantic concrete and glass towers are a dominant face of global architecture. In India, one can observe that the people living in rural areas using local materials in constructing their houses produce less carbon footprint and experiment with renewable energy sources. Locally available materials have been feasible and have provided pleasant microclimates during all seasons within their homes for decades. These remote areas can inspire the disputable infrastructure and architecture of the urban regions. It is not rationally possible to mirror the sustainable solutions working in rural areas in the urban context; however, architects can amend their ways and incorporate systems that are less harmful to the environment. 

Rethinking sustainable solutions for cities

1. Energy Consumption:

Architecture in India and worldwide urban areas portray dense clusters of tall buildings along city skylines. These buildings’ structural and interior systems heavily depend on electricity supply through thermal power. An attempt can be made to switch from thermal power to hydropower, solar power, geothermal power, or wind energy to de-stress the pressure on remaining fossil fuels. 

2. Geographical Factors:

Taking the example of cities near seas, which are prone to the threat of rising sea levels and an increase in the number of storm surges, the upcoming new buildings can be made resilient using advanced technologies, green infrastructure like wetlands, bioswales, soakaways, rainwater trenches, and recharge pits could be incorporated to manage excessive water during flood situations. Rainwater harvesting systems can help reuse stormwater by directing it to flushing cisterns. 

3. Using Climate Studies:

Instead of building structures and then installing active systems within, it is intelligent to design passive systems that work in coordination with the climate. Architects in areas with hot climates can work their architectural designs using shading devices, promoting adequate ventilation patterns, and facades that help with maintaining thermal comfort; a prevalent example of climate-responsive architecture is the Al Bahar Towers located in Abu Dhabi, the façade is made of fibreglass and is programmed to respond according to the incident angle of the sun rays, to maintain the thermal comfort of its interiors.

Biomaterials for the Architecture Glow-Up

New building materials and elements can be manufactured using mycelium as a stabilising compound for fibres from agricultural waste and used for architectural construction to transform the building industry towards increased environmental and economic sustainability. The focus shift towards the research, design, and application of innovative ecological construction materials that follow the principles of circular economic and energy flows (A circular economy provides opportunities to re-manufacture and reuse consumer products instead of having them end up in a landfill to reduce landfill waste and decrease the lifetime energy cost and emissions of products across the manufacturing economy) throughout their life cycle is seen. The conventional building processes start with obtaining raw materials from nature and end with their disposal. In contrast, continuous building life cycles use low-impact materials that can be re-introduced as sources for new building construction activities.

Biomaterials growing within construction materials can also help decode various problems like air pollution by using algae, mosses, and lichens to grow on building walls passively to absorb greenhouse gases from the environment. Biomimicry, a concept where buildings and architectural elements are designed taking inspiration from specific biological systems involving plants, animals, and different living organisms, is a field that needs to be explored and executed thoroughly. The combined effort of a holistic approach towards architecture and urban design, integrating sustainable elements and systems, can promise a better future for humankind and the environment.

Citations

Citations for YouTube videos:

1. UGREEN_US. (2023). Why We Need to Rethink the City Skyline for a Sustainable Future. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWEG1y6KRUQ [Accessed 15 August 2023].
2. UGREEN_US. (2021). Biomimicry and The Future of Sustainability. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzkpBZq-G0 [Accessed 15 August 2023].
3. TED. (2023). The Natural Building Blocks of Sustainable Architecture | Michael Green | TED. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAiWdme6EEM [Accessed 15 August 2023].
4. TEDx Talks. (2015). Architecture is in Crisis and sustainable design | Nicolas Duval | TEDxUniversityofNicosia. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2EXsoiZ-To [Accessed 15 August 2023].
5. TEDx Talks. (2020). How architecture can fight climate change | Michelle Xuereb | TEDxToronto. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHMLhm3hc5c&t=588s [Accessed 15 August 2023].
6. Multi Comfort UK. (2018). How do buildings affect the environment. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap65Hnddfv4 [Accessed 15 August 2023].
7. TEDx Talks. (2022). Bio-architecture : Designing living structures to combat climate change | Shneel Malik | TEDxGateway. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH-8lGGldiU [Accessed 15 August 2023].

Citations for Newspaper Articles – Print or Online: 

Tembhekar, C. (2021). 95% of Mumbai’s power comes from coal, GHG big concern. The Times Of India, p.1. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-95-of-citys-power-comes-from-coal-ghg-big-concern/articleshow/86627697.cms [Accessed 16 August 2023].

Citations for Magazine Articles – Print or Online:

1. Cilento, K. (2012, September 05). Al Bahar Towers Responsive Facade / Aedas. ArchDaily, [online] Retrieved from: https://www.archdaily.com/270592/al-bahar-towers-responsive-facade-aedas
2. Ghisleni, C. (2022, August 24). What Are Biomaterials in Architecture?. ArchDaily, [online] Retrieved from: https://www.archdaily.com/987658/what-are-biomaterials-in-architecture

Citations for Journal Articles accessed on a website or database:

1. Almpani-Lekka, D., Pfeiffer, S., Schmidts, C. (2021). A review on architecture with fungal biomaterials: the desired and the feasible – Fungal Biology and Biotechnology. SpringerLink, Volume 8 (17), pp. 01-09. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40694-021-00124-5 [Accessed: 18 August 2023].

Citations for websites:

1. Archello (2018). Abu Dhabi Investment Council New Headquarters – Al Bahr Towers: AHR. [online]. Available at: https://archello.com/project/abu-dhabi-investment-council-new-headquarters-al-bahr-towers [Accessed 18 August 2023].
2. Energy.gov (2018). Circular Economy Technologies and Systems. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/ammto/circular-economy-technologies-and-systems#:~:text=A%20circular%20economy%20provides%20opportunities,products%20across%20the%20manufacturing%20economy. [Accessed 18 August 2023].

Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online:

1. Main, J. (2017). Low-angle photography of high-rise buildings photo. [Photograph]. (Toronto: Unsplash).

• Lastra, P. (2016). White and brown city buildings during daytime photo. [Photograph]. (Chicago, US: Unsplash).

Citations for podcasts:

Journal of Biophilic Design. (2020). Sustainable Architecture and Biophilic Design. [Podcast]. Transmitted 16 August 2021. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YlOZZkV2SQTCfuCAIV8Xo?si=970e2c9c964b423b [Accessed: 17 April 2023].