Sustainable Architecture - Week 3 Entry 2


In light of recent scientific studies, shows the need for more sustainable architecture as global warming is caused by the effects of daily pollution. Due to a building’s long life-span, buildings have produced and consumed energy from the process of manufacturing and dismantling. It is because of the rapid increase in climate change, we must focus more on ways to incorporate sustainable buildings to improve the environmental impacts.
Architects often overlooked the true definition and principle of sustainable architecture, with the context of the building an extremely important factor, it is crucial to evaluate the needs of the context, it is not the act of putting green plants on a building wall or roof as a front to be demonstrated as sustainable architecture. Green architecture also involves flexible and adaptive structural systems, using renewable building materials and energy, water collection, innovative heating and ultimately providing minimal harm to the natural habitat. All of which depends on site and building development itself. It is not merely adding green plants on the façade.
Although, using plants as ‘green roofs’ or ‘green walls’ does have an effect of increasing insulation, improved indoor and outdoor climate, and reduce greenhouse gases. It should not be the sole contributor to sustaining the building and the environment. Ideally, a green building allows you to preserve more natural environment while at the same time, being able to create building design to serve a purpose.
Abundant trees are taken down to accommodate houses and built up buildings, rather than destroying nature, we should function together with nature as one organism. As all out resources are constantly taken from nature to build many infrastructure and buildings that provide the very foundation for our daily lives, it should be natural for us to ‘give back’ to nature.
In conclusion, it is crucial for architects to evaluate the context of its building and to know the need of its surrounding to provide a truly sustainable building.

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