What do you do if your design approach as an architect needs to incorporate sustainable principles?

Design is a process of optimisation of the variables under consideration, architects role is to carefully arrange and prioritise the variables to achieve a balanced design, this is AN essence of sustainability and has always been fundamental to the process of architectural design ….

Educate Yourself: Stay informed about sustainable design principles, green building certifications (such as LEED, BREEAM, or Passive House), and the latest developments in sustainable technology and materials. Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences focused on sustainability in architecture. Integrate Sustainability from the Start: Incorporate sustainable design principles into your projects from the initial concept phase. Consider environmental factors such as site orientation, natural ventilation, daylighting, and energy efficiency right from the beginning of the design process.

I remind myself of being in China in the mid 90's working on several large projects and seeing the complete indifference to pollution. (they build 2 new coal factories a day now) Or remind myself that we just hit 8 billion people on earth and show no signs of slowing down. (India has added 1 billion just since 1947.) With age comes wisdom, as does indifference to the "cause of the day" or band-aid approaches the "kids" pat themselves on the back about. Most young Architects have never worked in construction so are simply "paper architects" or academic theoreticians. Let alone, have no idea how to lead a team or solve problems in the field. Breed responsibly and put arsenic back in Pressure Treated wood I say. It lasted longer.

Always stay up to date with the latest technology in terms of design tools, smart operations/materials and wellness trends to create healthy environments.

Utilize your education by sharing your knowledge of sustainable practices and building systems, including the practical steps it takes to achieve those goals. Set your project up for success by promoting the value of sustainable design in the early stages so that those ideas are implemented into the overall project budget before the first estimating exercise. While there are numerous solutions for achieving sustainability goals, be sure to focus on recommending solutions that are appropriate for your project and have the most impact.

Analyzing the site is one of the first and most important tasks to establish the principles. For example the direction of the sun and wind will help you to coordinate the building layout as well as integrate sustainable features such as shading and thermal mass.

All this should be automatic as a designer. This is what we are trained to do. There are a million ways to skin a cat so we have to decipher the best results by analyzing all angles and context to create a unique result that captures all sustainable inventions.

Local environment and site study was a core from traditional architecture. Local sustainable approach can only be achieved when we are aware of the environment the project will be located in. Climate, sun orientation, wind, shading, materials, all those are main considerations for a sustainable design where the running of the building is eco- friendly and cost managed.

Use Sustainable Materials: Select environmentally friendly materials with low embodied energy, recycled content, and minimal environmental impact. Consider materials that are locally sourced to reduce transportation emissions and support local economies. Explore innovative materials and construction techniques that promote sustainability, such as engineered timber, rammed earth, or recycled steel. Focus on Energy Efficiency: Design buildings to minimize energy consumption through passive design strategies (such as proper insulation, shading, and natural ventilation) and active systems (such as high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting, and renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines).

Understanding the site is so important, it is literally a 'foundation' of the design. From it's physical location, the surrounding environment, topography, soil investigation to the context....the better you get to know the site, better is your design - 'contextual design'

Sustainable design principles aim to minimize environmental impact and prioritize human well-being. This involves integrating features such as embedded concrete CO2 measurements, natural light optimization, and local, non toxic materials. Designs should prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation, and biodiversity while fostering community participation and social equity, prioritizing local resources. By incorporating and certifying life cycle assessments and waste reduction strategies, sustainable designs promote environmental stewardship and economic viability, creates spaces that harmonize with surroundings, minimize resource consumption, and enhance quality of life, promoting biodiversity, and preserving cultural heritage.

A key starting point in project design is to consider site orientation and conduct daylighting analysis. Numerous tools available on the market aid architects in these tasks, offering timely feedback for informed decision-making by teams. Personally, I find Climate Studio for Rhino 3D to be one of the most accurate and reliable tools for early design work.

In my last 45 years of being involved in architecture, I have found several sincere attempts at designing smart. (No sarcasm here) But there's a fundamental problem in our field: We have not fully debated the manner in which our knowledge has to be deposited. We only use drawings which need visual interpretation and cannot easily become part of a system; especially now that AI is coming on so strong. Many smart solutions work in their own silos. People do not understand how to compare their own smart solution with other ones, in a cogent and comprehensive manner. I've been working in this area of of representation of architecture for 30+ years. Summary: Sadly, all attempts at being smart will fail if the linguistic substrate is poor

Architects must inherently integrate sustainability into their design ethos from the outset, rather than trying to incorporate such features later. The essence of sustainable design lies in its foundation. Let’s take an example. The critical role of natural ventilation in warmer climates and the use of thermal mass in colder regions should not be mere additions but fundamental considerations for any architect aiming to create environmentally conscious and efficient designs.

Sustainability in a project begins right from the first sketch and initial ideas. My overall strategy includes selecting the right building materials and understanding the physical, cultural and economic context. Many clues to sustainable approach, can be found in the local context, including available technologies, human resources, landscape, and geographical conditions. Sustainability to me also means maximizing passive design elements in the building. A building section designed for natural light and ventilation supplemented with insulation and other necessary interventions, can create a climate-proof and eco-friendly architecture.

Every building should evaluate sustainable design principles such as operational carbon, embodied carbon, health and well-being of the occupants, quality of life and ecological restoration from the get-go. Designers should try to create regenerative solutions that give back to the environment and create a positive impact rather than extracting from it.

'Integrated Delivery Method' is a way of a successful project and with using 'BIM' Building Information Modeling' the process becomes more collaborative and streamlined! All the team members working towards one unified vision.

Collaboration is absolutely the key in achieving extremely good sustainable design. There are so many people affected by our buildings that all have thoughts on what could make them better, along with the design consultants, suppliers, manufacturers and users to make timeless buildings that work long term. Renovating our existing stock of buildings could achieve our greenest buildings with all their embodied energy in place now, then be inventive, add insulation and renewables for new uses however required.

Interdisciplinary team approach is vital in the design process, regardless of the field. Architecture, Urban Design, and Product Design, to name a few, are disciplines that come to mind. In my Urban Design Studios, I require students to form teams not amongst themselves, but amongst students from other majors. I would argue that a 'traditional' team of architecture students could suffer from the 'too many cooks in the kitchen' syndrome, while a team of architecture, engineering, sociology and business students is diverse enough to address a larger issue of problems or tasks. Specializations are like languages, the more you have, the more sophisticated your team is. And if you don't like the analogy, replace 'languages' with 'weapons'!

Instead of self-evident reasoned propositions, the design domain must establish an emergent process where the final form becomes evident only when integrated sustainable design methodologies conceive it through collaboration. Integral Theory offers a complete structure for understanding differences in points of view encountered in design and helps us understand the complexity of multiple perspectives and opposing theories of a given knowledge domain. Like the design critique process, having multiple-perspective views encourages collaboration and increases innovation. Collaboration provides a more satisfying, robust, and all-encompassing vision—creating unlimited opportunities to discover practical design and construction strategies.

Sustainable design principles should be incorporated into the intrinsic features of the design and not as an after thought. These principles should also focus on areas that can improve the user experience of the building. For instance, people generally like well-lit spaces with abundant daylight and views out to the surrounding landscape. People also tend to like the ability to control the interior environment of their space and have options for thermal comfort...so use these preferences to inform a sustainable design and layout that will improve both performance and user experience. Incorporate Sustainable Principles that aren't tacked on but integral to the design and how End-Users experience it.

Future societies will revere architects more for sustainability, than for elite formal styles. By 2050, projections show about 10.0 billion people will need sustenance and care. Improved living conditions are vital to decreasing population growth. Research directly correlates quality of life to population growth—as quality increases, birth rates decrease. Better living quality begins with having sufficient food, water, and sanitary shelter. The more prosperous, educated, and healthier a country becomes, leadership and resources required for sustainability increase. Developing countries are much more apt to make positive citizenship and human rights choices by eliminating sources of pestilence, lawlessness and environmental degradation.

While the statement emphasises the importance of prioritising the health and well-being of occupants in sustainable design, it could benefit from greater specificity and depth. For instance, it could delve into specific strategies or techniques architects can employ to ensure good indoor air quality beyond just choosing non-toxic materials, such as incorporating ventilation systems or air purification technologies. Additionally, the mention of promoting movement and interaction to foster community is vague and could be strengthened by providing examples of architectural features or layouts that facilitate this goal.

Just follow Ugreen us will understand the importance of sustainability in the buildings how it makes the health of people vital an how it helps people to interact with biodiversity

Siempre debemos valorar que es el usuario quien debe estar a gusto en su habitar por tanto nuestro diseño no debe sacrificar al usuario por la estética, la forma sigue a la función y la función es el centro de nuestro diseño.

Absolutely, new materials and invention is the way to the future, otherwise we are going backwards. We must push boundaries and change the status quo, take calculated risks, test, evaluate, improve, test again. As Architects we do many types of buildings and sustainable aspects should be consistently included, embellished and then confirmed for the next one. The only constant in life is change.

Our governments, in the pocket of big oil and its corollary-plastics, have built multiple layers of carcinogens into our building codes. The Living Building Red List is a hood place to start if this is news to you in any way. NOTE: Recycled carcinogens are still poisonous, just greenwashed poison.

The staggering wave of new construction accompanying world population growth and urbanization over the coming decades represents the largest source of embodied carbon and expenditure of natural resources ever known. It emphasizes the importance of repurposing existing neighborhoods and prioritizing adaptive reuse and renovation of existing buildings. No better time for fearless innovation exists. Let us produce resources, not consume them. Everything needed is in place, making it possible for architects to create life-giving, productive, regenerative projects. We should expect every building to produce energy, food, water, and increase human and environmental performance without sacrificing artistic expression and creative experimentation.

The AEC industry relies on leaders to champion the way with new innovations in sustainable design solutions. While many want to be on the cutting edge, there is inherent risk involved in specifying a new product on the market. This should not dissuade you but rather be a reminder to do your research. Reduce your exposure by pursuing innovations that are backed by legitimate testing and meaningful warranties.

Hello everyone. How are you? It is quite clear that climate change and the environmental impact that construction has on the environment are evident. So, to talk about Sustainable Architecture, we must begin to address the determinants that help to understand what a responsible architectural design should really be like. Innovation, the study of the environment where the architectural design of a certain building is intended to be located and interdisciplinary work are also key factors that must be taken into account when designing efficiently, given that the changes we experience daily in regards to caring for the environment cannot and should not be overlooked.

What this article completely misses is the critical thought that has to be put into a "brief" Don't make a project sustainable. Make the world sustainable! I have seen several times in my own practice -- and I suspect in other practices too -- where someone has asked for an architectural intervention when there was no real need to do so. In such cases only useless concrete piles up! Many clients may not fully understand what is really needed. I have seen non-sequitr reasons like inflated-ego, bureaucracy, archaic habits, etc dictating projects. Other than humans, no animals modify the environment as the first go-to solution for a problem. Here is a simple idea for making the world sustainable: Try NOT to intervene! Try not to build!

Architecture is a most creative phenomenon encompassing all human activities, as it is multidimensional, comprehensive, disciplined, an art form, a science, and a state of mind. Society demands our highest performance—imaginative and creative—deeply involved within the urban fabric. We will satisfy the Anthropocene with nothing less than by contributing our most brilliant and energetic sustainable practices. The essence of architecture is to serve humanity and the environment. Even in its most spiritual form, architecture is a practical art, and measured by leadership. “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot. from "An Architect’s Journey—Mastering Future Trends In the Anthropocene."

In today's architectural landscape, it's essential to acknowledge and respect historic patterns shaping our built environment. By doing so, we honor cultural heritage and strike a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. Designing with sensitivity to historical contexts preserves place character and fosters community identity. Architects should see historic buildings as inspirations for contemporary design, not obstacles. By embracing the past while looking towards the future, we can create architecture that resonates with both our collective memory and our aspirations for tomorrow.

Rhetorically, how could good design not seriously embrace sustainability? First, your work must be lasting quality and if that is not achieved the project is demolished too soon. Second, “cradle to grave” material selections must be forefront. The last thing to consider in significant work - is the how one controls the indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Strong passive design and reduced mechanical loads and lighting demand is essential for a successful project.

'If' your design 'needs' to be sustainable? News flash: we no longer have the luxury or dare I say the foolishness to NOT think about sustainability today. And if we need to change our design to make it sustainable, then we were doing it the wrong way to being with...