Infrastructure Case Studies
The Intersection of Architecture and Sustainability
Hamed Amir Hossein ,Holders of Reason Journal
Architectural design is a multifaceted discipline encompassing the conceptualization, planning, and realization of built environments that harmonize with their surroundings while fulfilling functional requirements. In recent decades, there has been a paradigm shift towards sustainable architectural design, driven by escalating environmental concerns and the imperative to mitigate the adverse impacts of urbanization on ecosystems and human well-being. Sustainable design integrates ecological principles, resource efficiency, and social equity into the architectural process, aiming to create spaces that minimize energy consumption, reduce waste generation, and enhance occupants' quality of life. This paper explores the intersection of architectural design and sustainability, examining key principles, methodologies, and case studies that illustrate innovative approaches to sustainable architecture. It discusses strategies such as passive solar design, natural ventilation, and green building materials, which optimize building performance while minimizing environmental footprint.
The Art of Architecture as Mediating Vessel
Will Wittig, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
In "The Art of Architecture as Mediating Vessel," Will Wittig of the University of Detroit Mercy explores the concept of ecological design as a mediating force between cultural and natural systems. He critiques the prevailing perception of ecological design as overly technical and pragmatic, arguing instead for a more nuanced approach that considers the complex interplay of cultural, social, political, tectonic, and spatial factors. Wittig emphasizes the role of architects in place-making, suggesting that their work should not be seen as creating original spaces, but rather as reinterpreting and weaving new projects into the existing dynamic of cultural and natural environments. He advocates for an architectural practice that serves as a liminal moment between culture and nature, renewing the articulation of dwelling within the landscape. The paper also critiques post-war suburban landscapes for their imbalance between human-made structures and their natural surroundings, calling for a more harmonious integration of culture and nature in architectural design.
Sustainable Urban Biophilia: The Case of Greenskins for Urban Density
Grant Revell ,MDPI “Sustainability” Journal
The paper compares findings from two urban centres in warm Mediterranean climates. In general from Adelaide, South Australia and more specifically from university collaborative projects on particular technical and social parameters necessary to sustain Greenskins in dense urban conditions in Fremantle, Western Australia. Results from trials of a prototype greywater Greenskin using vertical constructed wetland cells are reported. Through an experimental investigation of designing living green walls in urban Fremantle, this paper challenges the conventional “triple-bottom-line” approach to sustainable dense urban systems by addressing the greater aesthetic needs of sustainability and its thinking.
Green Infrastructure and Biophilic Urbanism as Tools for Integrating Resource Efficient and Ecological Cities
Giles Thomson, Urban Planning Open Access Journal
In recent decades, the concept of resource efficient cities has emerged as an urban planning paradigm that seeks to achieve sustainable urban environments. This focus is upon compact urban environments that optimise energy, water and waste systems to create cities that help solve climate change and other resource-based sustainability issues. In parallel, there has been a long-standing tradition of ecological approaches to the design of cities that can be traced from Howard, Geddes, McHarg and Lyle. Rather than resource efficiency, the ecological approach has focused upon the retention and repair of natural landscape features and the creation of green infrastructure (GI) to manage urban water, soil and plants in a more ecologically sensitive way. There is some conflict with the resource efficient cities and ecological cities paradigms, as one is pro-density, while the other is anti-density. This article focusses upon how to integrate the two paradigms through new biophilic urbanism (BU) tools that allow the integration of nature into dense urban areas, to supplement more traditional GI tools in less dense areas. We suggest that the theory of urban fabrics can aid with regard to which tools to use where, for the integration of GI and BU into different parts of the city to achieve both resource efficient and ecological outcomes, that optimise energy water and waste systems, and increase urban nature.
Beyond Sustainability— Biophilic an Regenerative Design in Architecture
Bruno Duarte Dias, European Scienctific Journal
The environment friendly design movement emerges from the clear view that human conventional action is destroying the living systems that support life on earth as we know it. This review paper underlines the limits of Sustainable concept and looks at Biophilia and Regenerative Design, two emerging concepts that appear to have a more appropriate answer to the environmental problems that we face today and in the future. This paper will give an overview of each concept and design framework, trying to interpret the way they operate, the differences, similarities and goals.