3 Global Tendencies Within Sustainable Architecture
Jakob Str?mann-Andersen
Director, Innovation and Sustainability at Henning Larsen
We must constantly seek the newest answers for sustainability to continuously bring value. At Henning Larsen, we like to strive towards the newest knowledge – and discuss it. What do you, our colleagues in the business, think is the most important tendencies within sustainable architecture right now? Here are my suggestions:
1) A building has to be more than bricks
We see that clients tend to inquire a more quantifiable approach to architecture. The design must bring a derived value for the investment. We get questions like; how can the indoor climate (acoustics, daylight etc.) strengthen the productivity of the company? How does the choice of materials affect health and well-being for the residents of a house? How can landscape and design of the urban space secure the safety of our citizens? The tendency is reflected directly in the new US based certification system, the WELL Standard; a system for clients that quantifies the building’s effect on the health and wellness of individuals.
2) Health matters
Speaking of health – in general, we see how health and well being of humans are becoming an increasingly important indicator of success for clients. It is not as much about the environmental factors (energy, resources etc.). The discourse is more pointing towards the social, mental and physiological health for the respective individual. In this scheme, landscape and nature plays an important role as an architectural instrument. Competences like Urban Farming, Biophilic Design and Biomimicry in architecture are becoming essential tools to create a coherence between city and nature.
3) The resilient city
It is also a global tendency that architecture is expected to play an even more significant role in urban development. Our design must be able to answer urban problems like air pollution, terror protection, cultural segregation etc.). The city has become a network where functionalities between building and city, work and free time, public and private space are increasingly growing more co-dependent, and buildings and urban spaces simply must be active in that equation.
The programme for Etobicoke Civic Center is a good example on how a city hall is more an urban gathering point or meeting place than a governmental facility. Private offices, public administration, swimming facilities and kindergarten in one building. We as architects need to be able to deliver more than just the house. We need to be able to entwine the design with the city in a catalytic interaction.
What would you add?
Partner GXN hos 3XN/GXN
7 年Hi Jakob, Thanks for sharing a very interesting read. One further trend that pertains to the discussion of environmental issues becoming part of social sustainability, is the issue of adaptability and flexibility. We see that clients are asking for buildings that are highly flexible and adaptable, and that we in a sense need to design very ‘open’ structures, that can deal with changing trends and uncertain futures. This ties into a discussion on efficient use of space and materials – but is actualized by the wish to make buildings socially adaptable and to give the users ownership in their work environments etc. Buildings as services rather than products as we say in GXN ;)
Project Manager at AFRY
7 年A spot on trend spotting, Jacob! I also agree that there is an increased interest in designing for social sustainability, perhaps with a greater emphasis on measurable health aspects since they are connected to the business case (and often also authority indoor performance requirements) In relation to what you mentioned under recilience I would suggest two sub-groups: 1. The aspects you pin point so very well regarding urban human interaction, which is in line with the mentioned link between economic and social sustainability. 2. The recilience to climate change through urban design, which also has an increasing bearing on economics and human health and safety. I'm thinking about drainage tehniques that both provide water during shortage and decreases risk of flooding during heavy rains, landscaping that provides protection against forrest fires, biodiversity to feed pollinating insects through the whole season, and perhaps also urban farming as a method to endure one or two days longer during a crisis.
Sustainability lead at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
7 年Jakob, thank you for sharing - a great read. I would agree with each of these points but offer another trend observed which seems to bind the three together. There’s been a notable shift towards perception of social sustainability, or social impact, and the means under which this can be enhanced. This seems to coincide with the realisation that buildings represent much more than fixed ‘consumer’ objects. An ability to evaluate the human element, and the ways in which the built environment influences social capital are critical underpinnings towards sustainable development.
Full Professor | Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering | Aarhus University
7 年Hi Jakob. Those are indeed current tendencies when talking about sustainability in architecture. If I should add one thing then it would be the hope that future tendencies includes the emergence of a focus on measured sustainability performance rather than design check lists.