Will Architects Lead Resilient Design?

While most architects know what resiliency means, few are putting it into meaningful practice.?Achieving LEED, CASBEE or even net zero energy certification addresses only part of the challenge. For designers in Japan, it should also be noted that BCP or Business Continuity Planning is not the same as robust resilient design, though it is a good start.

In order to transcend the climate crisis, we must begin to think of resiliency below the ground, at the ground level, above the ground, and across the neighborhood and community. We also need to learn how to talk about resiliency ‘beyond the building’ with our customers.

With about four earthquakes per day, on average, occasional tsunamis, frequent typhoons, landslides, floods, heat waves, droughts, and about 100 active volcano’s—Japan may the best suited country in the world to teach true resiliency. The export of Japan’s knowledge of resilient design could serve an important role in transcending the global climate crisis. But will architects lead, follow, or get out of the way?

Resilient design is a team sport involving not only architects, engineers, owners, and occupants—but also the neighborhood community. And like sustainability, all resiliency is local.?For example, earthquake and typhoon or hurricane design does not apply everywhere, whereas increased rainfall and drought frequency and intensity, applies more broadly. The key is in understanding local conditions, not looking backwards, but planning ahead for conditions we haven’t experienced yet.

Every architect who cares about the future of life on Earth must design every new building project to achieve Zero Net Carbon by 2030—as warned by recent IPCC reports. That is only 8 years from now! To learn more about resilient design including case studies, drivers, and indicators visit the Resilient Cities Network site.

James Scott Brew is an architect, musician and student of story with?NIKKEN SEKKEI?in Tokyo, Japan where he spends his days turning design challenges into sustainable story and logic models that will resonate with colleagues and customers.?

What is your take on resilient design?