Landscape architects play an essential role in creating design interventions to ensure environmental sustainability. As we’ve explained in our other post on architectural trends that are here to stay (link), sustainability and climate adaptation strategies have not only been increasingly in the focus, but is here to stay.
Sustainable architecture aims to incorporate elements of green design into various parts of the building. The main goal is to strike a beautiful harmony between green life and architecture to preserve nature and improve the quality of living. Green buildings are designed in a way to be built in a way that reduces harmful impact on the environment.
Environmentally sustainable design (or environmentally-conscious design, eco-design) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability. Its core idea is to eliminate wastefulness and minimise environmental impact through architecture design.
There are some common principles in sustainable design that most designers take into consideration when scoping out their design projects. They include the following:
However, that’s not to say that environmentally sustainable design is boring and lacks inspiration. Countless material designers have striven towards creating products that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly sustainable, while suited for a variety of creative applications. Here at Jonite, our range of reinforced stone grates and panels incorporate at least 30% of recycled content and the R&D team continues working to increase the proportion of recycled content in all our products. We saw the beauty of stone, and wanted to create something that is beautiful, highly functional and can be used in a myriad of applications (Link to projects page).
A Green product has at least one of the following characteristics:
Materials like these are the mainstay of the most ecological builds and their use helps towards obtaining certification such as LEED.
With so many suppliers and various products out there, it can get quite confusing for architects to decide which material to choose, especially when most are juggling several projects at the same time. Fortunately there are several widely-used directories that certify and list sustainable products based on a set of stringent standards. Each of the following certifying organisations also have a directory listing products that reach its standards, as well as the respective ratings.
Outstanding environmentally sustainable design often incorporates several if not all green practices while being aesthetically pleasing, inspiring to human nature and having a transformational effect on the space. They utilise several innovative architectural products with sustainability in mind. Here are some of our favourites.
This 55-storey architecture marvel has its own power generation plant that produces 4.6 megawatts of clean energy. It also uses waterless urinals and low-flow toilets in its bathrooms, LED lighting and CO2 monitors. The tower received a platinum LEED rating and its modern façade has become an icon of the skyline in Manhattan.
Some of the sustainable products used: water-saving devices, LED lighting, self-sufficient power generation
This behemoth is the world’s most sustainable event venue, with 90% water-sufficiency, solar and thermal roof panels and a high performance “insulation glazing”. It holds the LEED Platinum and the BREAM Outstanding Sustainability certifications.
Some of the sustainable products used: Solar and thermal roof panels, insulation to improve energy efficiency
When Dubai unveiled this groundbreaking commercial building in 2013, the Change Initiative was awarded 107 points out of 110 points, making it the most sustainable building in the world. Unfortunately, due to a retail downturn, the retail arm has closed down and the building has been restructured to focus on distribution of eco-products.
Some of the sustainable products used: Water filtration system which uses a vacuum membrane, solar panels, reused existing wood flooring to create wall panels, skylight tubes used to disperse sunlight into the building without the need for too many artificial lightings.
The Shanghai Tower, which is the second tallest building in the world, was curved to optimise wind load. Other architectural elements include a double skin façade for additional insulation to keep the building energy-efficient. It was then crowned with sky gardens, wind turbines, rainwater harvesting and blackwater treatment functionalities, making it Shell platinum and LEED Core certified.
Some of the sustainable products used: Technologies to deploy grey and storm water, variable air volume air conditioning and brightness sensors. Vertical mounted wind turbines for additional electricity generation.
One of the newest hospitals in Singapore, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital exemplifies the belief that a green and peaceful environment is beneficial to the healing progress of its patients. The complex utilises a solar water-heating system and enables natural wind to move throughout the compound, thereby lowering energy consumption by more than 27% compared to a conventional hospital.
Some of the sustainable products used: Solar water-heating system to reduce energy consumption, roof gardens through the complex, aerial plants used in privacy feature walls of outdoor bathrooms that utilise a drip-system filtering. Terraced walkways that improve ventilation and reduced the reliance on air conditioning.
A common design goal for architects have been to specify materials that are highly durable and lasting throughout the ages. However, the sustainable design school of thought challenges architects to choose materials based on targeted durability instead of immortality. The reason for this change in ideology stems largely from two reasons: immortality as a target often results in less efficient overdesign, and products that last well beyond their useful life often cause environmental issues.
This is something architects should discuss with their engineer counterparts in the project, to ensure that money and energy is not wasted in the pursuit of overly-long lasting products. Many materials manufacturers may also be able to help architects understand the longevity of their products. For example, here at Jonite, our experienced team of R&D experts are able to discuss these details to create custom products ideally suited for their uses.
Sustainable design standards and project design guides are also increasingly available and are vigorously being developed by a wide array of private organisations and individuals. There is also a large body of new methods emerging from the rapid development of what has become known as 'sustainability science' promoted by a wide variety of educational and governmental institutions. Some architects have also sworn by industry trade shows, an annual trip to learn about the newest sustainable technologies of the year.