Position:
Current considerations of sustainable systems in architecture are often additive design decisions, rather then ingrained considerations of the generators of the buildings form. The displaced ecology of the buildings new footprint is often eliminate from the buildings design, putting desired spaces as the main architectural consideration.
Response:
Sustainable design needs to consider performance beyond the pure capabilities of additive technologies and systems, to consider how the form can best serve them, alleviating the ecological displacement of its footprint.
Strategies:
1. Consider sustainable strategies as an expressive form-finding component of the design.
2. Integrate sustainable strategies into the internal functions of the building, fostering user interaction.
3. Alleviate the displacement of ecology through its integration into the design.
My overuse of "sustainable strategies" is due to the fact that I haven't narrowed down, or don't know if I should, the type of strategies I should be looking into. So far I am thinking of:
-Integrated solar panel design
-Rainwater retention
-Green roof design
Architectural Projects Addressing Similar Issues/Topics:
T.R.Hamzah & Yeang Sdn.Bhd.
Spire Edge Manesar
Spire Edge Manesar
The relevance in this project towards my position is the buildings response to displacing the existing ecology of the site, incorporating the green space and rain water collection back into the building.
Terreform
Fab Tree Hab
Created from living nutrients alone, this project is a literal version of my idea of mitigating the displacement of the environment by using the environment to create the design. Although I am not a fan of unrealistic ideas, the concept of fitting "symbolically into the surrounding ecosystem" has a valid portrayal.
Lawrence Scarpa and Angela Brooks Architects
Solar Umbrella House
I have always been a fan of this building for its taste in incorporating an aspect of a sustainable design technology, here being solar panels, into the expression of the architectural design. It doesn't feel as if it was added on as an afterthought (although the project was a retrofit of an existing building), but was ingrained as part of the architectural expression.
Moving forward, I would like to incorporate these ideas into my design, although I am still unsure which type of literature would really support my position.
This is a relatively specific look at sustainable design practices. Based upon the position you outline, it would seem as though you are aspiring for a new version of “Net Zero” design which would go beyond energy and also find ways to compensate for “displaced ecology”. To be clear, as an example, are you referring to the fact that a building offsets softscaping with a driveway, removes existing trees, and kills off flora and fauna on a site that would require interventions based upon water retention, microclimatic controls, and wildlife supports respectively?
ReplyDeleteYour strategies as strategies approach might need refining in the wording of the first and second strategy. It is a bit muddled as to how form-finding via sustainable design is a direct response to the “displaced ecology” matter. Your second strategy advocating for additional interaction does not seem to rectify or address this “displaced ecology”. You will need to clarify this as it is not clear – perhaps it is lost in the writing. The third strategy suffers from simply repeating the position, that is to say, to find a way to integrate the displaced ecology in the new design. That is like stating that your position on architecture is that it “does NOT look at sustainability as a priorty” and simply responding that a strategy would be that architects should instead “look at sustainability as a priority”. Offer more specificity on how one could accomplish this.
As for which “strategic” direction you should go for, it is really up to you however I do not believe them to be mutually exclusive. The first option of “integrated solar panel design” is very weak as it could have been about solar design as opposed to a focus on PV panels. Also the preoccupation with a specific technology would also compromise your thesis strength. The rainwater retention option again suffers from a similar problem though it is fortunately a bit more encompassing (though this term is not correct, perhaps “water austerity” might be a better start as rainwater retention is specific and does not include other water tactics such as black/greywater management which do not deal with rain. When it comes to green roof design, be mindful that it becomes something that is more about a veneer treatment of a building rather than something that significantly engages architectural design/space.