Ecology, Sustainability & the Built Environment - Essay Example

? Ecology, Sustainability and the Built Environment The relation that sustainability shares with the built environment has enhanced drastically over the years as a consequence of various improvements and innovations in the field of architecture which have occurred in recent years. These developments have not only enabled the establishment of notions which are associated with sustainable design but have also played a critical role in the creation of sustainable cities by guiding advanced and innovative directions in urban development frameworks which are currently being implemented in various nations across the globe. In essence, the principal of sustainability encompasses several significant considerations that are associated with the concept of development as the foundations of this practice aim to work towards the protection of resources for future use. Grierson (2009; p.143) identifies two key objectives of sustainable development which are outlined as the attainment of an enhanced quality of life for all forms of life on Earth and striking a balance between the economic and social activities that are conducted by human beings and the efficient utilization of resources that have been granted by the natural environment. However, the aforementioned definition of sustainable development only represents a fraction of what the notion actually means and what it signifies in relation to the built environment. Indeed, sustainability must be practiced in each and every field to ensure that the planet’s ability to sustain life successfully is prolonged once the protection of natural resources is ensured. Nevertheless, the amalgamation of sustainability in architecture highlights the importance of comprehending the gravity of the situation and exploring areas of observation that require improvement so that the objectives of sustainable development can be achieved. Guy (p.126) emphasizes upon the need for implementing sustainable design measures in the built environment by shedding light on the fact which states that 50% of CO2 emissions are produced from buildings which is an observation that has greatly enhanced the pace of the ongoing debate regarding the design of buildings and how it can be improved to address rising concerns regarding the environment which are posed by buildings. Guy (p.126) understands that sustainable design is not merely a topic which needs to be evaluated or critiqued upon by means of abundant literature; this notion is best supported by the fact that even in today’s day and age the quest for uncovering the ideal solution which dictates the best practice of sustainable architecture has not been uncovered yet. Grierson (2009; p.145-146) expounds upon the challenges which are posed by the development of sustainable design by stating that any initiative which aims to work towards the establishment of sustainable communities should examine the several challenges that could arise as a consequence of this decision so that any difficulties or drawbacks are avoided in the future. The evaluation of sustainable design and development frameworks comprises of descriptions of various construction methods and procedures that are characterized by a high demand for quality which in turn encompasses economic, financial, social and environmental factors (Grierson 2009; p.146). Grierson (2009; p.146) postulates that the sustainability of a building should be calculated on the basis of its life cycle, which fundamentally implies that the quality of all aspects that are associated with the building must be considered to arrive at thorough conclusions. This notion is also evidenced by the research of Head (2006; p.5) who represents a comprehensive urban development framework by specifically taking into account a sustainable approach that is present in the researcher’s case study of Dong Tan Eco-City. The study recommends the adoption of an integrated approach to value through better design by highlighting the factors that are associated with the environment, society, economy and natural resources. Consequently, the identified aspects have been linked with a concept which is known as Factor 10 Engineering for Sustainable Cities. This concept essentially develops a correlation with the broad aspects of an integrated approach to sustainability by linking them with factors such as land use, buildings, transport, energy and land take amongst others in accordance with the categories (Head 2006; p.5). While, the recommendations of this approach present a more specific view of the issue, Grierson (2009; p.146) suggests that sustainable design should fulfill the criterions by displaying economic sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. For example, environmental sustainability is described as the efficient and competent management, organization and allocation of scare resources to ensure minimal wastage and to encourage the conservation of natural resources. Moreover, economic sustainability is associated with the skilled management of finances and construction materials while, social sustainability is attained once individuals are provided with a strong, well-designed and secure built environment which also provides them with utmost satisfaction (Grierson 2009; p.146). Overall, the concept of sustainability has emerged as a notion which holds immense significance with regards to the discipline of architecture and engineering amongst several other areas of study because a background into the economic, social and environmental impact of buildings raises the need to promptly solve all issues that have arisen as a consequence of the urban development which has occurred on a global scale. While, the aforementioned analysis has displayed the theoretical implications of sustainability the practical application of this notion were observed during the course of the second semester design studio project work. The process that lasted during the design of a Bath house which included the main spaces of indoor pool, a main spa and a plant room at the project site of Glasgow put several practical implications regarding ecological, social and economic issues at the forefront. This section of the essay aims to address the aforementioned implications in greater detail by assessing each factor individually to provide a better comprehension of the outlined issues and how their understanding proved to be of instrumental significance during the course of the project work. As noted by Grierson (2009; p.149) ecological issues may comprise of the broader environmental impact which includes the measures that need to be undertaken for the safety of local ecological characteristics. Guy (p.129) adds that these considerations may also be assessed in the light of using environmentally friendly materials and components in the design of buildings. For example, the energy consumption of a building maybe diminished by the utilization of insulating material, lighting components that consumer low energy in comparison with other options and designing spaces which can possibly act as natural sources of ventilation (Guy p.129). Perhaps, the most profound understanding that was gathered by an analysis of the numerous literatures on the matter was provided by the research of Guy who highlighted the intransigence of the crux of such studies by presenting an in depth view of actual examples that are pertinent to the topic. For example, the research aided the establishment of an opinion which suggests that during the process of designing buildings, architects must not be influenced by prescribed or general knowledge regarding the matter and should explore alternative options before an ideal conclusion is reached. Henceforth, conventional suggestions for enhancing energy efficiency should only be implemented once their sustainability is ensured as an ecological efficient alternative may not necessarily prove to be economically efficient. This observation is reflected by an example which notes that while the London Ecology Centre supports the utilization of argon filled windows which provide extensive insulation, the use of this material has been identified as economically inefficient because of high research and development and transportation costs (Guy p.132).. Wakernagel et al. (2006; p.103) comment that the tool of ecological footprint can be utilized by governments in the future for determining their progress, the implementation of frameworks on the technological front and the methods which have been initiated. An awareness of such information regarding the business allows a company to experience several positive factors such as receiving assistance in the achievement of sustainable objectives that could not have been fulfilled otherwise. Social concerns that have stemmed from an increase in urban development in recent times which has been marked by a uniquely distinct pace have posed apprehensions that are comparable to that of ecological issues and the overall environmental impact. Grierson (2007) identifies that the social problems which have been contributed towards by urbanization have impacted cities across the globe in varying manners and these implications include factors such as social exclusion, family instability and unstable population changes. The aforementioned considerations played a critical role in improving the outcome of the design studio project work in several ways however; the most important assistance that was provided by a comprehension of these issues addressed the question of the selection of the site for the project. The nature and the purpose of the Bath House implied that the selected project site needed to be a metropolitan city with patterns of urbanization that coincide with the objectives of the design studio project work. By developing an understanding of the possible social issues that could have escalated even further by designing a Bath house in another site, the location of Glasgow was shortlisted and selected as the ideal location for the building. This choice was a result of extensive deliberation which recommended the location of Glasgow as the most preferable choice after the assessment of various aspects that involved ecological and social considerations. As noted by Grierson (2009; p.143) economic issues are fundamental to the explanations on sustainability and are also featured as one of the key aspects that is assessed and examined by an architect before the commencement of a design project. A project cannot be deemed successful unless it draws from the economic, environmental and ecological and social backgrounds by creating an association and integration between the three aspects. Grierson (2009; p.144) highlights the importance of understanding economic issues by stating that a poorly designed building carries the legacy of its poor performance from one generation to another throughout the course of its life cycle. Consequently, the integration of these three approaches implies that each notion is comprehended to be attuned with another aspect such that the achievement of economic goals does not necessarily pose a conflict with ecological or social objectives that are forwarded through the design of the building. While, the ecological, economic and social issues that played a fundamental role throughout the process of the design project have been examined on an individual basis it is important to understand that these factors cannot be discussed in isolation from another because the successful application of these aspects involves the adoption of an integrated approach to value through better design (Head 2006; p.5). It should be stated that the comprehension of this framework was a key source which guided the development of the Bath house in Glasgow as the four aspects encompassing the environment, society, natural resources and economics were categorized on the basis of specific characteristics to address particular issues that emerged during the design project work. For example, features related to social factors dictated various notions such as inclusion, amenity, access and form and space (Head 2006; p.5) as the provision of such characteristics is pivotal to the achievement of societal sustainability which essentially addresses the functionality, accessibility and even the aesthetic appeal of a building to the people (Grierson 2009; p.146). Henceforth, the decision of selecting the main spaces of the building as a main spa, an indoor pool and a plant room was conducted on the basis of the preceding analysis which essentially established a link between several social aspects to achieve sustainability in the field. The formulation of modern building design is marked by an understanding of factors that did not command much significance in the previous years. However, the rapidly changing global landscape and the dynamics of the external environment assert that architects must be prepared address a range of challenges that may arise as a consequence of these modifications. Consequently, the need to create a built environment that is synonymous with sustainability has also become very common. This notion addresses a wider consensus and acknowledgement of the fact that sustainable development is the future of architecture and this is an observation which cannot be ignored. References Grierson, D. (2007). Arcology and Arcosanti: towards a sustainable built environment. Global Environment: Problems and Policies, 1, 194. Grierson, D. (2009). Towards sustainable building design. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 3(3), 143-152. Guy, S. Exploring Sustainable Architectures1 Head, Peter. (2006). Case Study: Dong Tan Eco-City. PowerPoint presentation. Wackernagel, M., Kitzes, J., Moran, D., Goldfinger, S., & Thomas, M. (2006). The ecological footprint of cities and regions: comparing resource availability with resource demand. Environment and Urbanization, 18(1), 103-112. Read More