Sustainable architecture

Sustainable architecture aims to minimise a building’s impact on the environment, on resources and on people across its entire life cycle. It is not just about adding solar panels or a green roof; it covers every decision, from choosing the site and the materials to how the building is used and what happens to it when it is no longer needed.

The basic steps

The first and cheapest step is passive design: the right orientation, making use of sun and wind, shading, natural ventilation and daylight. A well-insulated, airtight envelope comes next, cutting heating and cooling demand at source. Whatever demand remains is met by efficient systems and, where possible, renewable energy. Materials are chosen for being local, recyclable and lower in embodied carbon. Rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse and permeable paving reduce water use. Designing durable, adaptable spaces is part of sustainability too; very often the greenest building is the one that is reused rather than demolished.

Sustainability in presentation

Images play a real part in explaining a sustainable project. The shadows cast by sun shading, planted surfaces and interiors filled with daylight show at a glance what technical reports describe at length. The impact of sustainability on architecture is easiest to understand through concrete design decisions like these.