Architecture is a vast subject. When you study Architecture, you deal with science, history, engineering and art. As such, there are very few people who are renowned Architects, who actually leave their mark on the world.
Architectural students and Professional Architects face a dilemma.
How important is it to study and learn History of Architecture?
What is the use of such a subject that glorifies the past while belittling the present?
What is the need for the past when our minds are capable of creating wonders in the present?
Sustainable building involves considering the entire life-cycle of buildings, taking environmental quality, functional compatibility and future values into account. In the past, attention has been primarily focused on the size of the building stock. In many countries, quality issues have hardly played a significant role. However, in strict quantity terms, the building and housing market is now saturated in many countries, and the demand for quality is growing importance.
It is difficult to define Green building Architecture. Although we could define what the green approach could be like. It takes into consideration the impact of design of buildings on the environment. Constructing a building requires resources. For example, materials for construction, fuel, users engagement in design etc. All of these factors are considered in Green building architecture. They form the backbone of this type of approach.
the Blu Homes mkSolaire, a green building designed by Michelle Kaufmann
Designing green buildings has become a motto to many design companies and individual designers. It is important to pay attention to the conflicting issues that arise out of design. Every design decision needs to be thought with depth since it has environmental implications which could be harmful to us.
Measures for green buildings can be divided into four areas:
Reduction in energy consumption
Environmental damage prevention by reducing external pollution
Reduction in embodied energy and prevent resource depletion
Indoor air quality (and hence maintain good health)
Site planning involves arranging structures on the land and shaping spaces between them. It is an art linked to architecture, and city planning. The site plan locates objects and activities in space and time. It may be concerned with a small cluster of houses, a single building and the surrounding space, or a small community built in a single operation.
