Concept of Sustainable Development – Architecture Student Chronicles

Green Buildings and Infrastructure

“Green Buildings for creating a Green environment” is what I would say. Generally, the term “Green Buildings” is understood in a wrong way. As in, the people have a wrong understanding about the term “Green Buildings”. Green Buildings does not just imply on creating huge lawns and making the building look green in colour.

CII, Hyderabad (Example of a Green Building in India)

It is all about making the environment green and create a healthy atmosphere inside the living space which also has an impact on the outside surroundings.

Vegetation, Landscaping is definitely a part of Green Building Design but that is not all which would make the building green.

In this article, we are going to discuss the goals of Green Buildings or rather I should say the “Principles of Green Buildings”.

If we are successful in achieving these principles, we will definitely be able to successfully design not just “A green Building” but also create a Green environment.

Earlier we discussed, various Passive and Active features of Green Building Design. Passive Features form an indispensible part of Green Building Design. That is the most primary and important step to be achieved in order to create a sustainable and Green environment.

Role of Architects in Modern Concepts in Sustainable Design

The concept of Sustainability has been misunderstood today. Acceptance of this new concept by the people has not really been satisfactory. People are reluctant to compromise the kind of lifestyle they live. This compromises the aim of achieving Sustainability.

Green Buildings, improved Sustainability, economy for all and thereby better future is an important issue that needs thought. Reducing energy consumption in a building is not enough. Many dimensions need to be considered to achieve sustainability like-transportation networks, environmental management etc.

Sustainable Development - Solar Towers utilize the natural resource of the Sun

For people who do not agree with the concept of Sustainability:

The concept of sustainability is brought up for the betterment of human species and not for the earth. The Earth can survive without humans. Sustainability is for us to survive on earth.

Architects all over the world have been focussing on the concept of Sustainability. There has been a lot of chaos and confusion in actually understanding the gist of this unusual concept.

In one of the previous articles regarding “Sustainable Development“, we discussed the Sustainability factors, how the world has changed its trend from Sustainable to Unsustainable….

The definition of Sustainable Development is based on two concepts:

The concept of needs, comprising of the conditions for maintaining an acceptable life standard for all people, and
The concept of limits of the capacity of the environment to fulfil the needs of the present and the future, determined by the state of technology and social organization.

These are the two major concepts that the Architects have to keep in mind while executing any design concept which speaks of sustainability.