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The Philosophy of Sustainable Design: June 2015

The document discusses the philosophy of sustainable design according to 6 key principles: 1) Respecting natural systems and using nature as a model or mentor for designs 2) Respecting people and creating healthy environments for both humans and nature 3) Respecting local environments and responding to the unique characteristics of different places 4) Respecting the natural cycles of life and eliminating toxins so the environment is safe for current and future generations 5) Respecting energy and natural resources by using as few resources as necessary 6) Respecting processes by changing current unsustainable processes through collaborative and holistic thinking.

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129 views3 pages

The Philosophy of Sustainable Design: June 2015

The document discusses the philosophy of sustainable design according to 6 key principles: 1) Respecting natural systems and using nature as a model or mentor for designs 2) Respecting people and creating healthy environments for both humans and nature 3) Respecting local environments and responding to the unique characteristics of different places 4) Respecting the natural cycles of life and eliminating toxins so the environment is safe for current and future generations 5) Respecting energy and natural resources by using as few resources as necessary 6) Respecting processes by changing current unsustainable processes through collaborative and holistic thinking.

Uploaded by

raju
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Philosophy Of Sustainable Design

Article · June 2015

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Wesam M Taha
Alexandria University
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THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The Principles of Sustainable Design


Principle 1

Respect for the Wisdom of Natural Systems-The Biomimicry Principle

Respect for the wisdom of natural systems is centered on the idea that we should use
nature as a mentor and model for all of our designs. In fact, the source of all of our
innovations can be traced back to nature itself. Where technologies have been
misapplied, they are usually examples of forgetting the lessons inherent all around us. In
order to return to a path of true sustainability our communities and built environment
need to emulate natural systems.

Principle 2
Respect for People-The Human Vitality Principle

Sustainable design endeavors to create the healthiest, most nourishing places possible
for people without diminishing the ability of nature to provide nourishing places for the
rest of creation and for our own species in the future. Respect for people reminds us that
sustainable design is about creating healthy habitats-for us and the rest of creation.

Principle 3
Respect for Place-The Ecosystem/Bioregion Principle

Sustainable design is built on the idea of regionalism. It honors the differences that exist
between places, both on the macro level, with climate regions, and on the micro level,
with topographical and biological differences.
The philosophy of sustainable design rejects the notion that our buildings should look the
same and be built the same in any region regardless of whether we have the
technological know-how and resources to do so. Indeed, it demands that our buildings
respond to place in fundamental ways-from the level of the site to that of climate and
bioregion.

Principle 4

Respect for the Cycle of Life-The "Seven Generations" Principle

In nature, all waste products are useful to other organisms as food. Respecting the Cycle
of Life involves eliminating things wherever possible that are toxic to people and the
environment so that the environment is safe "to all people, for all time" 1 Following this
principle also means that there should be an appropriate fit between the life expectancy
of an object and its use, be it an appliance or a whole building.
Principle 5
Respect for Energy and Natural Resources-The Conservation and Renewable

Resources Principle Simply put, we live in a finite world but treat our resources like they
are infinite. This principle starts out by recognizing that all of our natural resources have
intrinsic and foundational value in their natural state. It is a principle that recognizes that
our whole industrial economy is but a mere subset of the natural economy and that we
have a responsibility to use as little of any resource as is necessary for a given job.

Principle 6
Respect for Process-The Holistic Thinking Principal
It is not possible to build for a sustainable future using the same design and construction
processes that have created the environmental burdens in the first place. Its major
message can be summed up by a single sentence; if we want to change a result, we
must first change the process that led to the result.

Respect for Process has six sub-principles.

The Sub-Principles of the Respect for Process

1- A Commitment to Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Communication


2- A Commitment to Holistic Thinking
3- A Commitment to Life-long Learning and Continual Improvement
4- A Commitment to Challenging Rules of Thumb
5- A Commitment to Allowing for Time to Make Good Decisions
6- A Commitment to Rewarding Innovation

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