CET474 URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

Module III
Basic concepts of sustainability- goals for sustainable development- Introduction to the
concept and issues of Sustainable Architecture - basic concept of Green Buildings-
Green Rating systems (LEED and GRIHA) - Sustainable building practices in India.
Resource based planning – urban infrastructure planning in sustainability context-
socioeconomic development and sustainable planning – sustainable new towns.

Basic concepts of sustainability

Sustainability consists of fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising

the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth,
environmental care and social well-being.

Sustainability is the ability to exist and develop without depleting natural resources for the
future. The United Nations defined sustainable development in the Brundtland Report as
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.

SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE

Sustainability in architecture addresses the negative environmental and social impacts of

buildings by utilising design methods, materials, energy and development spaces that aren’t
detrimental to the surrounding ecosystem or communities. The philosophy is to ensure that
the actions taken today don’t have negative consequences for future generations and comply
with the principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability.
First and foremost, sustainability in architecture needs to take into account the natural
resources and conditions at the site, incorporating these into the design wherever feasible. It
also means utilising materials that minimise the structure’s environmental footprint, whether
that be due to energy-intensive manufacturing processes or long transport distances.
Sustainable architects and builders should also consider employing systems into the design
that harness waste and reuse it in as efficient a manner as possible.

HOW TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE

Sustainability in architecture begins with research. The first step is to carry out an inspection
of the site to determine the natural conditions and constraints that should be taken into
account. This is also the time to check on local authority regulations and requirements or
meet with relevant persons to discuss your particular project.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

When people construct things, many processes take place to actualize the design. The goal of
a sustainable building project is to use materials and processes that will have little impact on
the continued functioning of the environment. For example, using local building materials

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-

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and local labourers limits the pollution effects of transportation. Non-polluting construction
practices and industries should have little harm on the land, sea, and air. Protecting natural
habitats and remediating neglected or contaminated landscapes can reverse damages caused
by previous generations. Any resources used should have a planned replacement. These are
characteristics of sustainable development.

Architects should specify materials that do not harm the environment at any stage of their life
cycle — from first manufacturing to end-of-use recycling. Natural, biodegradable, and
recycled building materials are becoming more and more common. Developers are turning to
renewable sources for water and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. In
architecture and design, the emphasis of sustainable development is on the conservation of
environmental resources. However, the concept of sustainable development is often
broadened to include the protection and development of human resources. Communities
founded on principles of sustainable development may strive to provide abundant educational
resources, career development opportunities, and social services.

TO ACHIEVE TRUE SUSTAINABILITY WE NEED TO BALANCE ECONOMIC,

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN EQUAL HARMONY.

Business and economic viability are an important part of the sustainability equation. Without
it, sustainability wouldn’t be sustainable.

WHAT ARE THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUSTAINABLE

ARCHITECTURE PROJECT?

A. Environmentally-friendly building materials

A sustainable architect typically chooses to use environmentally-friendly building materials.

The most desirable materials are those that are recycled or renewable, as well as those that
require the least energy to manufacture. There is often a focus on using locally-obtained
woods and stone, reducing the distance that materials travel before being used in the
construction process and supporting local trades. There is a preference for wood that is
harvested responsibly from certified forests and all other materials are non-synthetic and non-
toxic. Recycling is at the heart of a sustainable architect’s design. Although recycled building
materials were difficult to source in the early 1990s, there is now an active trade in recycled
architectural salvage, particularly by specialist companies providing materials from
demolition sites.

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-

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B. Energy and resource efficiency

Sustainable architecture is underpinned by a philosophy that advocates sustainable energy

sources. Where feasible, steps are taken to design for energy efficiency, including the use of
renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal and solar. A sustainable architect
recognises that the energy efficiency of buildings can be increased in a variety of ways. A
building can be oriented to take full advantage of seasonal changes in the sun’s position, and
energy-efficient lighting and appliances can be installed. Energy conservation is also key:
buildings can be ‘weatherised’ for maximum protection against the loss of warm or cool air,
and appropriate insulating materials and window glazing can be installed to reduce heat loss
in ways that do not cause indoor humidity.
C. Efficient use of space

The sustainable architect recognises the importance of indoor environmental quality for
affecting how an individual feels in a space and focuses on features such as a healthy indoor
environment with adequate ventilation, temperature control, and the use of materials that do
not emit toxic gases. The incorporation of earth shelters, roof gardens, and extensive planting
throughout and around buildings is also encouraged. In the UK, a study by CABE
(Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, now Design Council Cabe) of five
new academic buildings and campuses found that more than 70% of staff and students
believed that the facilities and functions of the buildings they work in improved the way they
felt and behaved.
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Australian architect Glenn Murcutt is often held up as an architect who practices sustainable
design. His projects are developed for and placed on sites that have been studied for their
natural elements of rain, wind, sun, and earth. For example, the roof of the Magney House
was designed specifically to capture rainwater for use within the structure.

Magney House by Glenn Murcutt

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The Villages of Loreto Bay in Loreto Bay, Mexico was promoted as a model of sustainable
development. The community claimed to produce more energy than it consumed and more
water than it used. However, critics charged that developers’ claims were overstated. The
community eventually suffered financial setbacks.

The Villages of Loreto Bay in Loreto Bay, Mexico

Finally, one of the most famous success stories is the transformation of a neglected area of
London into the Olympic Park for the London 2012 summer Olympic Games. From 2006
until 2012 the Olympic Delivery Authority created by British Parliament oversaw the
government mandated sustainability project. Sustainable development is most successful
when governments work with the private sector to make things happen. With support from
the public sector, private energy companies like Solarpark Rodenäs will be more likely to put
their renewable energy photovoltaic panels where sheep may safely graze — existing
together on the land.
Today, we are talking about almost zero energy buildings, autonomous buildings, and IQ
architecture. There are numerous examples of such buildings. The shape of The Edge, a new
office building in Amsterdam, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in London and the
Geelen Counterflow Office in Haelen.

Bloomberg’s European HQ by Foster + Partner

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-

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SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

To achieve sustainability in architecture, it’s also important to address how household by-
products will be handled in a low-impact manner. Systems need to be built into the design
that will manage things like greywater harvesting for garden beds, composting toilets to
reduce sewage and water usage, as well as on-site food waste composting. Each element can
help to significantly reduce a household’s waste well into the future.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted
by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet,
and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The 17 SDGs are integrated—they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in
others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Countries have committed to prioritise progress for those who're furthest behind. The SDGs
are designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.
The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary
to achieve the SDGs in every context.

End poverty in all its forms, everywhere.

Poverty denies children their fundamental rights to nutrition, health, water, education,
protection, shelter and more – diminishing their ability to build a better future for themselves

and generations to come. Without global action, child poverty is likely to entrench social
inequality and cut off the most vulnerable girls and boys from the services they need to
survive and thrive.

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Nearly one in five children – an estimated 385 million – live in extreme poverty worldwide.
UNICEF invests in improving social services so that all children can have their basic needs
met.

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable
agriculture.
Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival, health and development. Well-nourished
children are better able to grow and learn, to participate in their communities, and to be
resilient in the face of disease, disaster and other emergencies.

Worldwide, nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition.
UNICEF works to lower the barriers to good nutrition, with a focus on preventing all forms
of malnutrition – including stunting, wasting and being overweight. We do this to ensure that
every child, young person and woman has the nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable

diets they need to reach their full potential.

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being

for all, at all ages.
More children survive now than ever before. Yet, in 2018 alone, 6.2 million children and
young adolescents died, mostly from preventable causes.

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UNICEF works around the world to strengthen health systems; immunize and treat children
for pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and other health conditions; help countries combat non-
communicable diseases; and support children with mental health conditions, developmental
delays and disabilities. To end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths and promote
the health and development of all children and adolescents, UNICEF
continues to scale up work in primary health care at the community level.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality

educationandpromotelifelonglearning
opportunities for all.
More children and adolescents today are enrolled in pre-primary,
primary and secondary than ever before. And in general,

girls and boys attend school in nearly equal numbers. But for many
children, schooling does not lead to learning.

Progress improving access to education and the quality of learning

has not been even across the world. Making sure that all children can

go to school and learn is instrumental to fight poverty, prevent disease

and build more resilient and peaceful societies.

UNICEF focuses on equity and inclusion to provide all children – no

matter who they are, where they live or how much money their family
has – with quality learning opportunities and skills development
programmes, from early childhood through adolescence.

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Achieve gender equality and empower all

women and girls.
Dropping out of school to assume household responsibilities, being
pressed into child marriage, experiencing gender-based violence ─
harmful gender norms take many forms.

Gender disparities can start at birth, and they expand as children age.
Today, some 650 million girls and women around the world have been

married as children, and over 200 million have undergone female

genital mutilation.

Gender equality is a human right. It is also a precondition for reducing

poverty and advancing development. UNICEF works across the world

so that girls and boys enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities
and protections. We to ensure all children grow, learn and thrive – no matter their g

and data analysis to help governments identify barriers to gender

equality.

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-

CET474 URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-

CET474 URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

Prepared by Asst.Prof. Srudhi J, Dept.of Civil Engg., M-