Reinterpreting Sustainable Architecture: The Place of Technology
When thinking about green architecture, most just think about adding some vegetation to the building and then calling it a day. Although in some places that may work, that is not what green architecture is and the idea of green architecture in itself is misconstrued. This reading conveys how green architecture is so much more than just slapping some plants onto a building and calling it green. In fact, in some areas of the world, doing just that could turn to be not as green as one may think and could be detrimental rather than help. Green architecture is the act of a building being sustainable and combating climate change in more ways than just vegetation. The article breaks down green architecture into six logics; eco-technic, eco-centric, eco-aesthetic, eco-cultural, eco-medical, and eco-social.
Sustainable architecture can be achieved in multiple ways and the logics help break down what a building is providing based on what is present. If a building is utilizing modern technology such as solar panels or wind power, then that falls under the eco-technic logic. Buildings that incorporate vegetation are categorized as eco-centric. Eco-aesthetic is the focus on creating green, sustainable buildings but not at the sacrifice of its form. The form but be elegant and with the use of technology, the future of buildings can be green yet aesthetically pleasing. Eco-cultural wishes to keep the culture and values of a space whilst also being able to incorporate sustainable architecture. The two should work in tandem and the building should not impede on the values or culture. Eco-medical focused on healing and how a building can incorporate a regenerative factor. Eco-social is on an individual level relating to ones house or their personal dwelling.
The way buildings are being designed and constructed today vary greatly from points in history and it is still something that is continually growing. With the use of these logics, designers can create spaces and sustainable buildings with each of these goals in mind and design properly for spaces rather than just haphazardly put something that would not work. These logics are not meant to be utilized by themselves either. There are multiple pathways to the numerous solutions and the designer is not stuck with one idea and can change. Utilizing multiple logics when designing is the key to successful design in the future and it should start to be integrated now within design. With the changing of the climate and how as a society we are progressing, utilizing these logics into how buildings are designed and built will not only start to create a better today but also a better tomorrow.
