When designing an architect must creatively think of the functions of their creations, effects of the structure on their surrounding environment and ways to use as much renewable and eco-friendly materials.
A form
of construction seen in the Great wall of China used by modern day architects is named Rammed Earth construction. This type of construction is designed to be eco friendly due to its use of soil, gravel, sand and clay based materials with water to create sturdy walls. This mix of compacted material is seen most used in areas where temperatures are high and little rainfall.
Technology has also allowed architects to make sustainable structures such as, The Edge Building built in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2014, which contributed to resource efficiency by having a “digital ceiling”, LEDs, that allowed to save around 80% of regular use of traditional lighting. Moreover, its skin is mainly made out of solar panels making it capable of decreasing the amount of regular electricity usage. Their sustainability percentage score came to be around 98.3% demonstrating the great contribution the building has given.
Apart from technology there is also the use of the natural environment. Some examples are The Vancouver Convention Centre West located in Canada which has a tilt as a slope design on the roof that is filled with plants. The plants allow for the roof to conserve heat for the winter and the slope helps drain water. This helps reduce the need for electricity to heat up the building. The Robinson Tower, located in Singapore, built as simple Offices and Retail in 2019, the design allows the use of natural lighting, rather than electrical, it also contains a large amount of vegetation to include public green spaces. Green spaces inside buildings are used to replace the space taken by the infrastructure, and lessen the stress of the string environment.
Sources:
- “Green Buildings: 18 Examples of Sustainable Architecture around the World.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Apr. 2020, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/green-buildings-world-sustainable-design/index.html
- Cao, Lilly. “How Rammed Earth Walls Are Built.” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 11 Feb. 2020, https://www.archdaily.com/933353/how-rammed-earth-walls-are-built
- Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-the-edge-the-worlds-greenest-building/
