Sustainability in Architecture

The World Commission on Environment and Development has put forth a definition of “sustainability” as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. -From Our Common Future (London: Oxford University Press, 1987).

This definition of sustainability does not specify the ethical roles of humans for their everlasting existence on the planet. It also fails to embrace the value of all other constituents

participating in the global ecosystem. The need for finding long-terms solutions that warrant continuing human existence and well-being is far more compelling than that of finding a proper terminology to describe the human need. In this respect, the debate on the terms “green,” “sustainable,” or “ecological” architecture is not terribly important.

Architecture is one of the most conspicuous forms of economic activity. It is predicted that the pattern of architectural resource intensity (the ratio of per-capita architectural resource consumption to per-capita income). For a household, the growth of incomes will lead to a desire for a larger house with more expensive building materials, furnishings and home appliances; more comfortable thermal conditions in interior spaces; and a larger garden or yard.

During a building’s existence, it affects the local and global environments via a series of interconnected human activities and natural processes. At the early stage, site development and construction influence indigenous ecological characteristics. Though temporary, the influx of construction equipment and personnel onto a building site and process of construction itself disrupt the local ecology. The procurement and manufacturing of materials impact the global environment. Once built, building operation inflicts long-lasting impact on the environment. For instance, the energy and water used by its inhabitants produce toxic gases and sewage; the process of extracting, refining, and transporting all the resources used in building operation and maintenance also have numerous effects on the environment.

Architectural professionals have to accept the fact that as a society’s economic status improves, its demand for architectural resources - land, buildings or building products, energy, and other resources - will increase. This in turn increases the combined impact of architecture on the global ecosystem, which is made up of inorganic elements, living organisms, and humans. The goal of sustainable design is to find architectural solutions that guarantee the well-being and coexistence of these three constituent groups.

Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Professor of Architecture, and Brenda Rigdon, Project Intern 

College of Architecture and Urban Planning

The University of Michigan

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