Fundamental Principles of Sustainable Building Design
These days, hotel architects, residential architects, hospital architects, etc are challenged not only in crafting a design that excels in form and function, but also in being able to come up with integrated solutions that take into account environmental factors.
Sustainable architecture is one such concept that fulfills this need. Also referred to as green architecture or environmental architecture, it is a complex concept that involves sketching and building structures that minimize the use of natural resources and energy. It not only aims to reduce environmental impact but also strives to offer inhabitants a better quality of life.
Sustainability is as much about the process as it is about the structure. Its principles must follow through the entire lifecycle of the building - from its initial design and construction, use and maintenance, to its demolition and reuse of building materials.
While the definition of sustainable building design evolves over time, its six fundamental principles persist.
The location, orientation, and landscaping of a building all affect local ecosystems, transportation methods, and energy use. Hence, to successfully execute a green construction project, the correct site must be chosen and then integrated with sustainable design.
If possible, the design plan should strive to support the native flora and fauna of the region in the landscape design - regardless of whether you are designing a new building or retrofitting an existing one.
In order to increase energy independence, the energy performance of the buildings must be increased. Operating net-zero energy buildings is one way to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel-derived energy.
Sustainable buildings should seek to minimize water wastage. Additionally, it should encourage the practice of recycling water on certain on-site projects when possible.
Architects should not only reduce the amount of waste generated by buildings but should also pursue methods to reuse materials, to ensure the world continues to grow and prosper.
The indoor environmental quality of a building has a significant impact on occupant’s health, comfort, and productivity. And so, buildings should offer natural light, proper ventilation, moisture control, optimized acoustic performance, light and temperature control, etc.
Architects and designers should be able to specify materials and systems that streamline and simplify maintenance requirements. Consideration of a building's operating and maintenance issues during the preliminary design phase of a facility will contribute to improved working environments, higher productivity, reduced energy/resource costs, and prevention of system failures.
Building construction/operations can have direct/indirect impact on the environment, on society, and the economy, which are commonly referred to as the 3 P's ('People', 'Planet', 'Pocketbook'). The field of sustainable design seeks to balance the needs of these areas by using an integrated approach to create "win-win-win" design solutions.
IMK Architects – one of the top architects in India takes pride in crafting sustainable and environmentally holistic buildings. The firm has been designing green buildings since the ‘60s, and so the love for the natural environment is deeply embedded in the team. The firm’s design philosophy is based on Biophilic Architecture, with a focus and commitment to providing designs that are site-sensitive and in harmony with nature.
So if you are looking for a residential architect, hotel architect, hospital architect, or a university architect, etc- one who can build a substantial building – get in touch with IMK Architects. The team will help you create buildings, that are purposeful, Biophilic, and beautiful.
