SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
Press: 4 of our Architect Alumni exchange views on Green Architecture
Sustainable architecture: Why does evolution have to start in the past?
Certainly “Green Architecture” is an imperative for humanity future. It may have become a trend lately, but that doesn’t diminish the serious need to shift to more sustainable materials and ways of manufacturing. We build today, with tomorrow and the future of our planet in mind. We have to think long enough, over centuries rather than decades, to be able to say that we are talking about sustainable architecture. The correct energy efficiency and self-sufficiency of a building throughout its life cycle is the most important goal of “Green Architecture”. But what is this and how can it be applied in practice?
To talk about green architecture we have to get away from the scale of the building and think about the bigger picture, i.e. urban design, which is gradually turning into landscape design. We need more green surfaces and public spaces, which will help not only with extreme climate changes but also with the inevitable increase in Earth temperature. It is particularly important, in addition to urban front, to start thinking about an additional front, the “fifth face” or houses roof and the possibilities of reusing it in a sustainable way. The solution must include detailed green design and integration of photovoltaic panels. An example of our office’s project is the renovation and restoration of a neoclassical building in the center of Athens. Since the space of this old Athenian courtyard was limited, we took advantage of the rooftop space with a full view of the Acropolis and turned it into a green oasis of relaxation, with Mediterranean, aromatic plants that thrive in the Attic landscape. In this way, we strengthened the relationship between man and nature and, on a larger scale, upgraded the downtown area microclimate, which is in immediate need of greenery.
Special techniques and architectural studies are applied so that buildings are designed passively. In newly built buildings, these can be applied in their entirety if they are foreseen from the beginning. In other words, we set the energy goals from the beginning of the design, we keep them in mind during the entire building design process. However, in the existing buildings that need an energy upgrade, certain adjustments must be made, depending on each individual case. These concern passive systems, renewable energy sources, ecological building materials and above all the optimal exploitation of natural resources in planning (daylight, wind for natural ventilation, correct orientation). Unfortunately, there are also risks of imitators who do not apply real building energy upgrade tactics, which will be indicated by the lack of state certifications that prove the true energy rating of a building. Pioneers in the most advanced energy techniques are the Japanese architects who often use bamboo or wood for their constructions and take great advantage of the external ventilation, so as to create the corresponding conditions inside the building, to achieve its natural ventilation.
So we can say that there are some common characteristics for the creation of green buildings. They must first be sustainable and user-friendly. In terms of energy, they can even be supplied entirely with photovoltaic systems. If the location allows it, the land around the house can be used for crops, thus contributing to the balance of the ecosystem. Design and architecture must respect the place, human health and the environment. Another example of our office’s work, in collaboration with a Swiss office, is a complex of fourteen luxurious and smart ecological homes, in the Immensee region of Switzerland. The plot is located on a slope with a steep eastern slope and a view of Lake Immensee. To design the different building types we took into account topography, road noise and the ideal south orientation. We cleverly used the steep slope to create cascading south facing terraces in the buildings and organized them in pairs with backs to the noise, openings to the view and proper arrangement of rooms in each apartment to have three orientations. The right design helped to have a better passive energy starting point, on which we then applied the most sophisticated active energy techniques (thermal insulation, cost-effective solar heating system, water recycling, etc.).
Architecture is therefore always redefined by the built and unstructured environment, by man-made and natural factors. The term “Green Architecture” may be used a lot, but this does not mean that there are no notable efforts in this direction. One must be very careful in choosing the right team of engineers (architect engineer, landscape architect, mechanical engineer, building physics engineer, etc.) who with their specialized knowledge will correctly apply all the techniques required for a sustainable, sustainable development towards a healthier and more prosperous world.
Myrto Xopapa
Architect Engineer ΕΤΗ | MTEE