Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the design of sustainable environments?
Introduction One cannot deny that environment of the future will encounter bigger and more demanding challenges. In the past architects or designers generally focussed on the technical and design possibility because it was widely accepted that architects are expert coordinators of building projects, of different disciplines and building trades (Davis and Peters, 2013). However, the radical change of temperature (global warming) not only brought about environmental pollution but also including indirect effects which require a shift in architectural thinking and ways to create new design for responding the situation (Alwi et al., n.d.). The purpose of this essay is to determine and evaluate the factors that influence the sustainable development of computer-aided design in architecture, which is result of technology. Specifically, because of technologies can be benefit or drawback in the sustainable environmental design is a controversial topic, so the topic question will be demonstrated by investigating the both sides of impact of technology.
Technology in design industry This is the digital age as artificial intelligence (computer, smartphone etc.) can control almost everything we do in daily life. Technological growth takes place on several infrastructures and most technology recently relies on computers, there must be software involved (Bigham, 2014). From figure 1 the economic, environmental and social aspects should be much more sufficiently assessed for their potential
to
benefit
sustainability.
Therefore,
architecture of the future should have the responsibility to address the essential aspect of sustainability. This is the key of the urgently needed dimensions for transforming architect and related
Figure1: The changing way of thinking of architect
profession such as engineer to be a much more creative profession, which goes far beyond what it is presently. Thus, the model for ‘sustainable design’ requires holistic, dynamic, integrated analyses of present and future product life cycles of any architectural processes, entire supply chains and the eco-systems which are really necessary for sustainable societies (Alwi et al., n.d.).
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