4 minute read
Sustainability and architectural design
Therdsiddhi Hoprasartsuk-Pellaumail
There is no denying that sustainable design is still in its embryonic stage in Thailand. As in many emerging economies, a limited awareness, insufficient national policies and procedures, and deficient incentives to encourage the adoption of these practices are the main challenges for sustainable design and building.
As architects, we must design a selfsustaining micro-ecosystem that forms part of the larger ecosystem. When we encourage clients to realise green building., they initially often associate being “green” with photovoltaic installation, complicated air purifier engineering or other engineering gadgets. Although these fixtures can be environmentally beneficial, they are often costly to install and maintain.
However, the fundamental concepts of sustainable design are simple. It can be applied to architecture on any scale and for any function. The key is to design a sitespecific building rooted in its surroundings as well as a self-sustaining building that forms part of the planet’s larger ecosystem. Therefore, VIRTUARCH implements a few simple, sustainable strategies when designing its buildings.
As architectural practice focuses on sustainability, we do not measure major projects by the number of square metres that we design or build. In addition to the durability, construction timeline, budget and spatial equality, respect for the environment is a priority. Although it has a substantial environmental impact, construction is one of the few industries where significant mitigation can be accomplished at no or minimal cost to society, thanks to fundamental architectural decisions.
We believe most sustainability projects can be solved by design. Here are a few design directions we consistently implement in projects: optimization of the building footprint, building orientation and the flexibility of the project.
PRACTICE RESTRAINT
Build only what is necessary. We are all ready to let our imaginations run wild on a blank canvas as architects, but we must exercise moderation and be sure to construct responsibly. When considering sustainable design, an excellent place to start is to maintain structure (where possible) and reuse materials. This attention guarantees a reduction in the overall usage of resources. It is crucial to strike a balance between building components extended life cycles and their ability to be reused. For extension projects, we may advise our clients to minimize the additional area footprint of the project or to pause and not build an extension at all, but instead focus on optimizing and upgrading their existing structures.
BUILDING ORIENTATION: A CONSUMPTION-REDUCING DESIGN
When recommending sustainable measures, it is essential to consider the site’s geographic location and climate zone. It is crucial to address local concerns because each climatic zone has different requirements for thermal comfort. For example, positioning the building appropriately on the property is a straightforward yet efficient approach to guarantee proper daylighting. This consideration ensures that the building’s daytime illumination load is reduced. If the building is adequately orientated, natural ventilation may be used practically all-year-round to replace mechanical ventilation in most locations. The right orientation also helps avoiding overheating and therefore reduces cooling loads.
USAGE OF LOCAL MATERIALS
Often the developer, owner and construction professional are taken aback by new "green" construction material products. In addition to being manufactured sustainably, construction materials and components must also answer the new requirements deriving from holistic environmental prerequisites. For example, it makes little sense to produce cladding glass in an environmentally-friendly manner if it would only be used on the west façade of a structure in a tropical monsoon climate. Instead, we prefer to use local materials that reduce the energy consumed in their transportation to the site as well as preserve traditional craftsmanship. Therefore, we need to inspire through vernacular architecture.
Thus, for small and medium-sized projects, the green building initiative often comes from the construction professional. As architects, builders and engineers, we must guide stakeholders towards sustainable design, which can be done with limited resources.
A famous Thai proverb says "Build a house to please the dweller…" It’s time to amend that to include "…and preserve the planet".
Contact details: Therdsiddhi Hoprasartsuk-Pellaumail Managing Director, Architect DGNB Consultant Virtuarch Bangkok Tel: +66 9 696 99798 thp@vai.ch www.vai.ch
