21st Century Architecture Manifesto - Educating Sustainability by Joelle Leong

EDUCATING SUSTAINABILITY 21st century architecture manifesto joelle leong xinian / 1124635 / abpl90117

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION / page 01

SUSTAINABILITY IN EDUCATION / page 05

INTRODUCING ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES / page 07

BEING GEOGRAPHICALLY RESPONSIVE / page 11

ACHIEVING AN ECOTOPIA / page 15

BIBLIOGRAPHY / page 18

INTRODUCTION

Environmental crises have long been

Rather, the artificial and nature should be

in the global spotlight, where con-

approached as codependent and coexisting

stant

every

essences of life; instead of battling against na-

professional field is expended in or-

ture to help nature, one should instead adopt

der to reduce the detrimental effects

its sciences, working hand-in-hand with na-

of human actions onto Earth, in hopes

ture to produce longer-lasting solutions to

of possibly resolving them one day.

design problems of efficiency, sustainabili-

worldwide

efforts

from

ty, and health. By embracing and becoming Numerous steps have been taken in ar-

“an integral part of natural

chitecture to progress towards this dream

systems rather than replacing

of an ecotopia, through the incorporation

them with artificial ones” [1].

of renewable energy technologies, as well as passive ‘green’ design. However despite these common efforts to make a more sustainable architecture, one cannot deny that nature still exists independently to that, where most architecture in modern cities stand as visually stimulating artificial creations with green treatments simply applied to the surface.

1. Alexandru Micu, “Ecotopia 2121 shows what perfectly eco-friendly cities would look like,” ZME Science, published January 29, 2018, https://www.zmescience.com/science/ecotopia-project-cities/

Biomimicry’s concepts have been intro-

specific design environment and nature.

duced into architecture, attempting to respond to the notions of codependency

This manifesto takes a critical stance on the

with nature, where nature’s adaptive inno-

current provided standards of sustainable

vations are utilised to inform sustainable

education, whilst delving into how it can be

design. Still, its real-life applications remain

improved, by providing an insight into how

low, with architectural educations focus-

concepts of biomimicry can be tailored to

ing on ‘aesthetic’ physical building forms.

sustainably adapt and fit varying conditions of environments as well as its collaborations

To solve these plaguing environmental

with other environmental-design strategies

crises, it is foremostly crucial for current

which may further aid in humanity’s endeav-

and future architects to be thorough-

ours towards our symbiosis with nature itself.

ly educated and made more aware on environmental and sustainability issues so that they will be able to further integrate design with nature for an optimal architecture that is able to further reduce any negative environmental impacts through the understanding of the

S U STAI NAB I LITY I N E D U CATI O N Is what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re learning enough? Majority of what is being taught regarding

Thus, it is crucial to address a shift in ide-

sustainable design pertains to the basic

ologies where instead using typical design

applications of green technologies and

methods, educators should promote dif-

passive/responsive faĂ§ade design. Im-

ferent design approaches (i.e. biomimicry

portance is stressed in achieving above

and geodesign) to obtain a design which

a certain number in building sustainabil-

fully takes nature and its surroundings into

ity rating systems, instead of the design

consideration whilst striving for that high

processes and ideologies we should en-

sustainability rating. By introducing these

compass. Though having a common end

concepts of codependency and coexis-

goal, the current approaches to sustain-

tence with nature, we will be able to move

ability are not necessarily taken for na-

past the surface level design approaches

ture itself, but for the sustainability of the

and produce a building which is undoubt-

built environment where a building would

edly integrated within its environment.

have to just quantitatively meet a threshold sustainability regarding its carbon emissions, electricity consumptions, etc.

Fig.1. Pier Luigi Nervi, Palazzetto dello Sport, 1957.

INTRODUCING ALTE R NATE PERSPECTIVES Approaching sustainable design from a different point of view. Firstly, it is of most importance to fur-

approach of ‘Palazzetto dello Sport’, im-

ther inform on these alternative design

plemented by Italian engineer and archi-

approaches which encourage design-

tect Pier Luigi Nervi, mimics the rib struc-

ing with nature in mind. The findings of

ture from the leaves of the giant Amazon

biomimicry exist within an ever-expand-

water lily in order to produce an efficient

ing field of interest; nature serves as a

structural system for the thin roof fabric [2].

bank, rich and full of scientific knowledge and information which has been

By observing nature and applying its sci-

refined over millions of years through

ences into design, this project is suc-

evolutionary

response

cessful where it was able to retain a

environment..

visual charm whilst also sustainably re-

the

processes,

ever-changing

ducing the construction materials required The es and

functionally-based of

biomimicry driven

have

numerous

approach-

through its efficient and delicate qualities.

influenced notable

works of architecture: the structural

2. Francis Okeke and Chukwuemezie Okekeogbu, “Biomimicry and Sustainable Architecture: A Review of Existing Literature,” Journal of Environmental Management and Safety 8, no.1 (March 2017): 18-19.

In addition to structurally informing archi-

The Eastgate Center is a notable suc-

tecture, biomimicry has proven useful in

cess story of biomimicry, where the build-

the field of passive design which allows

ing could function throughout the year

for the efficiency of costs and resources,

without the conventional use of air-con-

and above all environment sustainability.

ditioning or heating, and therefore being

Architect Mick Pearce attempted to de-

environmentally sustainable by reducing

velop an understanding on the ther-

the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall energy expenditure.

moregulatory characteristics of termite mounds in his design for the Eastgate

Taking these two instances as precedents

Center in Harare, Zimbabwe, where a

may provide some insight as well as inspira-

conclusion was drawn on the use of

tion in the ways nature can influence design

wind-induced natural ventilation as their

for the better, without having to apply artifi-

thermoregulatory method. Thus, this at-

cial systems to the design while still remain-

tempt in mimicking termite mounds lead

ing visually captivating. The education pro-

to voids in the floor being designed to

vided on sustainability should exhibit how

trap cool air during the night, and during

nature can offer endless building and design

the day an induced air flow would circu-

solutions, which can aid us on our path to re-

late the cool air throughout the building [3].

writing our negative environmental impacts.

3. Michael Pawlyn, Biomimicry in architecture (Newcastle upon Tyne: RIBA Publishing, 2016), 100.

Fig.2. Mick Pearce, Eastgate Center, 1996.

BEING G E O G RAPH I CALLY RESPONSIVE Responding to the environmental conditions of site.

Besides learning from natural biologies,

between the mentioned environmental-de-

the geographic conditions of the site in

sign strategies may be able to provide a more

which the design exists should be tak-

efficient, and successful means of designing

en into account and possibly further in-

with nature in mind, where topography, ma-

form the design outcome. The concepts

terials and other site-related environmental

of geo-design look at the in-depth re-

conditions are considered deeply, as well

search into the geographic conditions of

as the nature existing in that site and how

site so as to “respect the constraints” of

they adapt to thrive in that environment.

site, and “take advantage of the opportunities suggested by those conditions” [4].

A utopian notion of the collaboration of these two key strategies is loosely manifested in

Geographical design occurs when the

environmental professor Alan Marshall’s ‘Ec-

physical environment is being modified

otopia 2121’ project: a project which critically

through natural and or manmade inter-

reimagines cities of the future in regards to

ventions

. By being more geographi-

their adaptation to fit into a changed envi-

cally responsive and specific, the quality

ronment. Despite existing as fantasies, this

and efficiency of the end product can be

project can be considered an educational

informed by, or manipulated by the de-

initiative to increase awareness on global

signer to produce a more comprehensive

environmental issues and how that may im-

design that is optimally curated for its en-

pact our futures if we do not change the way

vironment. Furthermore, a collaboration

we think and approach nature as a whole.

[5]

4. William R. Miller, Introducing Geodesign: The Concept, (USA: Esri), 4. 5. Miller, Introducing Geodesign, 17.

Fig.3. Alan Marshall, Accra 2121, 2017.

A scenario project which attempts to

community prevents the logging and de-

be an integral part of nature is ‘Accra

forestation of this forest ecosystem

2121’, which envisions the future of the

Therefore, producing a sustainable com-

capital of Ghana to be plagued by se-

munity which not only takes from nature,

ries of violent urban floods. The re-

but also gives and protects it. Though

sponse would then be the construc-

seemingly extreme, this scenario displays

tion of modular ‘tree-houses’, above the

the notions geo-specific design through

flood line, in surrounding forests; the

its direct response to the issue of floods,

forest provides the basic necessities for

as well as the intentions behind biomim-

its inhabitants such as food and building

icry where this natural forest-living would

materials, and in return, this tree-house

allow for social integration with nature.

6. Alan Marshall, “Ecotopia 2121 AD: Sustainable Cities of the Future,” Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities 1, no. 2 (June 2014): 15, doi: 10.5250/resilience.1.2.003.

[6]

ACHIEVING AN ECOTOPIA Will we ever accomplish this utopian dream?

The question of an ecotopia may be

the former, architecture can act as a big

achieved one day, by shifting the way

stepping zone towards the resolving of envi-

people approach solving environmen-

ronmental crises; using natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovations

tal issues in order to progress towards

to inform sustainable design, and designing

this utopian goal of an environmentally

specifically for the geographics of a space to

sustainable world, where artificial deci-

produce an optimal architecture which has

sions made by man are constantly influ-

both quality and efficiency, whilst reducing

enced by nature, and in the best interests

any negative environmental impacts through

of nature. The practice of co-depen-

procuring a thorough understanding of the

dency with nature is a crucial aspect on

specific design environment and nature.

this journey of environmental recovery. To conclude, biomimicry on its own serves The two strategies mentioned in this

as a satisfactory means for integral de-

manifesto, biomimicry and geo-design,

sign by working alongside nature and not

both share the same principles where

against it. However, to further increase the

design decisions made are influenced

efficiency and sustainability of its outcomes,

by the environment and nature in the at-

and maximise its design potentials, geo-

tempt to integrate the artificial with nature

graphical aspects should be thoroughly re-

itself. By utilising biomimicry as the basis

searched and understood for an optimised

of design, and geo-design as an addi-

architecture that is site responsive whilst

tional means of magnifying the effects of

embracing nature as a life-long partner.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Pawlyn, Michael. 2016. Biomimicry in architecture. 2nd ed. Newcastle upon Tyne: RIBA Publishing. 2. Lakhtakia, Akhlesh, and Raúl José Martín-Palma. 2013. Engineered biomimicry. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 3. Urbano Gutiérrez, Rosa. 2020. Elements of sustainable architecture. New York: Routledge. 4. Miller, William R. Introducing Geodesign: The Concept. USA: Esri. 5. Marshall, Alan. “Ecotopia 2121 AD: Sustainable Cities of the Future,” Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities 1, no. 2 (June 2014). doi: 10.5250/resilience.1.2.003. 6. Okeke, Francis & Okekeogbu, Chukwuemezie. Biomimicry and Sustainable Architecture: A Review of Existing Literature 8, no.1 (March 2017). 7. Micu, Alexandru. “Ecotopia 2121 shows what perfectly eco-friendly cities would look like,” ZME Science, published January 29, 2018. https://www.zmescience.com/science/ecotopia-project-cities/ 8. Jetzkowitz, Jens. 2019. Co-evolution of nature and society: foundations for interdisciplinary sustainability studies. Cham, Switzerland : Palgrave Macmillan. 9. Downton, Paul F. 2009. Ecopolis: architecture and cities for a changing climate. Dordrecht: Springer.

FIGURE LIST Fig. 1. Pier Luigi Nervi, Palazzetto dello Sport, 1957. In Pawlyn, Michael. Biomimicry in architecture. 2nd ed. Newcastle upon Tyne: RIBA Publishing, 2016; 18. Fig. 2. Pearce, Mick. Eastgate Centre, 1996. In Okeke, Francis & Okekeogbu, Chukwuemezie. Biomimicry and Sustainable Architecture: A Review of Existing Literature 8, no.1 (March 2017): 20. Fig. 3. Marshall, Alan. Accra 2121, 2017. In Marshall, Alan. “Ecotopia 2121 AD: Sustainable Cities of the Future,” Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities 1, no. 2 (June 2014): 15. doi: 10.5250/resilience.1.2.003. Stock images, royalty free, www.pexels.com