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Sustainable architecture – this phrase has been mentioned a lot in recent years. This concept of “sustainable architecture” is closely associated, even with the pictures of green architecture, ecological architecture, environmental friendliness, energy saving, etc., to achieve a sustainable value for the environment. Human life, minimizing negative impacts on the environment in the present as well as in the future. However, this understanding, although correct, is only one aspect because that is what people lack and need to aim for. Try to approach and understand sustainable architecture in a more general and simple way…
Sustainable in terms of structure, materials, and techniques
All architecture is born to serve people. Therefore, the sustainability of the first architecture is the simplest: the building must be sure and safe. Of course, each type of building, construction nature, or construction phase has different requirements for sustainability, but there are minimum requirements for mechanical and structural sustainability. No matter how beautiful and beautiful a house or architecture is if it collapses, that architecture will no longer be worth using, and the good and beautiful things will no longer have existential value.
In construction science, four requirements with closely related works are sustainability, utility, aesthetics, and economy, “sustainability” is always at the top (while the last two factors are “aesthetic” and “economical” are interchangeable from time to time).
Science and technology and construction science are developing more and more; material technology has evolved to make modern buildings with more sustainable structures than ancient architecture many times. But modern facilities are also tall – more extensive, containing many people and properties; require a higher safety factor. Architecture and people are increasingly facing instability caused by nature and society (earthquake, tsunami, storm, flood, terrorism…), so structural sustainability becomes increasingly important.
Structural sustainability is closely related to the sustainability of the materials that make up the structure. Ancient architecture is made of wood, brick, and stone; modern architecture is made of concrete and steel. Besides structural materials, the sustainability of the materials that make up the architectural form is also critical to creating the overall sustainability of the building. Of course, there are many cases, many construction materials that play both roles: both as a bearing structural material and as an architectural material to create the form and aesthetic value of the building.
Technical systems and equipment in the project are also critical and require sustainability. These are standard systems such as electrical systems, lighting, communication systems, water supply, and drainage systems, or to a higher degree in modern architectures such as air conditioning systems, elevator systems, fire alarm systems – fire fighting, monitoring systems, etc. monitoring, intelligent control systems… Sustainable construction means these systems must also be sustainable, scientifically designed and installed, operating stably and safely, convenient, and easy to maintain, repair, upgrade, replace or handle if problems occur.
Sustainability in terms of planning, landscape, environment
A building has meaning when it is placed in the right place. The facility must beautify the landscape and space, and vice versa. The room will honor the work. In professional terms, architectural works must follow the planning, which must be valuable and sustainable. Much urban architecture has existed for hundreds of years and is still beautiful. They are beautiful in the art of architecture themselves because they are built in the right place, in harmony with the urban landscape, with stunning views. These works are the highlights of the city, contributing to the structure of the city. Architecture, the appearance of the town. But there is also another sad fact that many works have architectural value, but they are placed in the wrong place, unsuitable for space and urban landscape, so their value has been reduced. Some results violate the planning (for one reason or another) that must be changed or adjusted, which also causes terrible consequences for the work itself and the planning. And finally, urban spaces are being transformed fearfully before the construction whirlwind, and much architectural heritage and valuable architectural works are being suppressed, suffocated, and lost. Space – landscape, hidden in other low-value new constructions. Worse, there are buildings demolished to build new ones. That shows that if the planning is not stable or the planning – urban management is not good, it also affects the project’s sustainability.
Environmental sustainability is a concept mentioned at the beginning of the article. Ecological sustainability is related to planning and landscape issues. Environmental factors are also broadly understood in both natural and social meanings. “Sustainable architecture,” as often said, refers to biological and environmental factors with criteria such as being friendly to nature, symbiotic with nature, and natural green. Environmental sustainability means minimizing the release of harmful substances into the environment during construction, operation, and demolition. Saving energy is also indispensable (reducing environmental damage caused by exploiting resources such as coal, oil, etc., to produce electric power). In addition to architectural solutions, the application of technology is a development trend to exploit clean energy sources available in nature, such as solar energy, wind energy … or waste treatment. From the social-ecological perspective, there is a contradiction between development, civilization, and the natural environment. The result of human society is synonymous with production, growth, and construction. These are all harmful to nature by exploiting materials and energy from nature. But it is also impossible to restrain development to keep character untouched in some way. The only thing possible is to strike a balance. Sustainable (environmental) architecture is about creating this balance in harmony and symbiosis with nature. Since then, there have been interactions with social issues. The tendency to slow down, read books, ride bicycles, don’t eat animals… is a human response to protect nature and the environment; it is a consequence as well as an influence on sustainable architecture and ecological architecture.
Sustainability aesthetics
Architecture is one of the seven arts. Although modern architecture today is closer to technology – engineering, it is still impossible to exclude or deny the artistic and aesthetic elements. The history of architecture in particular and the history of art, in general, is a constant flow, always with acclimatization, change, and development. Architecture is also influenced by many other factors such as materials, techniques, social needs… Sustainable architecture means having an artistic value from a specific aesthetic point of view. Although each historical period, each country and region has different opinions on aesthetic values based on culture, belief, religion, customs, and habits…; But, the beauty of architectural art always has a common denominator based on aesthetics and philosophy. Architecture is the face that reflects the history and contains and records political, cultural, social, scientific, and technical factors… at the time of its birth. Unlike the works of other arts that can fade away or disappear, “sustainable architecture” has existed for hundreds or even thousands of years and still exists in space, along with social life. Modern. If architecture is recognized as sustainable, it means that its artistic value and aesthetic value are also sustainable, even though artistic trends, architectural trends, and architectural styles have changed a lot.
Maybe, there are types of architecture that people don’t build anymore, or there are buildings, but the architectural form is not like that anymore. But its artistic and aesthetic values are not therefore reduced. On the contrary, its historical and artistic values are enhanced and honored. Naturally, “aesthetically sustainable” architectures were born by talented architects. And the “aesthetic sustainability” is also a reason for lasting architecture, even though it may not be a robust, significant, magnificent architecture.
Cultural sustainability
Architectural works were born to serve the essential needs of people in life. But architecture is not only functional and functional like other objects and items. The existence of architecture and human life have created spiritual values. Architecture has aesthetic value; artistic value is already a part of that factor. But more extensive, it also formed and preserved cultural values over the years, through the ups and downs of history. It can be said that there are architectures with souls. That is true with religious architectures, temples, mausoleums…; works that have gone through the upheavals of the times, associated with historical events with historical figures. Or that architecture can be a typical and exemplary architecture expressing a simple but profound cultural value, showing the personality and spirit of the owner.
There are small buildings and ancient architectures that have existed for hundreds of years. Many of these buildings are built with non-permanent materials, not so structurally, mechanically, and materially in their original sense, yet it still exists and shines. Because those works contain great cultural values, in other words, they are culturally sustainable architectures. This “invisible” sustainability has tremendous power, without any force that can invade or destroy it, whether it is nature or humans. On the contrary, it is possible that a structurally and aesthetically sustainable building is still devastated by other factors, such as planning or specific administrative policies on construction management; or it is eliminated because of inhumane elements without the support and consensus of the community.
Sustainable architecture – it’s a broad and multifaceted concept. But it can also be understood, in general, and specifically in the factors that make up sustainability. All material things are destroyed by time, but spiritual values are forever!
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