Architecture Student Chronicles

A green approach to the built environment involves a holistic approach to the design of buildings. All the resources that go into a building, include materials, fuel or the contribution of users need to be considered if a sustainable architecture is to be produced.

the Blu Homes mkSolaire, a green building designed by Michelle Kaufmann

Producing green buildings involving resolving many conflicting issues and  requirements. Each design decision has environmental implications. Measures for green buildings can be divided into four area:

1) Reducing energy in use

2) Minimizing external pollution and environmental damage

3) Reducing embodied energy and resource depletion

4) Minimizing internal pollution and damage to health.

One of the excellent examples of Green Architecture is “Aliens Space Station”.

Check out this excellent article Green architecture in which the author states…

In many ways, there is a renaissance of design taking place quietly in many parts of the country, even while cut and paste architecture still prevails in the current building boom.

With technologies changing as rapidly as they are now, and with knowledge of global best practices being so easily accessible (thanks to the internet), concepts of green architecture are no longer only textbook knowledge — many architectural practices are sensitive to the growing need to adopt methods which are energy efficient.

A “green” building places a high priority on health, environmental and resource conservation performance over its life-cycle. These new priorities expand and complement the classical building design concerns: economy, utility, durability, and delight. Green Design emphasizes a number of new environmental, resource and occupant health concerns:

1) Reduce human exposure to noxious materials.

2) Conserve non-renewable energy and scarce materials.

3) Minimize life-cycle ecological impact of energy and materials used.

4) Use renewable energy and materials that are sustainably harvested.

5) Protect and restore local air, water, soils, flora and fauna.

So, to achieve minimum carbon footprint, serious efforts are put into designing buildings with better insulation, better water management, low er power consumption, better use of natural elements like sunlight and wind, and lower maintenance costs.

Here are a few Green building Design Case studies:

Application of Green Building Technology in India | Thiagaraj Convention Center

Case Study | LBHS College, Mumbai | Green Building Architecture

Leading the Green Building Movement | TKM College of Engineering (Chennai)

VNIT – Nagpur | Energy Efficient Structures

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