The world today is facing broad and complex challenges that threaten every aspect of our lives. As the effects of climate change intensifies across the world, the architecture, engineering and building (AEC) industry is getting extremely aware of the looming crisis.
Lets start with some statistics-the building and construction sector is responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption, 39% of energy related carbon emissions and 50% of resource consumption globally. Over the years these figures are only going to increase and growing economies like India will contribute significantly to this environmental crisis. Many government organizations and climate conscious bodies are pushing for all new buildings and developments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Architects, Engineers and all agencies involved in the building industry must begin implementing sustainable strategies into their workflows to achieve this goal.
There was a time not very long ago, when the goal of the sustainability movement was to create an awareness amongst people that a problem exists. Those days are behind us. Today much of the population understands that global problems such as climate change, air pollution and exposure to environmental toxins threaten our future. Architects also understand that the built environment plays a significant role as both a cause of many of the problems and as the solution. More and more professionals see sustainable design as a major component of good design and want to improve the social, environmental and long-term economic performance of projects that they are involved with. The problem that most architects face is not a lack of concern or intent, but the ability to achieve deeply sustainable projects among a myriad of competing priorities.
High performance in buildings is often seen as something only available to a few ambitious projects with the right client, program, and budget. These are showcase projects. These high performing buildings are important as examples of what is possible and for pushing the envelope. But these are few and far between. They will not solve the big environmental issues. Furthermore, the emphasis in our country is to do with rating systems. Standardized rating systems like USGBC, LEED & GRIHA, have a role to play as they streamline sustainability for quick adoption in a project. However, these rating systems do not look at the design process in a holistic manner. This often results in piecemeal, incremental changes to the design that are invisible to the user in terms of tangible benefits. They also add a significant administrative burden to an already overtaxed design administration which discourages clients from adopting them.
What is required is a more holistic and comprehensive design approach to sustainability which goes beyond rating systems. The current problem is that different rating systems have different agendas and parameters.
The architect's call to protect the health, safety and the welfare of its occupants has a new and broader meaning amid challenges such as increasing climate extremes and social inequity. Architects must recognize that our profession can harness the power of design to contribute to solutions addressing the most significant needs of our time. Building professionals should look at this a big opportunity. Every project should be used as a platform for addressing big problems and providing creative solutions.
Lets review this Framework for Design Excellence which has been developed by international scholars and practitioners. This framework is comprised of 10 defining principles of good design in the 21st century. This framework seeks to inform progress towards a low energy, low carbon, equitable, resilient and a healthy built environment. As a practice we have been working with these principles over the last 3 years and have found them to be immensely helpful. These should be thoughtfully considered by the design community at the initiation of every project and incorporated into the design process from an early stage, regardless of the size, typology or aspiration.
The ten principles are as follows and need to be looked at holistically in the design process:
In conclusion – Its sincerely hoped, that this framework harnesses the power of design in a holistic manner to contribute to solutions addressing the issue of sustainability comprehensively. The Framework for Design Excellence challenges architects with a vision of what the profession strives to achieve. This framework is designed to provide relevant issues and questions to architects to incorporate deep green principles in every project and hopefully design high performing, equitable and beautiful buildings.
“The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation.” - Albert Einstein
Data sources, references & further reading- https://www.aia.org/resources/6077668-framework-for-design-excellence
