Essay on Green Architecture

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Green and eco-friendly Architecture.

‘We are nature – all changes to the habitat have an impact on us.’ (Sustainable design, 2007).

People who were brought up in the early 30s and studied architecture could not imagine that the technologies would rapidly develop, and many possibilities could be opened in the architectural world by the end of the 20th Century. As the knowledge of humans is developing every year and new technologies with new digital processes are being invented, I think it’s very important and essential to use it at its best. In addition, the internet has been invented in the 1980s – which also helped to share information within seconds across the world, where architectural ideas could be shared and rethanked. For example, Peter Eisenman has mentioned that – ‘People can cut the elements that are no longer useful or have the same iconic value. For example, to build the post office today with a neo-classical façade would be silly.’ – At which I do agree partly with his statement. This is because it wouldn’t have its functionality, but only the look. Yes, every nation does value its architectural constructions and it has its own identity. However, we are in the modern world that requires functionality and sustainability that help us to think about the environment and look after the planet, so we could pass on our abilities and knowledge to our future generations.

Why do we live and survive? Regeneration and the continuation of humanity is the process that is embedded in our DNA and survival is the first aspect of our lives. Architecture is a matter that is still to be discovered and understand what Architecture means to us.

Is it the value? Is this really raised from the environmental crisis? Is this a new idea or strategy upon which efficiency and survival are promised? Could it be the primary goal of architecture?

I am interested in modernism and actively looking at new developments of new technologies at present. Architecture is the subject that I am intended to discover and understand myself; see how sustainable design affects architecture.

Architecture should contain façade, entrance, division, visual quality, and many aspects raised by the most ambitious architects of all time defining the buildings. Nevertheless, in the modern world, this element can be excluded. Does that still change the building making it a simple building and not being architecture? I don’t think so. In my opinion architecture, it’s not only the look but also functionality and ethically and correctly structured building. My thoughts might insult the Greatest Architects of all time such as Vitruvius or Palladio. However, I think that the modern world is leading towards new ideas and craving for new inventions to be found in terms of any kind of sciences to minimize the workload, expenses, and many other factors that might affect the working process. It’s the same as the old cars, that were exclusively looking good and appreciated by many; but with the introduction of new technologies, modern cars were introduced. Many businesses didn’t risk of investing in such a business, because of the high risks of inflation and the possibility of becoming bankrupt. Yet, new cars were better, much more efficient with comfort, and have used digital technologies, that reduced the costs of repairs and fuel. This example can be applied in the same way to the buildings. The building could be the most efficient and eco-friendly.

A wave of enthusiasm for ‘green’ or ecological architecture is rolling around the world.

Green architecture is becoming more popular every year. Architects and designers are implementing the most incredible projects that yesterday seemed to be fiction, while world celebrities are striving to acquire homes that will allow them to follow the principles of environmental friendliness.

Today, here is the time of a crazy rhythm of life, the inhabitants of megalopolises are yearning for nature and striving to ‘get’ at least a piece of it in all available places, and even on rooftops, garages, and everywhere where there is a flat roof, which allows you to arrange in a modern city oasis.

Ecological architecture is not just a new-fashioned tradition and a tribute to time. If you think globally, then ecological architecture is a new way of life and thinking, the opposite of what is generally accepted. For several centuries, man has been using nature as he pleases. The peak of this trend, perhaps, happened in Russia, when the Soviet authorities changed the river beds for convenience and planted the fields with crops that were unacceptable for climate and soil. In the twenty-first century, the world community understood the value of nature and took it for its preservation, fortunately, with the mind.

Following the principles of ‘green’ construction can reduce energy consumption in the operation of the building by at least 25% (perhaps up to 50-80%), and water consumption – by 30%. But more impressive results are possible. In Germany, houses with zero energy consumption, zero CO2 emissions, and zero waste are already being built – these are the so-called houses of three zeros (3 ‘0’ homes).

The ecological approach in architecture

Ecology is not in vain included in the context of our understanding of the relationship between our home, housing, and nature. The word ‘ecology’ itself comes from the Greek ‘oikos’ – ‘home’. This concept defines the science of communities – about our house and its inhabitants. And no matter how hard the environmentalists lament for the extensive interpretation and widespread dissemination of the fashionable word today, it is rather difficult to preserve the status of a strictly scientific term.

The noun ‘architecture’ today has the full right to be accompanied by the adjective ‘ecological’. And not just because in this case the conversation is specifically about the house and its inhabitants. But also because this phrase is hidden extremely important tendency of human desire for nature and nature, which is gaining momentum in innovation architecture.

The stamp in modern architecture was formed at the beginning of the 20th century in the process of the influence of the accelerated pace and industrialization of construction, and the widespread introduction of new materials and structures. The scale of such changes has become so large and significant over time that it would be more appropriate now to speak of a technical revolution in architecture. However, in the process of accumulation by the modern architecture of the experience of implementation, imperfection, and incompleteness, lack of initial prerequisites, inconsistency with the real demands of society became more and more visible aspects. To a large extent in all respects for taking into account natural, biosocial, and socio-psychological factors, these include the specificity of the natural environment, the particularities, and traditions of the place, the diversity of needs of various groups of people, the freedom of individual choice of different types of behavior and spatial environment. The prerequisites for finding solutions to contemporary architectural problems in these areas form the concept of what we now call the ecological approach to architecture.

Main features of ecological architecture

So, the main feature of ecological architecture is love and respect for nature.

But in a narrow sense, ecological architecture implies such a combination of signs of style, which expresses this very love. Simply put, ecological architecture as a director of architecture as a whole has its own, completely material, tangible, and visual features.

If you look at already built eco-houses and projects created, you can highlight signs of eco-style. In general, it is impossible to confuse the eco-style with other trends in architecture, it is absolutely unique. In the lines and forms of eco-homes, we see nature. The lines are smooth and perfect, but at the same time, they are a little illogical, and strange. But in fact, there is nothing strange, because nature is amazing and diverse – therefore, architects can create boldly without fear of being misunderstood. Thanks to such forms, eco-homes fit perfectly with the surrounding landscape.

Principles of ecological architecture:

1. The principle of conservation of energy.

We are talking about the new design and construction of structures in such a way as to reduce to a reasonable minimum the need for the consumption of thermal energy for their heating or, on the contrary, cooling.

2. The principle of reducing the volume of new construction.

From the dawn of time, people used old buildings or only materials from their demolition for the construction of new buildings. Thus, the builders of the abbey of Saint-Alban in England at one time adapted to the cause of the bricks from the ruins of the Roman city of Verulamium. In the practice of Russian and Scandinavian wooden architecture, healthy old beams and rafters were often marked, removed from previous buildings, and collected anew in another building. So, did the builders of the roofs of medieval Europe. By the middle of the 20th century, a different approach seemed to have completely won, the developers urged the city authorities and private investors that it was cheaper and more efficient to break everything and build from scratch. In fact, it is not always cheaper, rarely more efficient, but undoubtedly simpler.

3. The principle of ‘cooperation’ with the sun.

In order to save and sustain the ‘green’ architecture, solar panels, and solar energy storage devices are used. Also, a large area of windows is located on the south side of the building, which in total gives up to 80% savings on heating and hot water.

4. The principle of respect for the inhabitant.

Speech about a significant change in the approach to the functioning of the building, when both the builder, the architect, and the owner see in the construction not a car for residence, but corporate ownership, in maintaining of which every occupant plays a huge role. Obviously, this role cannot be significant in the case of multi-unit, standard multi-story blocks with an unchanged configuration of walls and roofs, where the role of inhabitants is reduced exclusively to the prevention of vandalism.

But with the reconstruction of old buildings, the role of future inhabitants can be extremely large.

5. The principle of respect for the place.

In fact, we are talking about a special attitude of consciousness, to the greatest extent represented by Eastern philosophy, in which fusion with the natural environment, endless gazing into it from time immemorial, was considered the highest value. In general, the European consciousness has long cultivated a different attitude to nature – it was considered solely as a resource, and as an object of purposeful activity of people. The appearance of ‘green’ architecture gives a hint that humanity has finally begun to think about the destructive impact on nature and is gradually trying to learn how to coexist with it in harmony.

6. The principle of integrity

This principle expresses the idea of ‘green’ architecture, although, of course, it is not easy to achieve a solution in which all the approaches to the problem listed earlier would be used together. This is an ideal, the desire for which is increasingly painted actions of architects in the countries where the greatest mutual understanding between the new avant-garde and the customer.

Vegetable tower, City of Nantes, France

French architect Edouard François, who is a great lover of plant use in solving architectural and design problems, designed a tree-planted tower for the city of Nantes, France.

Trees will be placed in steel pipes specially designated for them and will decorate the facade of the Tour Végétale building. The tubes will not take up much space, but thanks to their use, residents of the house will be able to relax in the cool shade of various types of trees from the local botanical garden.

The main 17-story residential tower is located on the base building, which will be shops and parking. On the other side of the base, a black cube of rubber will be erected, which will accommodate offices.

The living quarters of the tower are ringed with large oval balconies. Different floors have balconies of different diameters.

Modern ‘Green’ School from Spanish architects

This unique, creative inside and outside building belongs to a modern public school in Roldan (Spain). The exterior of the entire hull is covered with a green organic carpet in such a way as if the school had ‘grown’ from a classic landscaped golf course.

The concept of the building is designed to make the new school closer to nature and to integrate it as much as possible into the surrounding landscape.

The authors of the project – the Spanish architectural studio Estudio Huma – tried to form extremely spacious rooms, decorated in a very youthful spirit, so that the schoolchildren feel at home or on the street. This democratic and sincere atmosphere, according to the authors and customers of the progressive project, will certainly contribute to the effective interaction of the establishment and its inhabitants.

The organic carpet, which covered the facades of the educational building, besides the unique positive aesthetics, bears the ecological load, as it forms a favorable microclimate and effective heat exchange of the rooms. Around the school is a spacious area for games and sports.

Green Skyscraper N-Ensan in the International Business Centre of Seoul

On the north bank of the Han River in Seoul, in the International Business Center in the near future, a green skyscraper H Yensan, a height of 385 meters, will appear, which will set a new standard for design and technology in green building. The skyscraper N Yensan, thanks to the technologies used, will be friendly to the environment and humans, the building has a natural shape, and the building will receive full energy from the solar batteries to meet the needs of users.

Solar panels on the roof of a skyscraper. Its area is 176255 square meters, and there will be a hotel, spacious living quarters, retail facilities, and a beauty and health complex on the ground floor.

Instead of the traditional structure of the tower, the architects decided to imitate the structure of an organic crystal. Three asymmetrical ‘wings’ depart from the base of the building, thanks to which a beautiful view of the river and the surrounding landscape opens up.

On the roof of a skyscraper, the architects decided to plant trees, shrubs, and other greenery, which is so lacking on the streets of the 10 millionth metropolis. At each level of the skyscraper, it is planned to place certain natural landscape complexes: somewhere there will be tropical forests, somewhere imitations of Korean mountain villages, somewhere shady parks.

Green skyscraper N-Yensan is planned to be built by 2016.

Ecological Sky Screen Park Royal Tower in Singapore

The WOHA architects were able to completely change the traditional view of the skyscrapers – at the Park Royal high-rise in Singapore, they managed to place the greenery twice as large as the Hong Lim park located nearby. And all because the skyscraper, in which the hotels and offices are located, twists around vertical gardens and decorates green terraces – only 15 thousand square meters. m. green spaces.

Skyscraper Park Royal at Pickering in Singapore is called the vertical expansion of Hong Lim Park. And the park has become more than once at once – by 15 thousand square meters. As planned by the architects, the skyscraper is decorated with trees, creepers, palm trees, and many other types of plants that not only allow you to hide car parks from your eyes but also purify the air from a wide variety of emissions. Park Royal is not a skyscraper in its traditional sense. This is a jungle, shot up into the sky, in which not tigers, elephants, or boas live, but businessmen and office workers.

The impact of the Park Royal skyscraper on the environment is neutralized due to the abundance of greenery placed on the facade, as well as through the open areas that contribute to natural light and natural ventilation of the building.

On the roof of the project will be installed photovoltaic cells, which will provide the building with electricity, and a rainwater harvesting system that will be used to irrigate numerous green spaces. We can say that this ambitious project will be almost completely self-sufficient. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Park Royal project received Green Mark Platinum – the most prestigious environmental certificate in Singapore.

The Park Royal project harmoniously complements the ecological path of development of modern megacities proposed by the American company Terreform, Inc. The buildings of the new generation will be the solution to such global problems of mankind as food shortages and urban pollution.

Ecological Construction in Russia

While in Europe there are already thousands of eco-friendly buildings, there is only one LEED-certified object in Russia — the energy-efficient building certification system — the SKF concern bearing plant in Tver, and a few more that are about to do so. Among the latter is the residential complex Barkli Park on the street of the Soviet Army (architectural studio Atrium), all facilities in Skolkovo, as well as Olympic facilities in Sochi, which, as Alexey Polyakov, a member of the Board of the Council for Environmental Construction in Russia, ‘will certify volitional decision. ‘

residential complex Barkli Park on the street Soviet Army, Moscow.

The topic of eco-friendly architecture is being discussed very widely today, including at the government level, whence then decrees are issued for the mandatory introduction of innovations into everyday construction practices, but, alas, there is no need to talk about meeting these requirements.

What really makes investors spend on ‘green technology? As it turned out, humanistic principles have nothing to do with themselves. So, according to Anton Nadtochy, one of the authors of Barkli Park, the ideas of environmental and energy efficiency appeared in their project after the investor decided to upgrade the object class. ‘The promotion on the market was much more interesting for the customer than energy efficiency, but it allowed us to implement a number of innovative solutions,’ says the architect. ‘These are energy-efficient ventilation and air-conditioning systems, partial use of secondary water, and control of air pollution in parking lots, and use of green roofing and vertical gardening. ‘

In such a city as Moscow, unsettled and aggressive in terms of environment and ecology, the main argument for ‘green technologies’ can be exactly the comfort that they are able to provide. The limited capacity of the networks in the Russian capital also played its role – investors willy-nilly have to think about saving energy, because otherwise, they will not be able to realize their projects very soon.

In other words, the most reliable ‘allies’ of eco-friendly solutions in our country are the lack of communications necessary for the normal functioning of newly built facilities.

At the same time, all interested parties – both investors, architects, and environmental experts agree that innovations will take root in Russia for a very long time, and this process is hardly worth pushing. The main thing is that precedents are being created, and we have good energy-efficient objects from the point of view of architecture. Let today they can still be counted on the fingers of one hand, but nevertheless, thanks to them, our country is already on the verge of a ‘green era’.

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