Sustainable by design
Date
2010-07-09T06:29:37Z
Authors
Render, Duanne A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The increasingly rapid breakdown in natural systems that humankind is
currently witness to has brought home the urgent need for a new approach
to society. Modern technologies born of the Industrial and Information
Ages have brought prosperity undreamt of by previous civilisations, but it
is rapidly becoming clear that this prosperity may have come at too high
a cost.
This work will explore the issue of sustainability within the framework
of architecture and the built environment, and attempt to identify a new
paradigm for architectural design whereby built-environment professionals
are able to ensure the consistent realization of sustainable architecture.
The first part of the thesis will address the origins of and need for
sustainability, and explore it within the context of architecture and
the built environment. This will be followed by a critical investigation
into conventional design practice and the emerging alternative -
integrated design practice, and how suitable each of these design
practices are for the task of ensuring sustainability.
The second part of the thesis will detail a practical
implementation of the conclusions reached in section
one, investigating sustainable design in architecture
using a “Design-Based Research” approach.