Sustainable architecture falls within the concept of “green building“, which emerged in the 1960s and, since then, has been one of the fastest-growing trends in terms of ecology applied to architecture. This concept is based on the use of environmentally respectful materials and construction techniques, considering numerous variables such as ground conditions, aiming to minimize any type of negative impact on the natural world as much as possible.
Energy saving is very present in the idea of sustainable architecture, seeking to generate efficient consumption or using materials that minimize the environmental footprint. Throughout this process, design must be taken into account, so the idea of building something, taking advantage of waste, reusing materials, and reducing the environmental footprint, becomes completely an architectural challenge.
How to Carry Out Sustainable Architecture?
Firstly, in addition to considering everything mentioned above, it is necessary to inspect the land to understand the limitations and conditions it offers. On the other hand, this is the moment when any necessary documentation is verified, from requirements or regulations to meetings with the competent authorities. The epicenter of sustainable architecture lies in the use of energy in the infrastructure, as well as its effective conservation. Therefore, factors such as home insulation, the use of blinds or curtains, acting as natural coolers, come into play, giving great importance to solar energy or other alternative energy sources. If we add to this the use of recycled and natural construction materials, we allow the construction of sustainable buildings to be much cheaper.
Foundations of Efficient Architecture
One of the main premises of sustainable architecture is to guarantee energy efficiency during the useful life of a building through different actions. One of these would be the correct orientation of a building, in order to minimize its energy consumption, adapting to the natural environment. On the other hand, we have to guarantee the insulation of the home as we have already said. If we add to this large windows, and consider the size of the home and its distribution, we can achieve efficient energy use passively.
Basically, the concept of sustainable architecture, although very broad, boils down to the impact an infrastructure will have on the environment throughout its life cycle. Therefore, having a good foundation, it will be easier to adapt the home’s design to people’s needs as the years go by and trends change. In fact, one of the advantages of this type of architecture is that it focuses on innovation, so being sustainable is synonymous with good appearance.
At Arquifach we are very committed to sustainable architecture, so do not hesitate to contact us to consult any questions you may have about it.
