Sustainable Architecture

Abstract

I see architecture as a unifying element within society and when architecture is done right it “works”. I grew up in the 1960’s and saw how modern architecture became disjointed with society. Architecture became an element to themselves and ignored how it would fit into the surroundings and the affects it would have on a community and what it will be in the future. The “work” means that architecture understands the surroundings and the impact it has today and tomorrow. It must also “work” from a function or the purpose. When designing one must understand the past, know the present and visualize the future. Today I see the resources that have been driving the expansion of our culture are clearly finite. The “Urban Sprawl” will come to an end or needs too. The cost of everything is increasing and natural resources are being depleted. There is utility in density. I see our society moving towards greater density, from the small community to the large cities. I see a movement back to the city and building designs are to be more efficient. To make the design “work’ it must be efficient in design, be expandable and changeable, it must fit into the surrounding and meet the needs of the community. My thesis is to introduce an element of “time” into architectural design. With time you must have change. This means that architecture will change with time. Not all architecture needs to change there are building types that meet the time criteria. Schools, prisons, medical facility are examples. My thesis is to work on a medical facility that is to be designed in a community setting. Because of population growth including ageing society and technology hospitals will always be changing. With time and change the design will ultimately become "sustainable". The ultimate design must have a wellness component that is woven back into the fabric of the community.