Sustainable Architecture: Rebooting from Covid-19, the way forward

It is June 5th, World Environment Day, and humans (only humans) are still reeling under the pandemic that has struck us. In the last three months of lockdown in India, we have seen and heard of multiple examples of how planet Earth has cleansed itself in many parts of the world, and we are aware of many reports of how human occupation is the primary reason for the ills that have befallen our planet. However, humans are not going away, and so we need to strike the right balance for a future that is beneficial to all living beings. 

 

The construction industry needs to be at the forefront of this challenge. We are responsible in a huge way as far as the environment is concerned and it is time we owned up. While many from the industry is already talking about sustainable architecture, Green buildings, and LEED rated (LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is an internationally recognized green building certification system) buildings, there is still scope for improvement when it comes to the common man making an informed environment-friendly decision on construction matters.

 

While the pioneers of our industry show us the way forward, I would like to contribute in a small but identifiable manner to help in this fight to protect our planet. Small significant steps that will go a long way in forging a path for a clean environment.

 

I will begin with my thoughts on a debatable and controversial topic - usage of wood in construction.

With the increase of steel and concrete materials in buildings, the usage of wood has reduced significantly, and many opine this is for the better since less usage of wood means lesser number of trees are cut. I disagree with this theory strongly and here’s why - I believe we need to keep the wood industry alive and use it as required in construction. Because that would create demand for wood and the only way to get wood is by planting more trees! There is no alternate way to get wood, you must get it from trees and for that you need to grow them, some as much as 15 years to get good yield. Albeit slightly dated, here’s an interesting article that cites how with the right management practices, the demand for wood could actually be good for the tropical industry. 

 

Here are some great examples of timber buildings and the possibilities.

                                      

Toronto WaterFront Project                                                                        Mjøstårnet 
Architects: Moriyama & Teshima Architects and                                        Architects: Voll Arkitekter
Acton Ostry Architects                                                                                 Image Source: edition.cnn.com
Image Source: archdaily.com
 

 

 Reuse Recycle Reduce

The three R’s refers to three terms often used when talking about waste: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reducing is cutting back on the amount of trash we make, reusing is finding a new way to use trash so that we don't have to throw it out, and recycling is using trash to remake new goods that can be sold again.

 

In the construction context, when pulling down an old building to make way for a new one, what components of the building can be reused?

In a typical city home, made of concrete structure, brick walls and the basic paraphernalia, almost everything except for the demolished structure can be reused - if built in a proper manner. Most houses now have UPVC windows, these can be reused for another building as they have exceptionally long life and are recyclable. Ceramic is a recyclable product and if dry construction of flooring is taken up (wooden flooring for example) then these can be reused too.

 

Alternate Products;

I have always argued that usage of concrete blocks, especially those made from fly-ash are better than clay bricks, since bricks are made from topsoil which can more effectively be used for agriculture or landscaping, rather than construction. 

Another natural material that I have been against for some time now is Marble and Granite.

Do not get me wrong, as a designer I love the beauty that this material provides and I still grudgingly use it when required in a project, but stone comes from quarries and they are not exactly nature friendly. There are many alternate products which may not be able to match the natural beauty of stone but do come close.

Prefabricated buildings that are modular in nature are the best way forward as they are extremely sturdy (against common misconception) and are designed to be taken apart and reused at multiple locations. The same stays true for modular furniture using wood-based products.

 

Prefabricated Wooden building. The perfect combo

Architect: Acton Ostry Architects

Image Source: edition.cnn.com

In conclusion, I would like to point at some projects around the world that have caught my imagination and are extremely environment friendly.

 

The CII building in Hyderabad is one of India’s first green buildings and the first to get a LEED rating.

Architect: Karan Grover & Associates - Image source: Linkedin

 The Council House in Melbourne is known for its self-sustaining nature in terms of water recycling and power usage, one of the best models and underrated too.

Architect: Mick Pearce - Image source: processindustryforum.com

India Tower in Mumbai is a most recent building and an example of a modern Indian building with sustainable factors like judicious power usage and water recycling.

Architect: FXFowle architects - Image source: processindustryforum.com

We in India have a long way to go and need to look at our own unique solutions conducive to our natural resources and remember that historically and culturally we have always been one with nature. Now more than ever is the time to find our own “Rhythm” and make “Space” for our planet to bloom under our care.

 

WRITTEN BY:

PRAVITH NAIR

Managing Partner

Rhythm of Space Design Studio

 

 

INPUTS AND EDITING:

ANJU NARAYANAN

Freelance Writer, Storyteller, Product Copywriter