Module 6 Current Practices and Moving Forward

The concepts and reading material in this last module related heavily to my current studio project which is focused on designing a sustainable building. What I found interesting and useful about this reading was how sustainability related back to urban design. There are different natural, cultural, and technical images which focus on how we change the environment and seek balance as place developers. Sustainability in architecture can be vague and hard to encompass sometimes, but by focusing around the natural environment, the economy, and society we can begin to better understand and mold our designs to be ecologically neutral. Sustainable design has been my passion for some times now and I have enjoyed getting to know more and more about how to incorporate it into my work.

Image of Sustainable Urban Design
Source: designingfortomorrow.org

The natural image of sustainability is what I was most familiar with, which focuses more on a local level of environmental place, the ecosystem, health and balance. As the study of local natural systems with an emphasis on the sensitivity and humility in relation to nature helps us to work delicately and protect out world. Passive design principles are often applied in relation to this sustainable image which works with the physical and biological attributes of spaces such as the topography, climate, and ecosystems. The cultural image still focuses on the local level, but looks more at contextual forms, materials, and construction methods and how they echo the local vernacular. By studying local culture and buildings through the emphasis on local involvement, designers can develop more “down to earth” and relatable spaces which locals will want to occupy and retain. Having users of our spaces is the end game after all. The technical image of sustainability is much broader, focusing around the global scale of technologies, global environmental impacts, cost-benefit analysis, and risk management. This is the leading edge of contemporary international systems. Here we study science, economics, technology and how the overlap between the natural and technical. As a global population we have an immense impact on the ecological environment and how it withstands time. And as designers, we have a responsibility to preserve our world and design appropriate urban spaces.

Through the understanding of the images of sustainability, we can begin to make positive change such as through the environmental approach of promoting renewable energy and resources through passive and active systems. The ecological and technical approaches also work with nature and the built environment to make sustainable design a reality. Architecture and urban form are moving forward toward sustainable development through many current practices such as Transit Oriented Development (TOD) which is focused on maximizing access to public transportation in mixed use areas of higher density. This helps create better access to jobs, housing, and opportunities for people of all ages succeed as we as helps to reduce congestions, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions and promotes more healthy communities through walkability. The sustainable development practice of Smart Growth has many similar aspects to TOD but is more environmentally sensitive, economically viable and community-oriented. I admire this strategy and see its importance in improving quality of future developments and life. Current movements, as discussed in the “Moving Forward” lecture, such as Slow Cities, Tactical Urbanism, and Urban Interventionism are working toward the promotion and improvement of urban change. They came about as a response to various ideas and environmental responses as our designs do. Involving the public in the design process helps us to develop responsive spaces in which people can interact within and sustain themselves. I believe, based on what I have learned from this course, that the future of urban design aims to improve the quality of life through the creation of meaningful spaces that respond appropriately to the environment.