Eco Architecture Vii

Comprises a collection of papers presented at the 7th International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, this volume reviews the challenges and new opportunities of contemporary architecture. These papers cover the results of advances in design and new building technologies, as well as the development of new materials. Many of the changes are motivated by a drive towards eco-architecture, trying to harmonise architectural products with nature. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and traditional construction techniques. Never before in history have architects and engineers had such a range of new processes and products open to them. In spite of that, the construction industry lags behind all others in taking advantage of a wide variety of new technologies. This is understandable, due to the inherent complexity and uniqueness of each architectural project. Advances in computer and information systems, including robotics, offers the possibility of developing new architectural forms, construction products and building technologies which are just now starting to emerge. Changes have also taken place in the way modern society works and lives, due to the impact of modern technologies. Patterns of work have been disrupted and changed, affecting transportation and the home environment. The demand is for a new type of habitat that can respond to the changes and the consequent requirements in terms of urban environment. The papers contained in this book deal with topics such as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from many different places around the world. They will be of interest to architects, engineers, planners, physical scientists, sociologists and economists.

This book contains most of the papers presented in the Eco-Architecture 2010 conference, which was the third edition of the International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature. Previous editions, that were very successful were held previously in the New Forest, UK, in 2006 and the Algarve, Portugal in 2008 and demonstrated the importance of a forum like this to discuss the characteristics and challenges of such architectural vision. Eco-Architecture implies a new approach to the design process intended to harmonise its products with nature. This involves ideas such as minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, taking into account the amount required during the extraction and transportation of materials, their fabrication, assembly, building erection, maintenance and eventual future recycling. Presentations in the conference were related to topics like building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, ecological and cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, quantifying sustainability in architecture, resources and rehabilitation, and issues from education, research and practice. Case studies from different places around the world were also presented.

An important consideration for energy-efficient buildings is their primary energy requirements over the entire life cycle. How to determine this? What integrative factors influence the performance of a healthy and sustainable building? This, while it may be important for clients and architects to know, is frequently not very transparent. This book has been written to assist with clarifying target criteria and expanding horizons when it comes to ecological buildings. It is meant as a handbook and source of reference for clients, architects, planners and building operators, to provide them with pertinent information about their design, construction and operation: how to do this in the most energy-efficient and economical manner? Also, there is feedback and documentation about prominent buildings like the Hamburg Dockland or the Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg in Stuttgart. They provide excellent architectural examples for detailed construction and design solutions. Further, there are insightful interviews with architects and clients about many important buildings, which help turn this book into an integrated source of reference for sustainable architecture. - A Guideline for Planning, Construction and Operation of sustainable Buildings - A source of reference for clients, architects, planners and building operators - Innovative architectural examples with sustainable concepts and design

New opportunities for solving the challenges of contemporary architecture occur as a result of advances in the design and new building technologies, as well as the development of new materials. Many of the changes are motivated by a drive towards eco-architecture, trying to harmonise architectural products with nature. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and traditional construction techniques. Contemporary architecture is at the threshold of a new stage of evolution, deeply influenced by the advances in information and computer systems and the development of new materials and products, as well as construction processes that will drastically change the industry. Never before in history have architects and engineers had such a range of new processes and products open to them. In spite of that, the construction industry lags behind all others in taking advantage of a wide variety of new technologies. This is understandable, due to the inherent complexity and uniqueness of each architectural project. Advances in computer and information systems, including robotics, offers the possibility of developing new architectural forms, construction products and building technologies which are just now starting to emerge. Changes have also taken place in the way modern society works and lives, due to the impact of modern technologies. Patterns of work have been disrupted and changed, affecting transportation and the home environment. The demand is for a new type of habitat that can respond to the changes and the consequent requirements in terms of the urban environment. This volume originates from the 8th International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature and deals with topics such as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from around the world.

Unlike the mechanistic buildings it replaces, Eco-Architecture is in harmony with nature, including its immediate environs. Eco-Architecture makes every effort to minimise the use of energy at each stage of the building's life cycle, including that embodied in the extraction and transportation of materials, their fabrication, their assembly into the building and ultimately the ease and value of their recycling when the building's life is over. Featuring papers from the First International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, the text brings together papers of an inter-disciplinary nature, and will be of interest to engineers, planners, physicists, psychologists, sociologists, economists, and other specialists, in addition to architects. Featured topics include: Historical and Philosophical aspects; Ecological and Cultural Sensitivity; Human Comfort and Sick Building Syndrome; Energy Crisis and Building Technologies; Carbon Neutral Design; Alternative Sources of Energy (wind, solar, wave, geothermal etc); Design with Nature; Design with Climate; Siting and Orientation; Re-use of Brownfield Sites; Material Selection; Minimal Transportation Approaches and use of Indigenous Materials; Life Cycle Assessment of Materials; Design by Passive Systems; Conservation and Re-use of Water; Building Operation and Management; Applications in Different Building Types; Regulations and Contracts.

Comprising of the proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, the papers deal with topics such as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation as well as many others. This book follows five successful meetings which started in the New Forest, UK in 2006, then followed in the Algarve (2008), A Coruna (2010), Kos (2012) and Siena, Italy (2014). Eco-Architecture signifies a new approach to the design process intended to harmonise its products with nature. This involves concepts such as minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, taking into account the amount required during the extraction and transportation of materials, their fabrication, assembly, building formation, maintenance and eventual future recycling. The adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, is another important issue. The book will be of interest to architects, engineers, planners, physical scientists, sociologists and economists and contained within these proceedings are case studies from many different places around the world. Topics covered consist of: Design with nature; Energy efficiency; Tall buildings and environment; Ecological impacts of materials; Biomaterials; Bioclimatic design; Water quality; Green facades; Ecological; Education and training; Adapted reuse; Transformative design; Sustainability indices in architecture; Bioclimatic design and passive systems; Recycle, reuse, reduce and recovery; Mixing it up and building flexibility; Architectural visualisation and New techniques: building information modelling.

This book contains papers presented at the second International Conference on Eco-Architecture . The original Conference was the first to be held worldwide on the subject of sustainable architecture in order to define what ECO-ARCHITECTURE actually is, i.e. "Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature." The subject has matured in the two years between conferences and the submitted papers can be categorised into Ecological and Cultural Sensitivity, Design with Nature, Resource Conservation and Building Technology, Design by Passive Systems, Case Studies, Rehabilitation and Adaptive Re-use. The affiliations of the authors whether in academia, the professions or industry indicate the very wide international scope and the interdisciplinary nature of the subject.

At a time when environmental architecture is proliferating in all its forms around the world, adopting ever more complex sets of tools, this book provides an overview of the state of the field. It provides a critical introduction to the study of environmentalism in architecture. Written especially for students and researchers who work in the field of environmental architecture, this book reveals the spectrum of approaches practiced today. The text includes: An abridged history and overview of environmentalism in the field of architecture. A clear methodology for analyzing the included 29 cases, which can also be adopted for further guidance in a variety of architectural design projects. Assessments of 29 buildings: 10 libraries, 10 museums and 9 university buildings from around the world. Analyzing Eco-Architecture: Beyond Performance is essential reading for students, researchers and practitioners involved in the study and design of environmental architecture today.