Green Architecture - Will Really Impact Construction

What is Green Architecture? It is the concept of designing buildings with a view of reducing negative impact of construction on environment and the people. Green Architecture encompasses the entire gamut of factors associated with structural designs ranging from conservation and efficient use of natural resources, use of indigenous material, concepts of recycling to optimizing the finances. It is literally an approach to get "Much More with Much Less". Did you ever wonder why those mud-caked, thatched roofed old houses remained so cool during summers? The answer lies in the advantageous use of local produce and the environment by the indigenous people in building those houses. Modern Green Architecture aims at identifying such indigenous practices and incorporating them into contemporary architectural designs. Green Architecture makes favorable use of natural sunlight and wind flow patterns. Green Architectural designs use energy saving devices such as fluorescent lights and solar heaters to make them more energy efficient. Structural designs incorporate concepts such as on site energy generation of wind, biomass and water.

A holistic Green designed building looks at all aspects of living like a self-sustaining ecosystem. For example, wastewater can be recycled to water the garden and organic waste generated by the occupants can be converted into manure in compost pits, which can be used for the garden. Reduction in the use of synthetic materials is one of the initiatives of Green Architecture. Toxic fumes generated by aging synthetic paints are a health hazard. Some synthetic building insulation material contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, which has affected the health of countless citizens. Green Architecture reduces the use of such material so as to create healthier environment. Green initiatives require concerted national and international effort.

The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) is a US initiative that sets standards for design and construction practices more in tune with nature having the least negative effect on the surrounding environment and the people. The LEED standard gives different weights to factors such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources and indoor environmental quality. Based on the weights, certification points are calculated which are graded as Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Platinum is the most environment friendly and healthy LEED certification. The US LEED standards are being used by Canada, India and Israel for some of their Green Architecture projects. Other countries too have adopted their own versions of Green Architecural practices. Some of the countries adopting own standards for Green Architecture are Australia, France, Germany, Japan , Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand and UK.

The serious environmental conditions facing the world requires a sustained effort by the building industry to make a difference. Such an effort can be initiated through Green Architecture as the standard approach for all construction.

Green buildings are not only be designed for a present use,

House is an architectural beauty | World Architecture

This house is an architectural beauty with its graphic design carved, and the edges of the house at the edge of Madrid, offering a look and feel of weightlessness at the building. The dark vertical stone failure main entrance is in contrast with the shiny facade. Large windows allow enough light in the house. The first floor has a bathroom, kitchen and service. Rooms and recreation rooms are downstairs. This 1000 m² The house is in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature and its elements. Designed to highlight the approach of A-cero architecture.

Verace Submission | Green Architecture

Bouler Architecture recently submitted the Verace project as an entry in the AIA's restaurant competition. As part of the submission, James to put together a comprehensive overview of the green features in the project.

1. First and foremost, the re-use and re-commission of an older and abandoned existing building. The planning department of the local building department was very keen on keep the old building intact. It has been many uses: an office, a mixed use (retail and apartment) and a gift shop. The exterior facade was repaired as necessary, with very little changing on the exterior.2. The wood floors and stairs are reclaimed wood.
2. Rather that powder coat the pizza and bread oven, we used light gauge steel and let it rust. It eliminated the need to toxic kynar powder coated finish over aluminum, which would need to be repainted every so often.
3. The wine is from a Eco-Keg. It holds 25 bottles of wine and keeps it fresh. It eliminates the need for all of the glass bottles and wine waste.
4. The water filtration system and re-usable carbonated glass container eliminated the use of many, many bottles of water.
5. The kitchen is part of the atmosphere with an open design. The heat that is normally wasted from the ovens, and cooking is keep in the building.
6. The exhaust fans are variable speed and can be controlled to keep as much heat in as possible in the winter and eliminate the heat in the summer. The HVAC system was designed to take this into account, so less energy is used to heat the restaurant in the winter.
7. The bricks used on the exterior patios are reclaimed brick.
8. The mahogany windows, Unilux, uses sustainable forests, or FSC certified mahogany on their windows.
9. The windows are super insulated and are some the best performing for heat loss of gain in the industry.
10. The existing building envelope was super-insulated for optimum performance.
11. With the open kitchen plan we were able to have smaller footprint of the same number of seat of a larger restaurant. Smaller footprint, less energy used.
12. Verace is not using table linens, eliminating the energy and water need to washing and drying.

Xeros Residence | Green Architecture

"I wanted to wrap one material around the entire house—as sort of an architectural lingerie."

Tea House Project | Green Architecture

House Concept Architecture for the forest | Tree House

Located on a flag lot, a steep sloping grade provided the opportunity to bring the main level of the house into the tree canopy to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house.




A lover of music, the client wanted a house that not only became part of the natural landscape but also addressed the flow of music.




This house evades the mechanics of the camera; it is difficult to capture the way the interior space flows seamlessly through to the exterior. One must actually stroll through the house to grasp its complexities and its connection to the exterior.




One example is a natural wood ceiling, floating on curved laminated wood beams, passing through a generous glass wall which wraps around the main living room.

Green Roofed London Hotel is Buried Underground | World Architecture

This five star hotel is going under – underground that is! Designed by Reardon Smith Architects for a proposed development at Hersham Golf Club in Surrey, London, this new subterranean hotel will pay its ultimate respects to London’s Green Belt by placing all 200+ guest rooms underneath it! The entire scheme is covered with a plush green roof that takes its cue from the surrounding countryside.

Green Villa and Tower in Almere, Netherlands | world Architecture

The green residential building complex designed by Faro Architecten BV has won a competition to design an urban villas and residential tower of Almere, Netherlands. 57 residences are in the tower and the green balconies will serve as public space.

Completed with photovoltaic and PCM panels, this building will save energy throughout the year. The gardens of the tower will live with rain collected water.

Green Architecture - Copenhagen Wheel

The Copenhagen Wheel, unveiled today by MIT students at the COP15 Climate Change Conference, may not look like anything special. But in reality, it’s a treasure trove of bicycle wheel technology, complete with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), sensors, a smart lock, and a Bluetooth connection to the rider’s iPhone.