Sustainable architecture, definition, principles and famous projects

By definition, sustainable architecture is based on the principles of sustainability and promotes them through famous projects distributed around the world. It is based on a very broad cultural approach, which involves all design aspects, from the choice of materials to construction techniques, from aesthetics to energy efficiency,

Buildings designed with sustainable architecture are distinguished for two purposes:

• have the minimum environmental impact;
• improve the life of the people living there.

By convention, the origin of sustainable architecture dates back to the 70s with the birth of Baubiologie or green building, which interprets the building where we spend most of our time as a “third skin“. Therefore, it must be compatible with human health.

In recent years, the growing attention to the needs of people and the strong concern for psychophysical balance have given new vigor to these principles, real cornerstones of current sustainable architecture.

Let’s discover together what are the key principles of sustainable architecture, the best examples in the world and how Capoferri contributes to the development of projects in line with sustainability goals.

What are the cardinal principles

Sustainable architecture is based on 4 cardinal principles:

• respect for the environment and ecosystems;
• energy efficiency;
• use of spaces;
• living experience.

By pursuing these goals, we want to obtain efficient buildings that fulfill their intended use, harmonizing in the environmental context without negative impacts. Everything revolves around the concept of sustainability developed in 1991 by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) which aims to “improve the quality of life, without exceeding the carrying capacity of the supporting ecosystems, on which it depends“. The principle was subsequently integrated into the Brundtland report stating that “Sustainable development, […] is a process of change such that the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional changes are made consistent with future needs as well as with current ones“.

Respect for the cardinal principles is the basis of sustainable architecture.

We must start with the choice of materials to ensure respect for the environment.

They must be chosen for their efficiency, durability and above all they must be obtained from processes that respect nature. First of all, it is necessary to favor Km0, regenerable raw materials and their by-products. All toxic materials that over time can harm human health must be excluded and resistance to the risk of earthquakes or fires must be assessed. With foresight it is necessary to evaluate the possibilities of recycling the used materials.

In addition, it is important to pay attention to the affinity between the material used and the characteristics of the area where the intervention is.going to be developed. This helps to get the most out of the potential without interfering with the natural balance.

These attentions are summarized in some main materials:

• wood, a renewable material, long lasting, flexible and capable of valid thermal insulation;
• cork, thermal and acoustic insulator, particularly breathable, can be used in panels that can also be made without adhesives;
• straw, soundproofing, breathable, increases the resistance of wooden structures, pressed into small blocks has a high resistance to fire;
• hemp, combined with lime, forms blocks used to improve the performance of the wooden structures in which it is inserted;
• biocement, that is a concrete capable of regenerating and repairing itself thanks to the bacteria it contains;
• microporized brick, thermal and acoustic insulation in transpiring blocks obtained from the calcination of wood sawdust or rice husk, which however involves a high energy expenditure to be considered totally sustainable.

The choice of resistant, insulating materials that do not require frequent maintenance meets the needs of an increasingly improved energy efficiency.

In this sense, the solar exposure of the building, the orientation of its windows, the shape and the ability to retain heat or promote natural ventilation are also very important.

By equipping buildings with photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, rainwater collection and filtering tanks, the possibilities for energy savings become real.

Functional and livable spaces capable of satisfying the housing needs are the ultimate goal of sustainable architecture, which places humans and the environment at the center of its interest.

The best examples of sustainable architecture

To admire some of the best examples of sustainable architecture, just stroll around Italy.

A few steps away from Piazza Gae Aulenti, in Milan, stands the so-called Bosco Verticale by Stefano Boeri. There are two buildings, 28 and 26 floors, housing 900 trees, 5 thousand shrubs and 11 thousand plants, corresponding in total to two hectares of wood. Built between 2007 and 2014, it was born, as the architect himself said, to be “a house for trees that also hosts humans and birds“. The two towers constitute a microclimate in which vegetation controls humidity, produces oxygen and reduces the presence of carbon dioxide.

Let’s move a little further south to meet in Guastalla, in the province of Reggio Emilia, the Balena, a nursery built by MCArchitects reproducing the whale belly of Pinocchio’s whale through a composition of wooden frames.

Conceived according to the strictest seismic regulations, it has replaced two nurseries damaged by the 2012 earthquake. Insulation, rainwater recycling system and photovoltaic system make it an example of sustainable architecture.

But there are also other examples, such as the Fiorita Passive House in Cesena, a wood and metal building, which has a mechanical ventilation system and is not connected to the gas network. There are also examples in public buildings such as the nursery schools designed in Trentino by Feld72 or the Piero Gobetti institute in Caltagirone, Sicily.

If we go beyond national borders, we find striking examples of sustainable architecture. In Europe, The Edge in Amsterdam is considered the most sustainable office in the world, capable of self-producing electricity. From the common point of view, it has actually obtained numerous awards and the Breeam (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) certification.

If we shift our attention to the East, we must mention the Shanghai Tower, in Shanghai. It can be defined as a real city developed on 127 floors. It can accommodate over sixteen thousand people and consists of offices, a conference center, restaurants, hotel rooms and areas for recreation. Equipped with vertical gardens and green areas, natural lighting, excellent thermal insulation, it is an entirely energy class A building. It has wind turbines, a geothermal system and a rainwater collection and recycling system. Thanks to these features the building has deserved the LEED Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council.

But we could go on and on mentioning the passive solar house in Edmonton in Canada, the Bedzed complex in Hackbridge in the London suburbs, One Angel Square in Manchester, the Pearl River Tower, in Guangzhou (China), the Bahrain World Trade Center in Bahrain and many other less famous buildings that make their contribution to the environment by reducing the impact of their presence.

Sustainable architecture for Capoferri

Doors and windows play a fundamental role in sustainable architecture. Capoferri is one of the most effective supporters of low-impact and energy-efficient buildings.

The choice of environmentally friendly materials and cutting-edge processing techniques place the company in the foreground, encouraging world-renowned architects to contact us for the design, construction and installation of windows suitable for green building.

The whole company is aligned with current sustainability needs. Since 2018, the production facility is equipped with a 380 kW photovoltaic system; the carpentry has a 2 MW thermal biomass plant, fueled with wood deriving from production waste and capable of heating offices and a wood drying room.

Capoferri windows and doors today meet all the needs of sustainable architecture with:

• responsible sourcing of certified wood only;
• optimized waste reduction;
• use of renewable energies;
• 100% recyclable bronze and steel;
• high energy efficiency of windows.

Efficient hermetic sealing systems, insulating and sound-absorbing glass, and all the necessary requirements for safety contribute to make buildings perfectly suited to human needs in terms of livability, health and efficiency.