What is sustainable architecture?

Sustainable architecture is a way of developing an architectural project that seeks to optimize the use of natural resources. The main objective of sustainable architecture is for the property to have the lowest possible environmental impact on the environment - both during its construction and in its daily use.

Sustainable architecture has been a strong trend in the real estate market around the world in recent years. But after all, do you know what sustainable architecture is? And, most importantly, do you know the advantages it brings to tenants?

In general, it is concerned with minimizing environmental impacts and providing a better quality of life for tenants. It can be applied in small offices, houses, apartments and large commercial buildings.

The architects responsible for these constructions do an incredible job, observing and analyzing which materials can be used to build buildings that value sustainability. Not to mention the beautiful appearance that these buildings acquire!

We are very proud to have great examples of sustainable architecture in our country! So, how about we understand a little more about these projects and their advantages?

Before we begin, check out the topics that will be covered:

• What is sustainable architecture?
• What are the advantages of sustainable architecture?
• Examples of sustainable architecture;
• Sustainable architecture: how to apply it at home?

Let's get started!

What is sustainable architecture?

Sustainable architecture is a new construction model that has the main objective of designing buildings that have less impact on the environment.

In this other blog post, we go into a little more detail about what sustainable construction is.

Sustainable architecture is what gives rise to sustainable constructions. Its main characteristics are:

• Compliance with material and waste disposal standards;
• Rational use of natural raw materials;
• Conscious and balanced financial investment;
• Adoption of new technologies to optimize energy consumption;
• Provide a better quality of life.

How did sustainable architecture come about?

This term emerged many years ago, more specifically in the 1970s after the Oil Crisis. At that time, the oil industry increased the price of this natural resource after discovering that it was not renewable.

In response, some architects began to think of alternative ways to use energy and natural resources to overcome the crisis, so that they could continue to design buildings.

Even after the end of this crisis, this concept remained strong among professionals in the field. From the 1990s onwards, the concept of sustainability and the search for sustainable alternatives in civil construction gained more strength among international organizations. In fact, it intensified in several countries.

Many people love living in a large metropolis, with many buildings and services available 24 hours a day. São Paulo , for example, is considered the largest city in Latin America, and one of the most sought-after regions for those looking for a job opportunity.

What impacts do these constructions have on the environment?

We know that living in one of these regions has many advantages, but we need to think about one important point. After all, what impact do these buildings have on the environment?

There are several, in fact. The construction industry is one of the sectors that causes the most environmental damage, due to the high level of waste generation, increased noise for nearby residents and increased pollution. According to the Brazilian Council for Sustainable Construction , the main impacts caused by the sector, especially in recent years, are:

• Consumption of 50% to 75% of the world's natural resources, considering their entire life cycle;
• Consumption of 40% of the world's energy;
• Responsible for 30 to 40% of CO2 emissions;
• High air pollution and noise from construction sites.

Scary, isn't it? We don't want to make this text pessimistic, but we need to reinforce these impacts to show the importance of sustainable architecture!

It is from this that a new construction concept is applied in the sector. With it, the architects and engineers involved in each project are concerned with using natural resources consciously, using the best materials in a way that causes the least possible environmental impact.

Consequently, this will greatly contribute to a better quality of life for tenants and everyone else.

There are several methods commonly used for this purpose that can be easily adopted by anyone who wants to have a more sustainable lifestyle. Examples include reusing rainwater, opting for the use of photovoltaic panels and installing green roofs.

There are no limits to creativity. Soon we will give you excellent tips on how you can adopt sustainable actions in your home!

What are the pillars of sustainable architecture?

Sustainable architecture is not a new term, and has been gaining momentum in recent years around the world due to increasing concern for the environment. According to the Belgian Building Research Institute (CSTC), buildings that wish to adopt a sustainable construction model must provide a balance between three pillars:

• Environmental perspective: concern for the preservation of the environment and its natural resources;
• Social: concern for ensuring a good quality of life for tenants through air quality, thermal comfort and acoustic comfort;
• Economic: be concerned with building a project that is economically viable. After all, every building has routine expenses and risks that can damage it. Therefore, it is important to keep an open mind to possible actions that generate the least possible impact on the environment and the health of residents.
  

What are the advantages of sustainable architecture?

We could write an entire article about the advantages that sustainable architecture brings, especially with so many buildings in our country that fill our hearts with pride! But here, we will provide a brief summary.

Sustainable architecture brings advantages for environmental preservation, quality of life, financial savings and even represents a major investment.

Let's understand each of them better.

Environmental preservation

The main advantage of sustainable architecture is that it helps reduce environmental impacts and, consequently, contributes to its preservation. After all, these buildings will be constructed with more environmentally friendly materials in order to reduce waste. Consequently, they will reduce CO2 emissions, energy and water consumption.

Better quality of life

By reducing pollution and other environmental impacts, sustainable architecture will greatly contribute to a better quality of life, not only for the building’s tenants, but for the entire population.

Here, it is important to emphasize that we are not just talking about physical health. Several scholars have already proven that these buildings also contribute to better mental health and well-being of their residents.

Have you ever heard of “Sick Building Syndrome”? This term, coined by the World Health Organization’s Technical Committee in 1982, defined this syndrome as a set of diseases caused or stimulated by air pollution in enclosed spaces.

Examples include: headache; fatigue; lethargy; burning eyes, nose and throat irritation; skin abnormalities and lack of concentration, especially in office workers.

Financial economy

Many people believe that sustainable buildings are more expensive and require more expensive materials to be built. If this is your case, you should know that this idea is completely wrong!

Of course, the prices of these buildings may be a little higher, but the financial savings are in the long term. After all, with the use of materials and technologies that aim to reduce waste, the final water, energy and gas bills will be much lower than in other properties.

Ultimately, the high energy and water efficiency of these buildings is the big secret that makes them contribute to greater savings.

It's a good investment

Finally, we have noticed a significant increase in the value of sustainable buildings in the real estate market. Developing a sustainable project and constructing an efficient building initially means a greater investment, but the market has gradually recognized the advantages of this type of construction, which has seen a significant increase in real estate value.

Many studies have already shown that a property that has a sustainability certificate, for example, has room to charge a 10% premium on the rental value, faster sales and a 14% overvaluation in relation to its neighbors of similar types.

That's right, you read that right. In the real estate market, buildings can earn certifications that prove their sustainability. Among them, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most famous sustainable construction seal in the world, created by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council).

LEED analyzes a series of pre-established criteria to determine whether a building actually contributes to the environment. And we have many reasons to be proud!

Brazil currently ranks fourth among countries that produce the most green buildings in the world, behind only the USA, China and the United Arab Emirates. This represents a great achievement considering that these ideals only began to be adopted in the country in 2006.

To learn more about this certification, just click on the link below and check out our full article on the subject. See: LEED Certification: learn what it is and its importance!

Award-winning sustainable architecture projects

Sustainable architecture can be developed in extremely different ways. Creativity is capable of generating incredible projects. As simple as they may seem, they can bring incredible results!

With this in mind, we have selected some award-winning sustainable architecture projects from around the world so that you can see how this concept can be applied in different ways.

The Environmental Committee of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is one of the biggest references in the real estate market when it comes to sustainability. Every year, it awards the 10 best architectural projects that combine high design with cutting-edge performance, in addition to evaluating criteria of social, economic and ecological values.

Here are some of the biggest highlights of 2020:

Environmental Nature Center and Preschool - California, United States

This preschool aimed at children aged 2 to 5 has gained prominence for its incredible educational proposal focused on practical experience in nature.

To encourage this closeness between young people, the institution promotes several practical activities. For example, the place has its own organic garden where they grow all the food distributed, in addition to being the perfect habitat for birds and insects.

But what made him win an important sustainability award?

Because it is located in a coastal climate region, the building was constructed with natural and recycled materials to promote natural ventilation. For example, they only use energy-efficient ceiling fans.

But in addition to that, the building has huge solar panels that generate up to 60% more energy than needed.

Central Library - Austin, Texas

The central library in Austin, Texas, was built with the goal of becoming the brightest library in the country, as well as serving as a model for water conservation for buildings in the region.

When completed, it stood out for its use of two important resources for sustainability: the use of natural lighting and the reuse of rainwater.

To ensure natural lighting for the entire building, the architects built an installation in its center that distributes light to practically all spaces.

To reuse rainwater, they developed a complete system that provides the water needed to irrigate all green areas.

Land Entry Point - Mexico-United States Border

The border between these countries has been the subject of news and even major international films. What many of them have not shown, however, is that this region has stood out for its great sustainable project.

As it is an area with a large circulation of people, vehicles and goods, local architects decided to create a project that embraced the local culture and, at the same time, promoted sustainability.

To achieve this, they adopted measures such as the creation of solar panels, rainwater retention systems and public bathrooms with natural ventilation.

SESC May 24th

We couldn't finish this list without a famous national example! It's located in the city center, which has been considered one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.

SESC 24 de Maio took first place in the Institutional (Building) category of the 7th Saint-Gobain Architecture-Sustainable Habitat Award. The building was designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha together with the MMBB Arquitetos office.

The nominees were evaluated on aspects of comfort, innovative solutions, environmental preservation and promotion of sustainability in Brazilian civil construction.

Leading architects in sustainable architecture

Behind so many incredible projects, there are great architects. Many of them have become famous for their unique and highly efficient work. So, how about we get to know some of these professionals?

Zaha Hadid

Of Iraqi-British origin, she is considered one of the great names in architecture. Her work was marked by deconstructivism and a critical eye, with the construction of projects that aim at sustainability and the fight against social inequality.

Founder of Zaha Hadid Architects, one of her most famous projects was a football stadium in England. Its biggest difference was the fact that it was built entirely out of wood and with sustainable energy.

Elena Caldini

The architect from São Paulo is one of the members of the famous Casa de Terra project. Winner of the 2018 Saint Gobain award, its proposal was to reconcile technological innovation with economic, environmental, social and educational aspects for the entire life cycle of the construction.

All the houses built have economical modular structures and are an important sustainable solution in the world of civil construction.

Sergio Caldas

Throughout his professional career, architect Sérgio Caldas has been concerned with spreading the importance of more conscious urban planning.

His projects were developed using techniques that met sustainable demands in architectural projects. In addition, he also sought to transform the way of living in large cities.

One of his greatest achievements was the Movimento Terras, considered the first ecological region located in Rio de Janeiro. Built in partnership with several Brazilian offices, it was considered a watershed among Brazilian projects for energy, thermal, architectural, technical and construction efficiency.

Its success was so great that it ended up winning an award in the Brazilian Enterprise category. In addition, it also won the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) seal.

Sustainable architecture: how to apply it at home?

How could we not be enchanted by the proposal and benefits of sustainable architecture? In practice, it can be used both as a guide for real estate projects, or as inspiration when adopting sustainability actions or systems in your home.

So, here are some simple and easy tips for anyone who wants to live sustainably ! In general, they involve making the most of natural light and ventilation, using ecological raw materials, and even more sustainable decorations. Let's take a look:

Take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation to create more sustainable architecture

Natural lighting and ventilation are some of the best resources to reduce the costs and impacts of electric lights and, consequently, bring a more sustainable lifestyle.

And, contrary to what you might think, it's not that difficult to take advantage of them in your home! Simple actions like creating integrated spaces without divisions, using open furniture, large windows, glass doors or even skylights are great options that allow light and air to pass through.

Choose eco-friendly raw materials that do not harm the environment

If you want to renovate your home, choose materials that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. There are several affordable and economical options that can help reduce the impact on the environment.

As an example, we can mention ecological bricks, manufactured by mixing soil, cement and water. In practice, they generate less rubble and can save up to 50% at the end of the work. Not to mention that they can bring a rustic touch to your home. How charming!

Reuse rainwater to create more sustainable architecture

This is a very common practice in many homes, whether through a simple bucket that collects rainwater or through a specific collection system. Examples include everything from gutters on the roof to pipes that carry water to a tank or cistern where it is stored.

Reusing rainwater promotes greater savings and rational consumption of this natural resource, which unfortunately is becoming increasingly scarce. Although it is not drinkable water or suitable for bathing, it can be used for other purposes such as flushing the toilet, irrigating gardens and cleaning the house.

This reuse can lead to savings of up to 50% on your water bill. Have you thought about the difference it can make to your pocket?

Use sustainable architecture to build a green roof or vertical garden

If you live in a big city, you've probably come across a building that has built a vertical garden or a green roof. These plants are great strategies for maintaining a pleasant temperature in a property and even for absorbing noise.

But be careful, as these two options require a certain amount of care when being built.

In the case of green roofs, they require a specific structure with waterproofing of the roof, safety layers and other details. Vertical gardens, on the other hand, are more viable options to be developed. They can be built simply using a suspended panel or a support for small pots with plants and flowers.

The effect will be super beautiful, as well as bringing a feeling of well-being and comfort to your home!

Decorate your home with sustainable objects and furniture

Did you know that sustainability was chosen as one of the trends in decoration in 2019? The title was given by Maison & Objetc, one of the largest decoration and design fairs in the world.

It's incredible how sustainability can be adopted even through simple decoration choices, whether through plants, objects or sustainable furniture.

Some of the most common examples are furniture made from recycled raw materials such as metals, glass and plastic, as well as objects such as wicker, ceramics and fabrics made from natural fibers.

To inspire you, Blog Lopes has selected some incredible examples of beautiful and simple decorations that can be made by reusing different materials.

Conclusion

Much more than a trend, sustainable architecture is a great example to be followed by everyone! After all, it contributes to the construction of buildings that have less impact on the environment and contribute to a better quality of life.

Can you imagine what it would be like if it were increasingly adopted by many countries? The benefits would be enormous! We don't have to wait; we can quickly and easily adopt its ideals in our homes. Just remember the tips we've given you and, most importantly, use them as inspiration.

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