BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURE

By definition, architecture is an art of designing and constructing buildings for practical and aesthetic purposes. Just as defined, architecture and building are closely interrelated.

Engineering and architecture are distinct disciplines but there used to be a time when architects and engineers played overlapping, if not, interchangeable and indistinguishable roles. As a matter of fact, most of the popular historical structures were designed and constructed by people who were both engineers and architects. Religious buildings for example, were not just pieces of wood, stones, or some other materials put together, but they actually convey meanings, ideas and emotions. By the same principle that even houses are not just built to be practical and safe but they should give a feeling of “homeliness” to the dwellers. These requirements can only be met with the integration of engineering and architecture.

Architecture And Ecology

In recent years the achievement of desirable living conditions and contemporary ecological awareness led architects and engineers to modify their designs. The contemporary approach is the regulation of plan and particularly, permeability, so that buildings will require minimum energy for heating, cooling and ventilation.

The trend today is to create dwellings that make full use of natural resources such as solar radiation, wind, and water – in attaining beautiful, pleasant and cozy homes with minimum energy expenditure.

Sustainable Architecture In Your Home

Architects and builders nowadays are constantly looking for ways to save on the utilization of artificial sources of energy. They use the term “green touches” to refer to this advocacy. These efforts have paved way to significant modifications to designs which led to the launching of the green building industry. The concept of the “living building” has become the new ideal for design and construction. A living building is defined as a structure that “generates all of its own energy with renewable nontoxic resources, captures and treats all of its water, and operates efficiently and for maximum beauty”.

The cost of green materials is still high however and sustainable architecture is yet to become commonplace. The building industry is in the process still of discovering technologies and methods to bring down the price of green living.

There are some principles of sustainable house architecture here that we can incorporate to our living lifestyle so that we can make a significant difference to our quality of life in the days ahead. After all we are now flowing towards the evolution of sustainable future.

Go Towards Small

A sustainable lifestyle requires the most minimal use of energy for heating and cooling. Large homes use tremendous amount of energy from fuels. The energy here leads to the further depletion of fossil fuels and results to more emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants. It also follows that the bigger the house, the more materials are used to build it. These materials are important to ecological balance and using them with disregard could soon affect that balance.

As a rule to sustainable living, build a home that is just the right size for your family and your domestic activities. Use your living space efficiently and organize well. Room designs should be within reasonable measurements so as not to create plenty of unnecessary spaces.

Take Advantage Of The Sun

With good design, solar-heated houses are more comfortable to live at. A good solar design utilizes right materials in the right places. It skillfully blends thermal dynamics with utilitarian design. You can ask your builder regarding solar installations or you can consult the internet and many good books that extensively discuss solar design.

Cooling It Up The Right Way

Use the stability of the earth’s temperature to regulate the temperature of your house. That part of the house that is underground needs to be well insulated so warmth is not sucked out of the house.

With regards to food, people in the old days are worthy of our emulation. Pantries and root cellars functioned rather most suitably to green living. Cool, dry storage is still the best way to preserve most food.

Conserve Energy

The use of the sun, wind, or water to produce electricity is the best way to conserve the use of fossil fuels. While many may argue that the alternative use of energy offers limited energy supply, that is actually a good thing. By having limited supply, you will be forced not to waste energy. A careful consciousness to utilizing energy is an excellent habit.

Use Water Wisely

Studies would show that an average person can use and consume 200 gallons of water daily. Obviously, this amount can be greatly reduced as most of this usage go to unnecessary wastage. Builders may suggest using low water capacity toilets, flow restrictors at shower heads and faucet aerators to minimize excessive water use. There are radical approaches too that a household may practice to further save on water. For instance converting gray water from bathing, clothes washing and bathroom sinks to watering plants is a good suggestion. Landscaping with drought-tolerant plants can likewise save enormous amounts of water.

Use Local Materials

Local, indigenous materials are nearby found, hence, easier to transport and likely to be less processed. Enlist the help of local builders because they know full well the local materials. For example if you live in Newcastle, Newcastle Builders would be best to ask from regarding this matter.

Natural Is Best

Natural refers to naturally occurring materials. Not only do these materials give that earthy and homey feel, using them also reduces pollution associated with industrial manufacturing. But the chief reason to preferring natural materials is their effect to health. Compared with manufactured materials, natural materials have less adverse effect to your well-being. When planning to build or renovate a home therefore, ask your house designer to consider the use of natural materials.

Recycle

There are many things in your home that you can reuse or recycle. Instead of throwing away things instinctively, stop for a moment and consider some other ways you can use them instead of depositing them to our increasingly enlarging landfills.

Plant

If you happen to have space in your backyard, explore your green-thumb abilities. A greenhouse, a small vegetable plot, or just a flower garden for your viewing pleasure contribute a lot to beautifying your home and promoting healthy green living.