With over one-third of greenhouse gas emissions coming from buildings, architects need to think about ways to design them for energy efficiency.
The Bullitt Center in Seattle is a perfect example of a building that approaches sustainability as a golden thread in an efficient and functional integrated design process. It’s a living building, with the goal of producing more energy than it uses in a year.
Collaborative Design Process
During the early stages of design, a collaborative design process is often used to keep everyone on the same page. This can help prevent a team from becoming disillusioned with a project or failing to meet deadlines.
Using a collaborative design process also makes it easier to get feedback from people who have a direct impact on the final product. This can help improve the quality of your work, and it can foster a deeper bond within your team.
A collaborative design process can be used to solve complex design issues and create innovative ideas. It is also a good way to speed up the prototyping and design process.
During the research phase, team members need to collect any data that will influence their design decisions. This data includes design files, blueprints, and other information.
Materials
Sustainable architecture aims to limit the environmental impact of buildings and homes. It involves every aspect of design and construction, including materials, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, waste disposal, and more.
Architects can use new materials like biocement, high-tech sustainable concrete, or recycled versions of traditional building materials. A growing number of companies, from Dutch architects like Woodpecker, to British ones like Chip[s] Board, are utilizing recycling of waste such as plastic and coffee husks to create new building materials.
Another innovative and cost-effective building material is wood, which has been used for centuries as a construction material. Its innate properties, such as its low energy demand and ability to absorb carbon dioxide, help it to become a sustainable alternative to more modern building materials.
The Bullitt Center in Seattle pioneered deep construction using cross-laminated timber, a form of wood that’s built by gluing layers of lumber together. Its lower emissions and long life cycle mean it can reduce a building’s overall CO2 output by up to 60%.
Energy
With 40% of the world’s energy consumption and a third of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from buildings, it’s no wonder that architects and building owners are taking an interest in green architecture. This type of design focuses on eliminating dependence on fossil fuels while improving building performance, function, comfort, and enjoyment.
Sustainable buildings can be built with energy-efficient materials, renewable sources of power and water, passive climate control and alternative energy systems. In addition, they’re more durable and require less maintenance.
For example, the Bullitt Center in Seattle is considered to be one of the most sustainable office buildings in America. It uses some of the most innovative energy and water efficiency technologies available today, making it a leading example for the entire industry.
In addition to using less energy, it also has a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community. The project’s site features a series of reclaimed concrete remnants from the original building and native plants, which respond to sun, soil, and human activity. These elements are a central part of the project’s integrated design.
Water
If you’re building a house, you might want to look into designing it in a way that will save water. Rainwater collection systems, native landscaping and efficient plumbing fixtures can all help reduce the amount of water used by a home.
Those same strategies can be applied to commercial buildings, too. For example, a sustainable office building might avoid using potable city water for toilets and urinals.
Another option is to use renewable energy instead. This can be accomplished through solar panels, wind turbines or hydroelectric power.
In Seattle, the city has developed a number of policies that encourage sustainable building practices and provide incentives for developers to pursue green construction. These include the Living Building Pilot Program, LEED and Built Green 4 or 5 star certifications.
Despite the limited progress that’s been made, these approaches are growing in popularity. In fact, some Seattle architects are leading the charge for sustainable design in this unique community.