Sustainable architecture is a design approach that aims to preserve natural resources, reduce environmental impacts, and improve human health and quality of life, offering environmentally friendly and long-term solutions. This understanding, encompassing the entire life cycle of buildings from design to post-demolition recycling, includes practices such as energy efficiency, use of renewable resources, water conservation, and preference for environmentally friendly materials. It also aims to create healthy, accessible, and inclusive living spaces that support social well-being and economic sustainability, with design decisions appropriate for environmental factors such as climate and topography.
Definition and Scope
Sustainable architecture is not just an approach limited to saving energy or using environmentally friendly materials; it is a holistic design philosophy that encompasses the entire life cycle of the built environment, addressing environmental, economic, and social dimensions together. Minimizing environmental impacts during the design, construction, use, and demolition phases of buildings, and the efficient and balanced use of natural resources, form the basis of this understanding. In this context, it is essential to develop long-lasting and transformable building solutions that consider ecological balance in decision-making mechanisms, starting from the design process.
Effective use of renewable energy sources, implementation of passive and active design strategies to reduce energy consumption, integration of systems to increase water efficiency, and natural climate control solutions are indispensable components of sustainable design. Considering the environmental impacts of materials used in buildings from production to the end of their lifespan, materials with a low carbon footprint, local and recyclable properties, and free from harmful components to human health should be preferred.
Moreover, sustainable architecture prioritizes not only environmental sensitivity but also social responsibility. Providing healthy, safe, and accessible living spaces that are sensitive to the physical, psychological, and social needs of the built environment's users is an inseparable part of social sustainability. Designing spaces inclusively and equitably for everyone directly contributes to increasing social equality and quality of life. With this approach, sustainable architecture stands out today as a contemporary design philosophy that establishes a balance between humans and nature, aiming to leave a livable environment for future generations.
Historical Development
The concept of sustainability in architecture came to the forefront, especially in the 1970s, due to rapidly increasing environmental pollution, excessive use of fossil fuels, and global energy crises. During this period, the acceleration of environmental destruction and resource consumption paved the way for new searches and solution-oriented approaches in the construction sector.
The Brundtland Report (Our Common Future), published in 1987, defined the concept of sustainable development internationally as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This definition revealed that sustainability is not just an environmental issue but a multi-dimensional approach that also encompasses economic development and social well-being.
In Türkiye, traditional architectural examples offer a remarkable accumulation in terms of sustainability. Traditional buildings in Anatolia, adapted to different climatic and geographical conditions, present historical examples of a design approach that minimizes environmental impacts and uses resources efficiently. Especially Safranbolu houses, built with local and sustainable materials like natural stone and wood, have developed environmentally friendly solutions with passive energy strategies such as natural ventilation and daylight utilization. These structures are significant examples of sustainability in terms of both climate-responsive design and the preservation of cultural identity.
This accumulated knowledge and experience from the past, combined with modern building technologies today, contribute to the design of more environmentally, economically, and socially sensitive buildings.
Sustainability in Architecture (Pexels)
Principles of Sustainable Design
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most fundamental principles of sustainable design and aims to reduce energy consumption throughout the building's lifespan, starting from the design phase. In this regard, passive design strategies come to the fore. Positioning buildings by climate and orientation analysis, maximizing natural ventilation and daylight utilization, significantly reduces energy requirements. Shading elements, highly insulated facade systems, and thermal bridge-preventing details minimize energy losses while lowering heating and cooling needs.
In terms of active systems, the use of renewable energy sources stands out. Solutions such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy systems offer environmentally friendly and sustainable options to meet the energy needs of buildings. Furthermore, by integrating highly efficient lighting systems, energy-saving devices, and automation systems in buildings, energy consumption is controlled, and carbon emissions are reduced.
Material Selection
Material selection is another important dimension of the sustainability principle that directly affects environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of materials used in buildings during production, transportation, application, and use phases should be considered. In this context, materials with a low carbon footprint, locally sourced, durable, and recyclable, should be preferred.
Renewable and natural materials like wood are both environmentally advantageous and contribute positively to indoor air quality. Additionally, the use of alternatives such as recycled glass, metal, and plastic materials reduces waste volume and lightens the environmental burden. During the application process, materials that are chemical-free and do not contain harmful components to human health should be used, creating a healthy indoor environment.
Water Management
The rapid depletion of water resources and the negative effects of climate change on the water cycle have made water management an indispensable part of sustainable design. Rainwater harvesting and storage systems in buildings provide both environmental and economic benefits. Collected rainwater can be used for secondary water needs such as landscape irrigation, reservoir systems, and cleaning.
Greywater systems, on the other hand, enable the treatment and reuse of lightly contaminated water collected from areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and sinks. Furthermore, water-efficient fixtures such as low-flow faucets, water-saving toilets, and urinals play an effective role in minimizing water consumption. These applications not only reduce water consumption but also save energy, further reducing environmental impact.
Waste Management
In the sustainable design process, reducing and managing waste generated throughout the entire life cycle of buildings is of great importance. Detailed solutions to prevent material waste during construction and the use of prefabricated elements significantly reduce waste volume. During demolition, separating and evaluating recyclable and reusable materials lightens the waste load and limits the consumption of natural resources.
Additionally, preferring flexible and modular systems at the design stage facilitates the transformation of the building according to changing needs, reducing the need for early demolition and reconstruction. Thus, buildings become more long-lasting and sustainable.
Environmental Compatibility
One of the main goals of sustainable design is for the building to be in harmony with the natural environment. This means that the building should not harm surrounding ecosystems, should be placed without disturbing the natural land structure, and that measures to protect biodiversity should be considered in the design.
In the site planning of buildings, topography and natural landscape elements should be taken into account; the design should be structured to maximize benefits from natural air currents, daylight, and local climate characteristics. Furthermore, landscape designs suitable for local vegetation reduce water consumption while also ensuring the protection of natural habitats. This approach limits the negative impacts of the built environment on the ecosystem, contributing to the continuity of natural resources.
Sustainability in Architecture (Pexels)
Current Approaches
Today, sustainable architecture is supported by holistic strategies aiming to reduce carbon emissions, develop energy-efficient building envelope solutions, and optimize building performance using smart building technologies. Especially in work and living spaces, the effective use of daylight, improving indoor air quality, and designing healthy living spaces are among the priority issues.
In furniture and interior design, environmentally friendly material preferences, reduction of resource consumption in production processes, and flexible, modular solutions ensure more functional and long-lasting use of spaces. The use of natural and renewable materials contributes to creating indoor environments that support user health while also minimizing environmental impacts.
Sustainable architecture is now accepted not just as designing environmentally compatible buildings, but as a design philosophy that creates healthier, safer, accessible, and socially supportive living environments.
