era | Building an Ecosystem
As a cool change washes the heat of the day from the spaces of our home, it reminds me of the changes that evolve as we travel through our individual lives.
Ebbing and Flowing
the older slipping away as the new enters
It also brings to mind the changes that wash through more than once - the ones that arrive regularly and become patterns in our lives, such as the seasons.
The new year rolls in similarly.
Every twelve months we remember the past and anticipate the future.
Trends come and go, then return within lifetimes.
In this moment, there is a trend to slow down and appreciate the little things, while information is fueling how we live our lives to reduce the impact we have on the planet.
'Most buildings are bricks-and-mortar infants. Incapable of supplying its own needs, a typical building requires that its essentials are brought to it and its waste taken away.' MARY CASEY
Did you know that constructing buildings significantly contributes to changes in climate?
The United Nations Environment Programme believes that buildings contribute to 38% of greenhouse gases.
38%!!!
'The highest percentage of emissions is created in the construction of buildings, not in running them.
The build environment in Australia accounts for 25% of (the) country's CO2 emissions; emissions during construction are responsible for anywhere between 10% and 97% of the whole of building lifecycle.' JAYNE HARRISON
There are various ways that the construction of buildings have a negative affect on the planet.
But here is a simple one.
Buildings help to increase temperatures when they use dark coloured materials outside, such as cladding, paving and the like. These dark materials create more issues than just making you feel hot when when you're living in your home. They add to the temperature of the local environment and in turn, the planet as a whole.
But did you know that changing little things such as the colour of the materials in your architecture can decrease energy consumption of a home by up to 80%!
Can you believe that!
By simply choosing lighter colours for the materials you will build with, you will reduce the amount of roof insulation you need, thereby reduce the initial cost of your construction, reduce the ongoing cost of mechanically cooling your home, increase your own thermal comfort as well as reduce the changes happening to the planet.
That's a lot of little things!
'What if we asked: "What can buildings contribute?" .. If buildings were to think like trees .. what could they make possible?' MARY CASEY
Imagine if each building was a tree and the buildings collected together created a forest - an ecosystem that worked together to nourish and nurture each other and its inhabitants.
What would that be like?
Would you build your own tree?
Would you want to be a part of that ecosystem?
How can you make a change?
How can you help to build an ecosystem?
Little changes during the process of your architecture can make a difference.
You can make changes in the design and construction of your architecture that will create an initial and ongoing positive impact on you, the local environment as well as the planet as a whole.
Apart from the obvious little things such as solar power and water collection that can be cleverly incorporated into your tree, think about its footprint.
Both the physical footprint you make by building your tree as well as the impact the construction and the extent of its life cycle will have.
Did you know that the size of a standard home in Australia has doubled in size in the past 50 years, even though less people are living in each home?
So the first place you can start is the size of your building.
O N E | Choose Quality over Quantity
Design your architecture to stay small, make it work for you and make each part special.
Look around - which spaces do you not use or under use?
Which spaces could double up for more than one use?
T W O | Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle
Reduce construction waste by designing the building to standard material dimensions, so that there is no material that will be cut short with leftover.
For instance, cupboards that are in the incremental widths of standard dimensions, such as 300mm.
Reduce transportation by choosing products made locally so travel to you is reduced.
For instance, locally made tiles rather than ones that need to be transported across the world, to reach you.
Re-use parts that can become part of your architecture such as windows, doors and the like.
For instance, salvage items from other buildings, salvage yards or friends to re-use in your architecture.
Re-cycle materials such as timber, concrete, brickwork and the like.
For instance, ask material suppliers about their products and choose materials that have recycled content.
T H R E E | Life Cycle
Choose light coloured materials for outside surfaces to reduce heat gain and consequent affects.
For instance, in roof cladding, wall cladding and paving to reduce the heat captured within them.
Light naturally to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
For instance, orient your building towards the sun and place lots of windows there to let light in.
Ventilate naturally to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation.
For instance, locate windows and doors on the sides of buildings where breezes flow.
Heat naturally to reduce the need for mechanical or wood fired heating.
For instance, orient your building toward the sun, use thermal mass such as masonry to capture the heat and size the roof overhang to allow the sun to touch it in winter.
'We need solid, hands on solutions to ensure our collective future, and new solutions means cultivating new thinking. This is where imagination comes in.' MILKWOOD PERMACULTURE
We can also look to the past to learn the trends that worked for them.
Spread the word and build trees to create a new type of ecosystem!
‘Thoreau asked, "How much house do you really need?"’ BEN GILES | Architect
The New South Wales Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has released a fantastic issue in their Architectural Bulletin journal series called Climate Crisis. It has a multitude of articles that address the issue of climate change, the built environment and how architects as well as others involved in the design and construction of buildings can come together to make change real. Please read it!
You can read it here!
Til next time!
Start the process to find your architectural language and make your little ideas a reality.
Click here to see the little things I have made for you, or click here if you would like to work with me one on one.