Architectural dimension of sustainability: Re-establishing the concept of recycling
Abstract
Building related processes as water pollution, landfill waste, energy use and related emissions of global warming gases, material and land loss, are undisputable proofs of the devastating effects of the construction industry on our environment. Given that only a small percentage of a total building stock is made out of new work, it is not enough to develop strategies and principles for a sustainable design only for the new projects, but for the existing buildings as well. Therefore, it is essential that, through repurposing, we consider what can be done with what we already have if we are to significantly benefit sustainability agenda in the future. This research focuses on the concept of architectural recycling as a method for achieving sustainable architectural design. In the first place, two concepts, two extremes in dealing with existing buildings will be analysed: 1) preservation as radical stasis and 2) destruction as radical change. This analysis will enable the formulation of the concept of architectural recycling as the ‘preservation through change’, viewed as a sustainable response to rapidly changing conditions. The elaboration of the concept of architectural recycling, as a key method for responding to the sustainability agenda, is the focus of this paper.
References
Burman, P. (1995) A Question of Ethics. http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/ethics/conservation_ ethics.htm, accessed 20th Dec 2013.
Cepinha, E., Ferrão, P., Santos, S. (2007) The certification of buildings as an enterprise strategy of the real estate sector: a national scope analysis, in Bragança, L., Cuchí, A. (eds.) Portugal SB07. Sustainable construction, materials and practices: Challenge of the industry for the new millennium. Amsterdam: IOS Press, pp.113-120.
Couto, J. P., Couto, A. M. (2007) Construction sites environment management: establishing measures to mitigate the noise and waste impact. In Bragança, L., Cuchí, A. (eds.) Portugal SB07. Sustainable construction, materials and practices: Challenge of the industry for the new millennium. Amsterdam: IOS Press, pp. 56-62.
De Graaf, R. (2012) Nothing New. On the Idea of Recycling. in Ciorra P., Marini S. (eds.) Re-cycle: Strategies for Architecture, City and Planet. Milano: Electa S.p.A., pp. 50-63.
DOD (2008) Design Guidelines for Department of Defense Historic Buildings and Districts. US: Washington, DC.
Douglas, J. (2006) Building adaptation. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. Edwards, B. (2005) Rough guide to sustainability. London: RIBA Enterprises.
EC (European Commission) (2007) Progress Report on the Sustainable Development Strategy. Brussels: EC.
Fairs, M. (2014) Dezeen Book of Interviews. London: Dezeen Limited.
IUA/AIA. (1993) Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future. Chicago: IUA/AIA.
Jochem, E. (2004) Steps towards a Sustainable Development – A White Book for R&D of Energy-Efficient Technologies. Zurich: CEPE/ETH and Novatlantis.
Koolhaas, R. (2004) Preservation is Overtaking Us. Future Anterior, No. 1-2, pp. 1-4.
Kubba, S. (2012) Handbook of green building design and construction: LEED, BREEAM, and green globes. Waltham etc.: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.
Lawson, B. (1996) Building materials, energy and the environment. Canberra: RAIA.
Lee, B., Trcka, M., Hensen, J.L.M. (2011) Embodied energy of building materials and green building rating systems: a case study for industrial halls. Sustainable Cities and Society, No. 1-2, pp. 67-71.
Morris, W. (1877) Manifesto of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). http://www.spab.org.uk/what-is-spab-/the-manifesto/, accessed 10th Dec 2013.
Mozas, J. (2012) Remediate, Reuse, Recycle Re-processes as atonement, in Fernández Per, A., Arpa, J. (eds.) Reclaim: remediate reuse recycle. Vitoria: Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos Vasco-Navarro, pp. 4-25.
OECD (2003) Environmentally Sustainable Buildings: Challenges and Policies. Paris: OECD Publications.
OMA (1991) Mission Grand Axe, La Defense, France, Paris, 1991. http://www.oma.eu/projects/1991/mission-grand-axe-la-defense/, accessed 5th July 2014.
OMA (2010) Venice Biennale 2010: Cronocaos, Italy, Venice, 2010. http://oma.eu/projects/2010/venice-biennale-2010-cronocaos, accessed 5th July 2014.
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1982) Making Better Use of the Existing House Stock: A Literature Review. Toronto: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Perić, A. (2013) Uloga urbanističkog planiranja u procesu regeneracije braunfild lokacija (doktorska disertacija). Beograd: Arhitektonski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu. [Perić, A. (2013). The Role of Urban Planning in the Process of Brownfield Regeneration (doctoral dissertation). Belgrade: Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade.]
Pestellini, I. (2011) Preservation / Destruction: OMA – CRONOCAOS (Lecture recording) RA Forum: Future Memory. Royal Academy of Arts. 04 April 2011. http://static.royalacademy.org.uk/files/pestellini-westcott-972.mp3, accessed 15th July 2014.
Reiff, D. (1971) Viollet le Duc and Historic Restoration: The West Portals of Notre-Dame. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, No. 30, pp. 17-30.
Ricci, M. (2012) New Paradigms: Reducing Reusing Recycling the City (and the Landscapes). in Ciorra, P., Marini, S. (eds.) Re-cycle: Strategies for Architecture, City and Planet. Milano: Electa S.p.A, pp. 64-77.
Roaf, S., Horsley, A., Gupta R. (eds.) (2004) Closing the Loop: Benchmarks for Sustainable Buildings. London: RIBA Publications.
Rogić, T. (2009) Converted Industrial Buildings: where past and present live in formal unity (doctoral dissertation). Delft: Delft University of Technology.
Ruskin, J. (1849) The Seven Lamps of Architecture. New York: John Wiley.
Szokolay, S. V. (2004) Introduction to Architectural Science: the basis of sustainable design. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Viganò, P. (2012) Recycling Cities, in Ciorra, P., Marini, S. (eds.) Re-cycle: Strategies for Architecture, City and Planet. Milano: Electa S.p.A, pp. 102-119.
Viollet-le-Duc, E. (1875) On Restoration (e-book). https://archive.org/details/onrestorationby00wethgoog, accessed 5th Dec 2013.
WCED. (1987) Our Common Future - Brundtland Report. http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf, accessed 1st June 2013.
Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). (2011) http://www.wbdg.org/design/sustainable.php, accessed 17th Feb 2014.
Yeang, K. (2001) El Rascacielos ecológico. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
