Attempts to optimize methods of sustainable architectural design

Beata Majerska-Pałubicka

doi:10.5277/arc140202

Abstract

The issues raised in the article include dependencies between design solutions comprising a whole cycle of the technical life of buildings and building development elements and their environmental effectiveness (ecological, economic, social, etc.) in the context of impact exerted by the environment built by man on the natural environment. The basic goal of the article is to present possibilities of optimizing the currently applied built environment design methods by using new design tools and technical possibilities as well as to construct a pattern of architectural design methods and strategies regarding the assumptions of conscious creation of sustainable architecture. In order to achieve the above mentioned goals an attempt has been undertaken to answer the following research questions: What are the major factors of sustainable development in the context of architectural design? What should a design process, taking into account the needs of sustainable design, look like? What should the design process optimization involve? The author’s experiences indicate that architects demonstrate certain caution towards the idea of sustainable design, which results in sparse representation of the architectural branch in discussions devoted to the topic in question. For this reason, in the context of the fact that focus on the manner of achieving the sustainable design goal is an obvious matter, any activities aiming to introduce the subject, arouse the engagement and interest of the architectural profession representatives in active participation in international debates and activities seem to be important. Thus in the fi rst place, the article is directed towards architects, urban planners as well as other participants of investment processes, especially those in control of fi nances, so they also could understand the whole process.