Environmental Design Sourcebook: Innovative Ideas for a Sustainable Built Environment

Designing in a climate emergency requires appropriate material choices, a re-invention of construction, and evolving building programs that look at lifecycle, embodied energy, and energy use. This book is the perfect introduction to sustainable design for architecture students, presenting key concepts in relation to the embodied energy of construction, material properties, and environmental performance of buildings in an accessible way.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2021
Publisher: RIBA Publishing

In the face of the climate emergency, designing with sustainability and resilience becomes paramount. Architects and designers must embrace appropriate material choices, reimagine construction techniques, and develop evolving building programs that prioritize lifecycle, embodied energy, and energy use. This comprehensive book, packed with highly illustrated practical information and straightforward explanations, serves as an ideal introduction to sustainable design for architecture students. It delves into key concepts related to the embodied energy of construction, material properties, and environmental performance of buildings, presenting them in a user-friendly manner. By demystifying environmental design as a technical exercise, the book empowers students to create sustainable buildings that have a meaningful impact.

The book features a diverse range of inspiring projects, showcasing innovative designs from renowned architects and studios. These projects include the Amphibious House by Baca Architects, the Ashen Cabin by HANNAH, the Bunhill 2 Energy Centre by Ramboll, Cullinan Studio, McGurk Architects, and Colloide, the Cork House by Matthew Barnett Howland, Oliver Wilton, and Dido Milne, the Dymaxion House by Richard Buckminster Fuller, the Eastgate Centre by Mick Pearce, the Neuron Pod by Will Alsop – aLL Design and AKT II, the Quik House by Adam Kalkin, and the Tension Pavilion by StructureMode and Weber Industries.

Covering a wide range of topics, the book provides in-depth insights into acoustics, bamboo construction, biopolymer, bioremediation, CLT (cross-laminated timber), climatic envelope, computational fluid dynamics, earthen architecture, fabric formwork, hempcrete, insulation, mycelium biofabrication, paper construction, passive solar heating, pneumatic structures, solar geometry, tensegrity structures, thermal mass, and more. Each chapter is accompanied by detailed illustrations and practical examples, making it easier for students to grasp and apply the concepts discussed.

Whether you are a student embarking on your architectural journey or a professional seeking to enhance your knowledge and skills in sustainable design, this sourcebook is an invaluable resource. It serves as a guide to creating buildings that are not only environmentally responsible but also resilient, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing. By embracing the principles and technologies outlined in this book, architects and designers can contribute to the global effort to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Weight: 578g
Dimension: 189 x 244 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781859469606