Introduction/Disclaimer
This is an archive of information about sustainable architecture: effective
low cost houses, ecological planning, design, integrated architecture and
landscaping for tropical, sub-tropical or temperate climates.
Most of these resources are available at libraries or as government publications,
etc.
Sustainable Development Theory Introduction
The sustainable approach to site planning and design goes beyond combining
and comparing site inventories. A sustainable process attempts to determine
the relationships between site factors and how those factors will adapt to
change. Understanding these relationships also clarifies how development impacts
from one area of the site will affect other areas. An evaluation of potential
development impacts requires that a predevelopment baseline or environmental
model be produced. This model will describe the essential functions and interrelationships
of the individual site factors and will establish acceptable limits of change
during and after construction. Selected environmental monitoring and testing
will be done during construction. The entire build-out of the development
will be phased to allow time between construction projects to monitor environmental
impacts and adjust the baseline model.
The major steps in a sustainable approach to site planning and design
are as follows:
- Model the ecosystem to establish an environmental understanding
- Assess social-economic context
- Establish acceptable limits of change
- Design facility within social and environmental thresholds
- Monitor site factors throughout construction
- Reevaluate design solutions between development phases
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