ARC 350R
Sustainable Architecture: Ideals & Reason
Instructor: Michael Garrison
READINGS ON RESERVE IN BATTLE HALL READING ROOM
1. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES; by Van der Ryn & Calthorpe, Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, 1986
2. THE NEXT AMERICAN METROPOLIS; by Peter Calthorpe, Princeton Architectural Press, 1993
3. TOWNS AND TOWN MAKING; by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater- Zyberk, Rizzoli, New York, 1991
4. THE PEDESTRIAN POCKET BOOK; by Douglas Kelbaugh, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 1989 5. RURAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES; by Frederic O. Sargent, Paul Lusk, Jose Rivera, and Maria Varela, Island Press, Covelo, CA., 1991
6. ECOLOGICAL DESIGN; by Sim Van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan, Island Press, Covelo, CA., 1995
7. GREEN BUILDER SOURCE BOOK; by Laurence Doxsey, et al. City of Austin, Environmental & Conservation Department, Austin, TX., 1995
8. SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TECHNICAL MANUAL, by David A. Gottfried, The U.S. Green Building Council, San Francisco, 1996
9. SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE: Principles, Paradigms, and Case Studies, by James Steele, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1997
10. SUSTAINABILITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND URBANISATION; edited by Cedric Pugh, Island Press, Covelo, CA, 1996.Office hours: 3:30-4:30 PM, T & Th, or by appointment in Goldsmith Hall 4.104
Office phone: 471-0185, fax: 471-0716, e-mail: mgarrison@mail.utexas.eduObjective
The intent of this course is to learn to integrate sustainable building and planning principles into the form making process of architectural design. This course is intended to be one of a series of design enrichment seminars that explore in depth the principles of qualitative and quantitative design.
For this course "Sustainable" may be defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development as, "meeting for the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Like the concept of "appropriate technology," sustainability is qualified by its context. A sustainable approach implies that the use of energy, water and materials in an area be in balance with what the region can supply continuously through natural processes such as photosynthesis, biological decomposition, and the biochemical processes that support life.
Foreword
Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has witnessed incalculable technological achievements, population growth, and corresponding increases in resource use. As we enter a new century, we are recognizing the "side effects" of our activities: pollution, landfills at capacity, toxic waste, global warming, resource and ozone depletion, and deforestation. These efforts are straining the limits of the Earth's "carrying capacity" -- its ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable. As the world's population continues to expand, implementation of resource-efficient measures in all areas of human activity is imperative.
The built environment is one clear example of the impact of human activity on resources. Buildings have a significant impact on the environment, accounting for one-sixth of the world's freshwater withdrawals, one-quarter of its wood harvest and two-fifths of its material and energy flows. Structures also impact areas beyond their immediate location, affecting the watersheds, air quality, and transportation patterns of communities.1
Within the United States, buildings represent more than 50 percent of the nation's wealth. In 1993, new construction and renovation activity amounted to approximately $800 billion, representing 13 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employed ten million people.2 The resources required to create, operate and replenish this level of infrastructure and income are enormous and are diminishing. To remain competitive and continue to expand and produce profits in the future, the building industry knows it must address the environmental and economic consequences of its actions.
The recognition is leading to changes in the way the building industry and building owners approach the design, construction, and operation of structures. With the leadership of diverse groups in the public and private sectors, the building industry is moving toward a new value in its work: that of environmental performance.
The industry's growing sustainablity ethic is based on the principles of resource efficiency, health, and productivity. Realization of these principles involves an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach--one in which a building project and its components are viewed on a full life-cycle basis. This "cradle-to-cradle" approach, known as "green" or "sustainable" building, considers a building's total economic and environmental impact and performance, from material extraction and product manufacture to product transportation, building design and construction, operations and maintenance, and building reuse or disposal. Ultimately, adoption of sustainable building practices will lead to a shift in the building industry, with sustainability thoroughly embedded in its practice, products, standards, codes, and regulations.
Content
The course content will: survey the principles of environmentally sensitive design and planning, review case studies of "green building" applications and explore various concepts for integrating sustainable planning and building principles into the form making process of architectural design. The process includes: an analysis of bioclimatic comfort and building metabolism; design with climate; integration of passive heating and cooling systems; water conservation planning; waste systems; and the basis for specifying sustainable building materials.
Format
The course will have five components, including: 1) regularly scheduled lectures; 2) a series of reading assignments; 3) guest lectures; 4) class discussions; and 5) two research papers. Note the five components compliment each other. The lectures and readings are offered to provide the basic "information" of the course. The class discussions should explore the implications of the topics considered in the lectures and readings. Finally, the paper assignments are meant to encourage student synthesis of the course material and challenge the student to pursue further research and implementation of sustainable strategies in design and planning.
Evaluation
There will be two papers or written documentation's and evaluations of proposed designs or case study examples of Sustainable Architecture set forth in the course lectures and readings.
The first paper, is a team project that should explore concepts of sustainable communities. The typed research paper should be approximately 5 pages or 3000 words in length and include both: GOOD quality graphic examples of your research topic, and thoroughly documented case studies of your research topic. Your team will be asked to prepare a short ten-minute presentation to the class on September 16, 2000.
The second paper, is an individual project that should explore concepts of sustainable building. The typed research paper should be approximately 15 pages or 9000 words in length and include both: GOOD quality graphic examples of your research topic, and thoroughly documented case studies of your research topic. Your paper will be due, December 10, 2000.
These papers will worth: 25 points for paper one, 10 points for your team presentation of paper one, 60 points for paper two, and 5 points for participation in the class topic discussions. Papers more than one class period late will be lowered one letter grade for each class that the paper continues to be late.
Class attendance in this course is mandatory and absences from the class unrelated to course work will generally have an adverse effect on the student's final grade in the course.