WEEK 8 - LECTURE

GREENING ISN’T NECESSARILY SUSTAINABLE:

sustainability definition: 

Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources. 

It is important to consider the consequences of incorporating ‘green roofs’ into a design - is there a meaning or a need for it? Green roofs are extremely costly and time consuming to maintain, if this rate of maintenance is unable to be maintained, then funds and space are ultimately wasted. 

Issues that are related to green roofs include:

- embodied energy

- Transportation expenses of products

- Maintenance

- Adaptability 

- Disassembly

- Recyclability

Life span of a building in relation to Assignment two: 

Being one of the most important aspects to consider in the design process it is necessary to assess resources, manufacturing, locality of materials and future cradle to grave dynamics. 

The change of youth or functionality should not make a building redundant, I believe this to be a key criteria to work by throughout the development of a design to ensure a sustainable outcome is achieved. Therefore researching previous architectural projects that deliver a sort of modular systematic design concept that enables the building to grow throughout its life span will be a investment for the development of assignment two.

This clip from www.quadror.com - presents an interesting structural concept that offers a flexible, easily dismountable and deliverable structural design strategy.
But could this concept be developed into something greater than purely a structural support system? Could it be enhanced as a modular shelter than expands and contracts based on occupancy rates and demographic factors, that is both affordable and low maintenance?