Logics of Sustainable Architecture (2)
This post continues on my previous post about logics of sustainable architecture.
The fourth logic is Eco-cultural. The logic promotes diversity of cultures and discourage development of new universal culture. This logic implies that the true sustainable buildings are those fully related to the concept of locality and place. The logic resist the idea of universalization on the basis of different sets of requirement to make a sustainable architecture depending on the place where it's situated. Eco-cultural emphasizes on the uniqueness of a place, the use of locally available materials and architectural response to climatic and micro-climatic conditions. Vernacular architecture is the best example to describe sustainable architecture from eco-cultural point of view. A book by Bernard Rudofsky, Architecture without Architects, shows the beauty of these non-pedigreed buildings as well as how their construction exhibits sustainability performance in relation to locality and culture.
Video of a cave village in Hunan, China: an example of vernacular architecture in relation to eco-cultural logic
The fifth logic, Eco-medical, focuses on human's physical and psychological health and well being. It shifts the debate about sustainable architecture from cultural and formal context to the concerns on individual health. The eco-medical point of view is also against the isolation of the built environment from the nature. It also aims at solving the issues like sick building syndrome, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), toxic building materials, and increasing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ),
Indoor pollution is a key issue addressed by eco-cultural logic (ccmoss.com)
The last logic is eco-social. It deals with shifting the agenda of sustainability from individual concerns to social ones. Full participation of the communities is vital to the sustainability according to this logic. Achieving social equity, freedom and democracy is the main focus.
These 6 logics contribute to an arguably comprehensive understanding of sustainable architecture (and sustainability in general) by revealing the nature of debates in interpreting this discourse. However, as the writer suggests, "These logics are not meant to be in any way exclusive, or frozen in time or space" (Guy and Farmer 2001). In other words, the formulation of these logics is an attempt of compiling different perspective on sustainability in today's context. The logics are not intended to lock the discourse on sustainability. However, they can be seen as the pedagogy and an approach to the seemingly-impossible task of searching the true meaning of sustainabilty.
References: Guy, S & Farmer, G 2001, 'Reinterpreting sustainable architecture: The place of technology', Journal of Architectural Education, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 140–148, ISSN; 1046-4883.
Drone View, Incredible Chinese Cave Village, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj1ysrtPDnw>
