An Architect's Guide to Designing for Sustainability - Part Two
Architects play an indispensable role in the production of the built environment: they are required to provide imaginative thinking, be at the cutting edge of technology, exercise strategic management skills, and be skilled craftspeople in order to conceptualise and manage the delivery of the physical infrastructure that is fundamental to the development of the communities they serve. Through this role architects are acknowledged for their potential to add real value through the devising of the physical solutions in response to the brief, maximising the potential of the site, and overcoming planning and other constraints.
Architects exercise a significant influence on the quality of life of people – including current users, those who pass by their buildings, and those users yet to be born – and on the quality of the natural environment. There is a growing expectation that the built environment must contribute to the well being of the community without depleting the resources of the planet. This expectation is placing new demands on architects to familiarise themselves with the issues of sustainable development and to ensure that they are competent at designing infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
Go to 14.1 History and Background
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