An Architect's Guide to Designing for Sustainability - Part One
As stated earlier, the Commonwealth Development Framework for Human Settlements document of November 1999 elaborates on the Habitat Agenda and puts a particular Commonwealth slant to it. Some UN Global Conference Targets are identified in this document, of which the relevant ones are:
· The implementation of national strategies for sustainable development in all countries by 2005, so as to ensure that current trends in the loss of environmental resources are effectively reversed at both global and national levels by 2015.
· Demonstrated progress towards adequate shelter for all with secure tenure and access to essential services in every community by 2015.
Of particular interest is the Way Forward suggested by the Habitat document. The following fits perfectly into the CAA Practice Policy:
v Make use of information and expertise from the comprehensive database of the UNCHS “Best Practices” solutions in the development and implementation of housing projects;
v Encourage the revision and/or modification of existing building codes to take account of improved technologies in materials and construction without compromising safety standards;
v Provide training programmes in building skills – particularly for building co-operatives, women, the unemployed and other economically marginalized groups to enable contributions in labour “capital” to lower the levels of affordability;
v Embark on social studies to determine the nature and characteristics of urban and rural poverty and evolve housing solutions tailored to the specific needs of each sector; and
v Embark on active search into modern rapid construction methods and new materials that have evolved in response to recent natural disasters in areas such as North America.
Both the U.N. Habitat and the Commonwealth documents stress the need for greater international co-operation, and the need for greater participation by all interested groups. As the Agenda 21 document states: “By the year 2002, the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development that reflect the contributions and responsibilities of all interested parties should be completed in all countries, with assistance provided, as appropriate, through international cooperation, taking into account the special needs of the least developed countries.”
Go to 8 Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) response
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