(DESIGN BUILD NETWORK)

BARC 509 ARHITECTURAL THEORY

BARC 509: ARHITECTURAL THEORY

(SYNOPSIS AND REPORT)

ADITYA DOSHI

ROLL NO: 08, SEMESTER: V

VIVA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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AT SYNOPSIS

AIM

How sustainable materials can benefit to the construction industry

OBJECTIVES

To achieve the difference between sustainable construction materials and

traditional construction materials and how this can affect the world.

RATIONALE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This Research paper talks about how sustainable materials are enhanced from
traditional materials in most of the aspects of construction.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

01) Why do green buildings cost more than traditional buildings?

02) Which is better: a sustainable material or a traditional material?

03) How can one determine if a material is green or not?

HYPOTHESIS

If sustainable materials are used on a wider range, many earth related

construction worries must be resolved which can assist the earth get greener
and pollution free.

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

When speaking about the methods used while digging into the topic of
materials, the first segment that arises is how sustainable materials can be a
result to numerous hindrances that occur while construction. So that’s the first
step of research is what are Green (sustainable) products and how are the
beneficial.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

SCOPE:- This study can help one to know about the effects of using sustainable
construction materials and how this creates an opportunity in achieving
greener environment which can boost the world to get recovering day after
day.

LIMITATIONS:- Since the matter selected has countless diversities or sub topics
in this, nullifies many aspects while compressing the information into a report
which limits into selecting topic related specific data.

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INDEX
TOPIC PAGE NO.

1.1. WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE?

06

1.2. WHAT IS TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE?

09

2.1. MATERIALS IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

11

2.2. MATERIALS IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

14

3. COMPARISON BETWEEN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND TRADITIONAL

ARCHITECTURE 17

4. WHY DO GREEN BUILDINGS COST MORE THAN TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS?

20
5. WHICH IS BETTER: A RECYCLED MATERIAL OR A NATURAL MATERIAL?

23
6. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE IF A MATERIAL IS GREEN OR NOT?

24

7. CONCLUSION

25

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UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE:

THE FUTURE IS NOW

INTRODUCTION

India is a fast growing country. Rapid industrialization, increasing population,

infrastructure India is a fast growing country. Rapid industrialization, increasing
population, infrastructure development and destruction of natural resources
lead to construction of green building. Green building is a structure that is
environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout its life cycle.
Green building is also known for its sustainability and high performance.
Thermal comfort studies on traditional residential buildings that are known for
its use of natural and passive methods for a comfortable indoor environment
are under progress. Passive methods of achieving thermal comfort inside the
buildings are the best solution to provide a healthy and energy efficient indoor
environment. The people are forced to depend on such systems because,
majority of the buildings are designed without giving adequate importance to
passive methods for controlling the indoor environment. In many cases, failure
to provide the required thermal conditions has resulted in discomfort, ill health
and productivity loss.

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1.1 HOW CAN WE DEFINE SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE?

Sustainable architecture is a general term that refers to buildings designed to limit humanity's
impact on the environment. An eco-friendly approach to modern-day building includes every
aspect of the planning and construction process, including the choice of building materials;
the design and implementation of heating, cooling, plumbing, waste, and ventilation
systems; and the integration of the built environment into the natural landscape.

Fig.01 & Fig.02: conceptual drawing of green building

Many of the practices and principles used in sustainable architecture are rooted in ancient
building techniques that were transformed with the rise of modern materials and mass
production in the industrial age. The modern consciousness about the need for sustainable
architecture can be traced back over 50 years to the anniversary of the first Earth Day, the
international environmental movement, and the ensuing legislation that it sparked across
the globe. (Sustainable and Green Building Construction Materials)

Fig.03: raw house Fig. 04: the first Earth Day

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But the world is now in the midst of a climate change emergency, and many of the
environmental laws that were passed in the last 50 years have been rolled back. This makes
it even more vital for designers, architects, builders, and consumers to demand better
building practices to help battle the damage caused by one of the most polluting industries
on the planet. In the United States, for example, buildings account for 39 percent of carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Fig.05: co2 emissions from fossil fuels

Wood might be an ancient building material, but cross-laminated timber, made by gluing
layers of lumber together, has become a sustainable alternative for city towers and prefab
houses in Europe and the U.S. If the 20th century was defined by the steel and glass
skyscrapers of cities like New York, the 21st century might come to be defined by the timber
skyscrapers.

Fig.06: glass skyscrapers Fig.07: timber skyscrapers

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Even recycled materials can become the building blocks of structures large and small.
Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban uses recycled cardboard tubing to
build emergency shelters. He utilized the same material to create his world-
renowned Transitional Cathedral, built in 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Fig.08 & Fig.09 : Transitional Cathedral

Despite innovations, advancements, and increasing public awareness about the need for
greener building practices, sustainable architecture still represents a small portion of
overall global construction. Furthermore, many experts believe that the concept of
sustainability is outdated given the current state of the planet. Instead, they insist that the
way forward lies in regenerative architecture and design, a much more progressive holistic
approach that focuses on tapping into the world's natural resources to create buildings and
systems capable of regenerating themselves and breaking down completely when they've
served their purpose.

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1.2. HOW CAN WE DEFINE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE?

Traditional architecture can be defined as a type of local or regional construction,

using traditional materials and resources from the area where the building is located.
Consequently, this architecture is closely related to its context and is aware of the specific
geographic features and cultural aspects of its surroundings, being strongly influenced by
them.

Fig.10 & Fig.11: local or regional construction

Following this definition there singles out two major characteristics associated with
vernacular architecture: tradition and contextualization. It states that vernacular
architecture is traditional in the sense that it originates from specific ethnic groups and is a
result of a long process over time, always based on familiar forms established by previous
generations. Besides that, as already mentioned, vernacular architecture also respects local
conditions, highlighting its great sensitivity to the geographical background of the
surroundings, including climate, vegetation, and topography.

Beyond sustainability, vernacular architecture sheds light on another important issue today.
It represents the cultural identity of a certain ethnic group and becomes a tool for
strengthening the bond between the population and its geographic location, nurturing a
sense of belonging to the space in which they live. This bond is so important today that
there seems to be a tendency towards the division of the individual as a result of the
ongoing transformations of cultural systems.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE:

Traditional architecture is important because it maintains our link to the past. It is this link to
the past that keeps us latched to the traditional buildings and styles that can be
incorporated into other building designs; Utilizing traditional architecture styles and
elements when building provides residents with a sense of calm and consistency throughout
their community without a wild departure from their traditions and heritage.

WHAT CONSTITUTES TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE:

A main component of a traditional architecture style is the ways in which the past building
styles and present are merged together, creating a seamless transition. With traditional
architecture, much deference is paid to the materials used in a building and how they
function and work. Traditional architecture is an older way of building homes and buildings
that stands the test of time and continues its link to the past, moved forward. (Traditional
building materials and design)

Fig.12: mansion

Fig.13: local colony

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2.1. MATERIALS IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Sustainable materials are a slogan in many industries as they create fewer long-term
environmental problems and lead to a healthier planet. Awareness and use of sustainable
materials are important to your small business: Besides being better for the earth,
customers like them too.

WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE MEAN, EXACTLY?

Sustainability, whether in materials, energy or practices, means a limited negative impact on

natural resources and people; they avoid depleting or degrading the environment. Because
they create few stresses on the environment, society can safely rely on them well into the
future. Sustainability isn’t all or nothing; some materials are very eco-friendly, others rank
reasonably well and some have poor sustainability.

SUSTAINABILITY AND PRODUCT LIFE CYCLES

Products go through a life cycle that begins with production and ends with disposal. Raw
materials are extracted from nature, made into useful goods, have a handy life and are
eventually discarded. Sustainable practices look at each step in the cycle and seek to avoid
negative environmental consequences. For example, carefully managed tree cutting for
wood production allows the forest to grow new trees at a rate that can keep up with the
need for wood materials.

SUSTAINABLE DISPOSAL

At the end of a product’s life, the materials it’s made of are sustainable through recycling or
repurposing, or if they decompose in a way that’s friendly to the environment. In addition to
using sustainable materials, some businesses offer recycling programs that take in discarded
products for recycling rather than have them enter landfills. This actively encourages
customers to discard their products in a sustainable manner. (Sustainable and Green
Building Construction Materials)

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1. BAMBOO

Fig.14: bamboo sticks

Bamboo is considered one of the best eco-friendly building materials. It has an incredibly
high self-generation rate, with some being reported to have grown up to three feet within
24 hours. It continues spreading and growing without having to be replanted after harvest.
Bamboo is a perennial grass and not wood and grows on every continent, except Europe
and Antarctica.

2. RECLAIMED WOOD

Fig.15: reclaimed wood processing

Using reclaimed wood is one of the most environmentally responsible ways to save trees
and reduce the amount of lumber in landfills. Reclaimed wood can be found in retired barns,
excavation companies, home remodeling contractors and companies, salvage yards, and
shipping crates and pallets.

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3. STRAW BALES

Fig.16: straw bales

It is another green building material that can be used as a framing material. They have good
insulation properties and can act as soundproof material. It can also be used as fill material
in between columns and in beams framework/ as they cannot allow air through, they can
have some fire resistance properties.

4. CORK

Fig.17: cork

Just like bamboo, cork grows very quickly. It can also be harvested from a living tree, which
continues to grow and reproduce more cork, which is a tree bark. Cork is resilient, flexible
and reverts to its original shape even after enduring sustaining pressure. Its resilience and
resistance to wear, makes it a common element in floor tiles.

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2.2. MATERIALS IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Most of today’s urban skylines are dominated by the concrete and steel, softened by
smooth glass facades that, with today’s know-how, can wrap around entire skyscrapers.
Materials such as straw, clay and rammed earth are clearly far less sophisticated than those
employed today, but the endurance of countless ancient structures stands as tangible proof
of their longevity if used correctly.

It’s clear that traditional materials still hold a place in the 21st century construction
landscape, even if that place has been gradually relocated from the mainstream to the
borders.

LESSONS FROM HISTORY: ANCIENT MATERIALS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

From an environmental perspective (a perspective that all of today’s architects and
construction managers must keep in mind), these ancient building blocks hold significant
advantages over their modern successors. A 2008 cross-university study of materials used in
traditional Turkish buildings emphasized the environmental advantages of old-school
construction materials.

"Natural building materials have now become unfamiliar – local expertise is shrinking into a
small role or disappearing altogether."

"Materials being obtained from totally natural, local and renewable resources have source-
efficient and energy-efficient features," the study found. "They have significant organic
characteristics since they are easily recyclable and re-usable, utilize agricultural wastes and
do not produce any wastes."

In the 21st century, the vast majority of traditional building materials are used in various
regions of the developing world where financial and logistical limits make age-old
construction methods the only feasible option. In developed countries, the use of most of
these materials has declined significantly.

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TIMBER

Fig.18: timber blocks Fig.19: timber structure

Timber is one of the earliest materials used to build shelters. Initially, this would have started
with tree branches used to form frameworks that would be covered with leaves or skins and
smaller branches. This progressed to the creation of cruck-framed houses which led to the
creation of timber-framed construction with wattle and daub or brick infill panels. Timber is
still used in a wide range of traditional and modern constructions.

CLAY (BRICKS)

Fig.20: clay bricks Fig.21: IIM Ahmedabad

Bricks are distinguished from mud bricks by being fired rather than simply left to dry in the sun.
Fired bricks were produced in the Near East as far back as 3000 BC but it was the Romans who
introduced the technique into the UK in the first century AD. Brick was later to flourish in the Middle
Ages for use in houses and churches, and its use extended through Georgian and Victorian periods. It
is still widely used in the UK, both for traditional and modern buildings. Quarry tiles (fired brick) are
also regarded as traditional and still used, mostly for kitchen floors and worktops.

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SLATE

Fig.22: slate Fig.23: structure made from slate

Due to the way it is cleaved, slate has been used for roofing, paving and to form the wearing
surface on steps and stairs. It is still highly valued as a roof covering but also as a cladding for
contemporary steel and concrete buildings.

STUCCO

Fig.23: stucco Fig.24: structure made from stucco

Used originally by the Greeks and Romans, stucco appears in the UK around 1500 AD as an
inexpensive way to simulate stone; it became popular in Regency and Georgian England as
an external render. A special form of stucco – ‘marmorino’ – was used internally to
simulate stone and marble effects (also called polished plaster). (Traditional building
materials and design)

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3. COMPARISON BETWEEN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND TRADITIONAL

ARCHITECTURE

A building is green when it helps reduce the footprint it leaves on the natural environment
and on the health of its inhabitants.
Green home design includes building for energy efficiency, including the use of renewable
energy sources such as wind, water, or solar; creating a healthy indoor environment;
implementing natural ventilation systems; and using construction materials that minimize
the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home.
The use of materials and resources that are sustainable, have low embodied energy, and
produce a minimal environmental impact are key elements in green construction, as is the
efficient use of water by appliances, faucets and shower heads, the recycling of grey water,
and the reuse of rain water for landscaping and other non-potable purposes.

While the definition of green is relatively simple, sustainability has a more precise meaning
derived from the term “sustainable agriculture,” which is the production of any plant or
animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health,
human communities, and animal welfare without compromising future generations’ ability
to do the same.
The importance of sustainability lies in the “future” factors, which set a higher standard than
those used to define green building.
Sustainable products reduce the impact on the environment by using responsibly-sourced
products; those that are either completely renewable or sustainably harvested. A
sustainably harvested source material is collected in a way that does not affect the
surrounding area, pollute the air or permanently reduce the supply.
A very clear example of the difference between “green” and “sustainable,” can be the
popular “green” bamboo flooring. There is no doubt that a timber product made from a
renewable resource is green, but most bamboo flooring is made in China and transported by
ships and trucks to different countries all around the world.

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Fig.25 & Fig.26: green bamboo flooring

Another example can be the wood used to build a house. While wood is generally
considered an eco-friendly or green product because it is natural and durable, it is not
always sustainable. Wood is sustainable if the company that cuts down the trees does not
permanently deplete the forest. If it is harvested in an environmentally irresponsible way, it
is not sustainable at all.

Fig.27 & Fig.28: wood flooring

Only a house that meets zero energy standards – with zero net energy consumption and
zero carbon emissions – can be considered sustainable. Buildings that contribute to urban
sprawl and large homes which consume high levels of energy and resources cannot be
considered sustainable.

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Fig.29: house with zero carbon emissions

Fig.30: house with zero carbon emissions

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4. WHY DO GREEN BUILDINGS COST MORE THAN TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS?

Green Buildings Cost more than Traditional Buildings; this is not true and a common
misconception promoted by ignorant architects and contractors afraid of building in a
different way. A good architect knows how to save their clients’ money. The client sets the
budget, and a project should come in below that budget. With a clear direction of budget,
there is no reason you cannot build a green building for the same price or less than a
traditional building.

If you are comparing a building with solar panels to a traditional building without solar
panels, of course it appears the traditional building costs less. This is focusing solely on the
up-front cost of building. This ideal fails to take into account how the building with solar
panels will immediately begin producing energy and lowering your monthly electricity bill.
The lifecycle cost of the solar building will be much less. This monthly benefit, called a return
on your investment, quickly pays for any additional up-front cost for purchasing the solar
panels. Numerous studies have shown investments into green products and systems will pay
for themselves at least ten times over the life of the building. Luckily, the benefits and
opportunities to save money on the operational costs are enormous.

Fig.31: gird interactive efficient building

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The next step is energy reduction. Replacing your burnt out light bulbs with compact
fluorescent bulbs would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from
the road. Natural light easily replaces the need for lights in the first place.

The energy savings alone in a green building could pay for green improvements several
times over with a return on investment within 1-7 years.

In the case where you are comparing similar materials, the costs end up being the same. For
instance, a bamboo floor installs the exact same way as a traditional wood floor. The
material costs are now the same, and use of the bamboo does not result in the clear cutting
of a forest.

Fig.32: house with zero carbon emissions

Finally, green buildings offer common benefits not easily seen. Student test scores are 15%
higher in spaces lit with natural daylight. Wal-Mart has discovered their retail sales increase
in stores with natural light. Office workers report greatly reduced absence in an
environment with natural, non-toxic materials.

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Fig.33: daylight demonstration

Although there are green materials that cost more than their traditional equals, there are
also many more whose cost is far below the standard. Advances in recycling, new materials
and better designs have allowed for a new generation of environmentally-friendly products
that are less costly to produce. Of course, green materials also have a very important long
term benefit of not destroying our planet's resources.

Fig.34: environmentally-friendly house

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5. WHICH IS BETTER: A RECYCLED MATERIAL OR A NATURAL MATERIAL?

RECYCLED or NATURAL? This question attend back to the old "paper or plastic?" debate. In
reality, most architects and contractors do not want to get into a philosophical argument
about the pros and cons between these two types of materials.

There is no perfect material. All materials have some negative impact on our environment.
The key is in setting priorities for the project.

For instance, for a residential kitchen countertop preference might be given to non-toxic
and non-off-gassing materials. The indoor air quality and the health of the inhabitants (I
believe) are more important than anything else. In the walls, perhaps using recycled plastic
vapor barriers makes more sense.

It tends to be a little more practical. While we have this over-richness of plastic heading for a
landfill, perhaps it is wise to use this up in the form of recycled plastic products. It has set the
next 5-7 years as a grace period for the use of recycled plastics in my own practice. After
such time and the supply of virgin plastics have been reused, the need for any oil based
plastics will have been replaced with naturally based alternatives.

There are natural materials that off-gas. Simply being a natural material does not guarantee
the health of that material. As the designer, you will have to determine the appropriate
material for the given installation. By setting your priorities for the health, energy use,
durability and other factors will help you decide.

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6. HOW CAN I DETERMINE IF A MATERIAL IS GREEN OR NOT?

The biggest obstacle in the adoption of green materials is a lack of understanding of how to
look at materials. There is no one perfect green material. All materials have both positive
and negative environmental attributes. The key is in understanding which of these will
benefit your specific project.

For example, many people will ask if concrete is a "green" material. They want a simple
"yes" or "no" answer. But the real answer is not so accurate.

If we look at the good things about concrete:

 durable, (technically) recyclable, natural, non-off gassing, made from natural sand, stone,
and water, and
 We can see it casually appears to be a green material.

But on the other hand, the bad thing about concrete is its chief ingredient, Portland Cement.
Portland Cement is mined out of the Earth, heated to intense temperatures and as a by-
product this releases tons of greenhouse gas. Suddenly, the green concrete you hoped for is
a potentially bad source of pollution. If the main problem with concrete is its content of
Portland cement, we can replace up to 50% of that Portland Cement with a material called fly
ash. Fly ash is a by-product of the coal industry. It is typically buried in a land fill where it
seeps mercury into our water table. By putting it into our concrete mix, it turns out the fly
ash makes the concrete stronger and more workable.

Ask yourself these six questions when looking at any material:

1. Where did this material come from?

2. What are the by-products of it’s' manufacturer?
3. How is the material delivered and installed?
4. How is the material maintained and operated?
5. How healthy are the materials?

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7. CONCLUSION

Through discussion and analysis, the chapter tried to find similarities between
identity, as an indicator of a certain society, and sustainability, as a lifestyle
developed by people in that society to live in harmony with the surrounding
nature and available resources sustaining balance with lifecycle around them.
Architecture, vernacular in particular, as a product of people is a exciting
appearance of how identity and sustainability are related naturally in unity with
nature and culture. Vernacular architecture is a demonstration of identity and
sustainability; it is the “mirror” of nations that reflects place, time, and culture.
Architecture that was built by people to people; it has developed sustainably
through time and modified itself through trial and error to fulfill society’s needs
in harmony with the ambient environment. The search for establishing a new
regional personality means being independence from the imported values and
ideologies without losing cultural interrelation that serve the human
civilization.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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(n.d.). Retrieved from Sustainable and Green Building Construction

Materials:https://theconstructor.org/building/green-building-
materials/7028/

(n.d.). Retrieved from Meaning of Sustainable Materials: https://bizfluent.com/list-

6878763-disadvantages-advantages-plastic-material.html

HOHENADEL, K. (n.d.). thespruce. Retrieved from What Is Sustainable

Architecture?:https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-sustainable-
architecture-4846497

(n.d.). https://www.ctc-n.org/technology-library/built-environment/traditional-building-materials-and-
design.

Salman, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from Sustainability and Vernacular:

file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/Sustainability_and_Vernacular_Architecture_Rethink.pdf

DESIGN BUILD NETWORK. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.designbuild-

network.com/features/featuretraditional-building-materials-21st-century/
TRADITIONAL MATERIALS. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Traditional_materials

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