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Boris Karloff

Professor Jerry Saviano

English 100

Argumentative Essay

Designing for the Planet: The Importance of Urban Architecture

Have you ever encountered a place covered with so much smog that it was difficult for

you to breathe properly? Air pollution has become a huge problem that threatens the healthy

living conditions of residents, especially in highly urbanized China. In fact, while I was taking an

Economics class, statistics show that China is the leading country in producing pollution. Where

does the United States fall in the list of concerns? Well, the United States isn’t far off. According

to design textbook writers Edward Allen and Joseph Iano:

In constructing and occupying buildings, we expend vast quantities of the Earth’s

resources and generate a significant portion of its environmental pollution.

Buildings account for 30 to 40 percent of the world’s energy consumption and

carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In United States, buildings consume

approximately 35 percent of this country’s energy, 65 percent of its electricity, 12

percent of its potable water, and 30 percent of its raw materials (4).

Building construction and operations can negatively impact the environment, but these effects

can be minimized through thoughtful design choices. Eco-architecture benefits the environment

because eco-architecture saves energy, reduces material waste, builds strong communities, and

most importantly improves human health and productivity.

In recent years, sustainability has become a great concern for the construction industry

and affiliated building trades such as architects, designers, developers, landscape designers, and
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contractors. Construction firms don’t want to be associated with a building that everyone hates

because of how destructive the structure is to the environment. For example, there was that

terrible era of mass industrialization that killed so many trees and polluted the sky, land, and

water. Let’s not go back there because the structures were built so quickly and carelessly.

Recently, a major portion of the construction industry is beginning to reflect on their past

methods and thinking of new ways to align their respective disciplines with the needs of our

planet. Bob Simmons, a policy adviser in the Environmental Protection Agency’s pollution

prevention division, explains that “[a]rchitects are in a uniquely positioned discipline to help

society move away from the industrial high-tech era into a successful new paradigm” (qtd. in

Russell). What he means by that architects are in the ideal position to enact change within the

construction methods and design choices that could potentially prioritize the environment.

On a personal note, I want to be a part of this sustainable design movement. My long-

term goal is to become an architect that designs with creativity, purpose, and thoughtfulness.

Like a building, I want a strong foundation at Honolulu Community College by majoring in

Architectural, Engineering, and CAD Technologies. While being a part of this program, I want to

develop a greater understanding of the materials and methods used to create a structure. By

expanding my knowledge and by being aware of their advantages and disadvantages, I will able

to properly analyze and make wise design decisions that are best suited for the client’s lifestyle

and the environment. Particularly, I would like for the buildings to be well worth the valuable

land that it takes up. These designs would be an extension or a compliment to its natural

surroundings, and I would like for them to contribute to the Earth in a more positive way –

whether that is by using renewable energy for operation, limiting waste generated/resources used

from construction, and becoming a memorable setting for future stories to tell from generation to
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generation. After earning an associate degree, I plan on transferring to the University of Hawaii

at Manoa to major in Environmental Design.

As mentioned earlier, incorporating renewable energy sources and reducing the amount

of energy used in buildings ranks high within the long list of considerations. To further expand

on this, I learned that energy can be saved when choosing the structure’s primary material. For

warmer places, such as Hawaii, by selecting concrete, the amount of energy needed to cool the

interior spaces is reduced. The thermal mass of concrete allows it to have inherent qualities for

both heating and cooling. This is the reason why Hawaii has many residential homes that use

concrete masonry as its framing. Let’s look at an iconic example in Honolulu that has sustainable

properties associated due to the use of concrete.

The Ward Village’s official website describes the IBM Building, which is located within

their premises, as an iconic structure designed by architect Vladimir Ossipoff in 1962. Ossipoff

was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, who was remarkably known for a style titled as “organic

architecture.” This style placed a huge importance on designing the structures to complement and

add to its surrounding environment in a positive way. The IBM building’s most distinct feature

would its concrete grille that is composed of 1,360 precast pieces (Ward Village). Its concrete

exterior would be its shining star, and often the focus that our eyes are visually drawn to. The

concrete grille is not only decorative. It has function and it saves energy. The concrete grille acts

as a screen from the onslaught of sunlight and by having this material around the building, the

concrete absorbs the heat; this reduces the amount of energy needed for cooling the interior

spaces which would otherwise been really hot from the glass. The concrete grille was a smart

design choice.
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Additionally, the amount of energy required for heating the interior space of a building

can be reduced by ensuring there is enough fiberglass batt insulation within the walls. By looking

at the R-values of common building materials, the architect can also choose a material that goes

well with the site’s environment. Dense materials such as concrete and masonry have low R-

values and can only provide minimal insulation, so it is highly advisable that these materials

should not be used in locations that are subject to freezing temperatures.

Material waste generated from construction can be reduced. From my architectural class

called Construction Materials (AEC 118), I learned about optimum value engineering. Advanced

framing techniques can be used to eliminate the redundancy of unnecessary structural wood

members; thus, effectively decreasing the amount of lumber needed for the structure. It is worth

noting that advanced framing should be done in coordination and with approval from a structural

engineer who can understand where stress from the building’s load is present. Additionally,

material waste can be reduced by using materials that can decompose after usage or if can, be

reused. Steel is a great construction material that can be easily reused without losing its strength.

In fact, when steel is used structurally, a major portion of these buildings are created from reused

steel. Wood is great in the way that it does not necessarily harm the environment, and because of

decomposition wood doesn’t stay in the landfill for a long time.

Modular homes, which are homes that are prefabricated away from the construction site,

are a prime example of minimizing the negative impacts on the environment. How is this done?

Well, the designs of modular homes are known to reduce energy consumption and there is less

waste generated from the assembly and construction processes because of its smaller carbon

footprint. Nick Chambers, a New York Times green journalist explains, “modular homes are built

with thicker walls and floors and joined with screws and glue… A side effect of this, industry
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representatives note: [h]igher energy efficiency due to the extra insulation and tighter, less draft-

prone seams.” Along with that, since modular homes are designed to be constructed away from

the site, its components are smaller in size for easy transportation and the connection between

components are chosen based on efficiency.

Eco-architecture can build stronger communities due to the aesthetic appeal of the

structures. As much as architects want to design green, they want to do that while making the

buildings look pretty. The Greenhaven Press shares the same opinion: “[g]reen building is a key

component to building healthy, vibrant, and economically strong communities. Leading

communities throughout the world recognize that people want to live in places with a strong

sense of community, attractive and comfortable homes, walkable streets, and plentiful green

spaces, and proximity to transit, shops, and work.” The architects who work on these sustainable

design projects are typically very creative in deciding how to incorporate these smarter,

environment-friendly methods.

Most importantly, eco-architecture can also improve human health and productivity. I

don’t know about you, but my environment makes such a huge difference in the quality of my

living. If I live in a clean, neat, and inspiring place, I can accomplish far more tasks than if the

environment was messy. According to the same article published by the Greenhaven Press, I am

not the only one who thinks this way:

Substantial research supports the benefits to human health and productivity from

green features such as daylighting, increased natural air ventilation, and moisture

reduction, and the use of low-emitting floor carpets, glues, paint and other interior

finishes and furnishings… According to researchers, green building has the

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potential to generate an additional $200 billion annually in worker performance in

the United States by creating offices with better indoor air.

Light and natural air ventilation can go hand in hand. By using horizontal sliding windows or

large casement windows, a significant amount of natural sunlight and air ventilation can be

added to the room. I guess it could really depend on what type of windows you choose because

certain types have different coverage. If you decide to take advantage of natural lighting and

ventilation, you could potentially save electricity costs in operating your building while also

encouraging worker performance.

Although there are people that may argue that eco-architecture does not really benefit the

environment, I believe that with greater knowledge by the designers, there can be many

advantages on the Earth. Advantages include saving energy use, reducing material waste,

constructing attractive communities, and encouraging human health and productivity. It’s a work

in progress, but we’re beginning to take those necessary steps to improve the quality of our man-

made structures. Mother Nature would be proud of this design movement.

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Works Cited

Allen, Edward, and Joseph Iano. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and

Methods. New York: Wiley, 2014.

Branch, Mark A. "Smart Buildings." Earthwatch, 1993, pp. 9-11. SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://sks.sirs.com.

"Eco-Architecture." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints

in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3010999172/OVIC?

u=hawaii_honolulu&sid=OVIC&xid=fb10394e.

Russell, Dick. "A Garden of Earthly Designs." Amicus Journal, 1993, pp. 14-21. SIRS Issues

Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. "Eco-Architecture Benefits the

Environment." Eco-Architecture, edited by Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2013.

Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010540239/OVIC?

u=hawaii_honolulu&sid=OVIC&xid=745846f9. Accessed 28 Oct. 2018. Originally

published as "Green Building in North America: Opportunities and Challenges,".

“Then and Now: The IBM Building.” Ward Village, 25 Oct. 2015,

www.wardvillage.com/articles/then-and-now-the-ibm-building.

Toenjes, Leonard. Residential Printreading. American Technical Publishers, 2017.

Title Strategy #1: Write a straightforward, descriptive title.

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Introduction Strategy #1: Ask a thought-provoking question.

Conclusion Strategy #1, 2: Look ahead. Remind readers of the relevance of this issue.