Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism: Design, Construction, Examples

The concept of sustainability requires environmentally friendly and socially acceptable methods of production and use, and this is no less true in the construction branch. Since the mid-1980s international organisations have been advocating the concept and since the environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 it has become the center of worldwide attention. In the context of architecture the concept calls for the use of intelligent technology, innovative constructions, ecologically friendly materials and use of energy which looks to the environment. This book sets out with an overview of the various approaches and developments in sustainable architecture, followed by an in-depth section on urbanism looking at several European towns. In the third section the technologies, materials and methods of ecological architecture are examined. Concluding the volume are 23 sophisticated and innovative examples from Europe which include works of Metron, Behnisch & Partner, Sonia Cortesse, Ian Ritchie and Kauffmann Theilig & Partner amongst others.