Design for sustainable architecture and environments

This paper describes some of the research outcomes of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project partly funded by Department of Trade and Industry, UK. One of the aims of the project is to plan and develop designs for a range of autonomous eco-buildings through research into autonomous eco-building systems and techniques in order to identify best practice and the most appropriate systems for low-carbon buildings. The design of the Community Hall offering accommodations for a multi functional hall, restaurant, and offices, has been developed through partnership with mainstream design and construction companies in the region. Following a successful planning application and external fund raising exercise, the construction of the building will start shortly. The structure will be constructed using locally sourced materials and is designed to be ‘renewable’ whilst exceeding all the requirements of the current Building Regulations. This project has highlighted the challenges of the practical implementation of sustainable architecture. It examines the potential of non traditional construction techniques and materials. The building incorporates rain water collection, waste treatment, composting toilets, vegetable oil micro CHP, photovoltaics and wind turbines. The paper highlights the potential of sustainable design and construction and compares the predicted embodied and in-use environmental loads of the Community Hall with compatible case studies.