A Green Vitruvius: Principles And Practice Of Sustainable Architectural Design

Two thousand years ago the Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio wrote the first books on architecture and established the concept of the pattern book offering design principles and solutions that is still familiar today. This publication is a green pattern book for today. Green, or sustainable, or environmentally-friendly architecture is not simply an environmental benefit. It is place-sensitive; in a globalizing world it leads to location-specific architecture by responding to local climatic conditions and using local materials. It also offers better architectural quality with more natural and fewer artificial inputs; not only is less more, less is also beautiful.The book is in independent parts. Four sections structure advice in accordance with the design and construction process, the issues to be considered, the strategies to be adopted and the elements of green design. A fifth section advises on design evaluation.Sustainability is one of many considerations for the practicing architect. This book is for the experienced practitioner anywhere who wishes to make a more sustainable architecture whether or not they have yet acquired any particular expertise in the subject. It will also serve as a valuable introduction to the subject, and provide a clear and attractive text for students. THIS BOOK IS PREPARED WITHIN THE THERMIE PROGRAM OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DGXVII BY: ACE -- Architects' Council of Europe, Brussels: Eoin O'Cofaigh ERG -- Energy Research Group, University College Dublin: Eileen Fitzgerald, Robert Alcock, Ann McNicholl and J. Owen LewisSAFA -- Suomen Arkkiteillitto, Helsinki: Vesa PeltonenSOFTECH, Turin: Antonella Marucco