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What would happen if the buildings around us didn’t just serve a functional or habitable purpose, but also actively and almost imperceptibly contributed to improving the quality of life for the people who live in them?
This blog aims to establish a manifesto for urban sustainability, based on three principles or pillars that redefine the way we think about construction and its projects.
Write this down:
Design with Conscience, Build with Innovation, and Operate with Resilience.
After this statement, you might be asking yourself: What exactly is urban sustainability in construction?
What is Urban Sustainability?
Urban sustainability in construction refers to the action or process of designing, planning, and building cities and structures that are respectful of the planet, the environment, and the people who live in them.
We know your mind immediately goes to vertical gardens, but allow us to say you’re wrong, it goes much further.
It considers the entire life cycle of a building or construction, from its initial design to its use and potential future demolition.
Additionally, the concept of urban sustainability has a friendly, hopeful, and “friendly” connotation.
Remember that, according to the International Energy Agency, buildings are responsible for 32% of global energy consumption, in addition to 34% of CO2 emissions.
Imagine a city where its buildings inspire, not only for being aesthetically beautiful but also for taking care of their inhabitants.
It would be spectacular, right? Well, that is what urban sustainability is all about.
It’s about creating designs that make the most of natural light, thus reducing the need for electricity. Or designs where the materials used do not harm the environment, but are respectful, efficient, and can be reused.
These points and many more are what make a building, an urban architectural component, respectful or not of its surroundings.
Now ask yourself these questions: Does your building generate a lot of waste? Does it consume too much energy? Is it a green space that helps improve the quality of the environment? Does the urban composition of your city allow for the use of bicycles and other non-polluting means of transport?
Keep reading, and we’ll tell you more about this very interesting topic.
Design with Conscience: The Architecture as the City’s Healer
Sustainable urban construction goes far beyond the aesthetic aspect.
A sustainable building is, in essence, one that is capable of redesigning and healing the composition and functionality of the city itself , shaping the built urban environment to be more harmonious, efficient, and healthy for its inhabitants.
This perspective allows us to see each construction project as an opportunity to solve urban sustainability problems.
Bioclimatic Integration Bioclimatic integration is the art of designing buildings that adapt to the local climate we are in. It’s about using orientation, shape, and materials so that a building is thermally responsible.
That is, it has the ability to cool itself in summer or heat up in winter in an autonomous, natural way, and consequently reduces the need to use energy or fuels for that purpose.
Surely you have seen news about cities that use asphalt and concrete buildings that absorb and retain heat, creating the so-called “heat island effect.”
A bioclimatic design helps you mitigate temperatures, for example by using windows specifically oriented to capture sunlight in winter and by using overhangs to create shade in summer.
Regenerative Spaces The next step in the evolution of sustainable design in cities is the concept of regenerative spaces.
Never heard of them? These spaces are those in charge of minimizing damage. Urban projects that actively seek to improve the environment, such as buildings that act as air purifiers, water collectors, or even habitats for local fauna.
Another very widespread option are green roofs and facades, which can now be seen as a common element in many cities : spaces that absorb CO2, release oxygen, reduce stormwater runoff, and create cool microclimates.
Did you know that the surface temperature of a green roof can be 13.3°C lower than that of conventional roofs, and can reduce nearby air temperatures by up to 11.1°C?
Materials with a Story Finally, sustainable urban design forces us to rethink materials.
It’s not just about their durability or cost, but about their origin and environmental impact.
The use of ethically sourced, recycled, or even carbon-capturing materials gives the building a story and a purpose. By choosing materials with a low carbon footprint, you are not only building, but also leaving a positive footprint on the planet.
Build with Innovation: The Construction Site as an Intelligent Ecosystem
The construction phase is no longer just about building walls and putting up roofs. Today, the construction site has been transformed into an intelligent ecosystem where technology and processes work in harmony to optimize every step , from the arrival of the material to the last touch-up.
The goal is to make every process count in order to achieve a more efficient, safe, and sustainable construction.
Collaborative Robotics Now we ask you to forget about science fiction movies… No “Sonny”-type robots from “I, Robot.”
Collaborative robotics takes care of repetitive, heavy, or dangerous tasks, such as demolition, welding, or transporting heavy materials.
This not only improves safety on the construction site but also frees up workers to focus on jobs that require more complex skills, creativity, and decision-making.
It’s a perfect synergy between the precision of the machine and human experience.
Large-Scale 3D Printing 3D printing is not just for small prototypes. On a large scale, this technology is revolutionizing construction by allowing the creation of entire structures, such as walls or even complete houses, quickly and with minimal waste.
According to the Construction Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, 3D printing in construction can reduce material waste by more than 60% compared to conventional construction methods. This process is not only efficient, but also allows for more complex and organic designs that would be impossible with traditional methods.
The growth of this sector is a clear indicator of its impact. According to Allied Market Research, the global 3D printing construction market is estimated to soar from $1.4 billion in 2021 to an impressive $750.8 billion by 2031. This rapid rise is not just a number, but symbolizes a total transformation in the way we conceive, plan, and build the cities of the future.
Data Logistics Data logistics in construction is like having a brain for the job site.
Using data analytics, the entire supply chain can be optimized to know exactly when and where materials are needed. This avoids wasting resources, since supplies arrive just in time, without excess stock.
In addition, by intelligently planning deliveries, traffic can be reduced in cities and, therefore, pollution and noise, making the construction process more respectful of the urban environment.
Operate with Resilience: Buildings that Evolve with Their Environment
A truly sustainable building doesn’t end its life cycle upon inauguration. The last pillar of conscious construction focuses on resilience and the structure’s ability to evolve and adapt to its environment over time. We are talking about buildings that are not only built, but are maintained, regenerated, and, at the end of their life, transformed to continue being useful.
Self-Sufficient Buildings The ultimate expression of resilience is self-sufficiency. A self-sufficient building integrates systems that allow it to generate its own energy, such as solar panels or wind turbines, and manage its own water resources through rainwater harvesting and gray water treatment. This autonomy not only reduces its carbon footprint, but also makes it less vulnerable to service interruptions, guaranteeing its functionality and comfort in the long term.
Digital Twins for Efficiency Technology is a key ally for a building’s longevity. Digital twins are virtual 3D replicas that connect with sensors in the real structure to monitor every aspect , from energy consumption and air quality to temperature and use of spaces. This tool allows building managers to make decisions in real time to optimize their performance , identify problems before they worsen, and ensure the structure operates with maximum efficiency throughout its useful life.
A fact that illustrates its power: it is estimated that the use of digital twins for building management can reduce energy consumption by up to 35%.
Design for Disassembly: The Art of Disassembly
Design for Disassembly is a design philosophy that challenges the traditional way we think about the end of a building’s life. Instead of viewing a structure as something that will be demolished, it is conceived as a set of valuable components that can be recovered and reused. It is the idea of an “inverse demolition,” where each part has a future purpose.
From Demolition to Dismantling Historically, the end of a building meant rubble, waste, and the total loss of the value of its materials. With design for disassembly, this reality changes. The goal is to create a “bank of materials” for future constructions. By designing buildings this way, it is estimated that up to 80-90% of their components and materials can be recovered and reinserted into the construction cycle, drastically reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
How is it achieved in practice? Making a building “disassemblable” requires meticulous planning from the design phase. It is a series of conscious decisions that facilitate the recovery of materials:
- Modular Systems: Use prefabricated modules for walls, ceilings, or wiring systems that can be easily disconnected and removed.
- Reversible Connections: Prioritize the use of screws, bolts, and mechanical joints instead of permanent adhesives, welds, or mortar, allowing the parts to separate without being damaged.
- Clear Material Identification: Label components with information about their composition and value to facilitate their classification and reuse.
- Access to Components: Ensure that joints and infrastructure systems are accessible for future disassembly, preventing them from being hidden behind other structures.
In essence, design for disassembly is a commitment to longevity and circularity. A building is not the end of the story of the materials, but one more chapter in their useful life, ensuring that value and resources are preserved for future generations.
Conclusion: A Future Built with Purpose
Urban sustainability in construction is not an option, but an ethical imperative and an opportunity to have healthier and eco-friendlier urban environments.
Throughout this journey, we have seen that it is based on three fundamental pillars that invite us to go beyond simple building:
- Design with conscience: So that each structure heals and improves its surroundings.
- Build with innovation: So that the construction site is an intelligent, efficient ecosystem with minimal waste.
- Operate with resilience: So that buildings evolve and adapt to the challenges of the future.
It is time to embrace a future built with purpose. A future where our cities are vibrant and diverse ecosystems, designed to flourish in harmony with the planet, building spaces that are more ecological, more just, and more beautiful.
Are you ready to build that future?
