The Realization of Sustainable Architecture through Modern Technology and Biological Regionalism

©Joonwoo Kim

Buildings enrich people's lives. From the beginning of human history to the present day and special days, architecture has been the background of life around us. In this process, whenever problems arise, buildings have developed, overcoming them with the technology of the time. In other words, the building reflects the problems and technological skills of the period.

So, what is the problem facing the 21st century? In the history of architecture in the past, there was a definite answer for each era. In ancient times, humanity based on humanism was valued. In the Middle Ages, the God-oriented conception overwhelmed the humanity and God became the center of the world. During the Renaissance, the world was based on the conception of restoring humanity. Modernism was valued in contemporary times due to the development of technology. If problems arose in each era, they were solved by the ideology of that era. However, the appearance of contemporary society is an era of postmodernism, a transition period in which modernism must be solved, and there is no definite answer. At the same time, an important problem facing mankind in modern times is to solve the environmental problems caused by modernism. Unlike in the past, there are various perspectives of each field to solve environmental problems, so there is no firm answer. I want to deal with how to think about environmental issues in architecture and how to pursue sustainable architecture from various perspectives.

In order to achieve sustainable architecture, technology must be actively used while respecting nature. Since the past, humans have developed through technology when they feel uncomfortable with the natural environment. In other words, technology is a tool and method for solving problems between humans and the natural environment, depending on time and place. For example, the stability and technology of elevators have been developed to build high-rise buildings. In modern times, discussions on eco-friendly architecture and sustainable architecture continued, and many eco-friendly technologies that actively utilized nature were developed. In order to create a sustainable society, energy consumption should be reduced and natural factors should be actively utilized. For example, essential components are used as eco-friendly materials.

First, using Double Skin windows for solar radiation control and natural ventilation can be a good example. This is because natural ventilation using Double Skin windows can minimize energy consumption due to mechanical ventilation. In addition, the energy consumed for cooling and heating can be reduced by reducing the heat acquisition and heat loss of the structure through the hollow layer between the windows. Second, if a solar system is attached to a place where canopy is needed, such as the entrance of a building, it can also absorb solar power and control the amount of solar radiation. These components can reduce energy consumption by using modern technologies, and some of the building's electricity can be produced on its own to make the building organic. And if possible, I think it is better to actively utilize the basement of the building. Underground, there is a geothermal system that maintains a constant temperature without being affected by sudden external changes. Cold air can be introduced in summer and warm air can be introduced inside in winter to reduce energy. Building down to the basement can increase energy consumption caused by ventilation, which can be solved through Atrium. The atrium, which penetrates the center vertically, becomes a channel for natural ventilation and also introduces natural light into the building. It has the advantage of reducing energy for ventilation while also reducing the consumption of lighting energy. Finally, there is a way to reuse the water cycle in the building. Through the Rainwater Cycle System, we can reuse water that is important to our lives. Since water is one of the most important factors for us as air, it can help us with natural environmental problems if we can reuse it. The roof pond system is installed in the underground part of the building to control the humidity and ventilation of the underground. The roof of the black accumulator on the ceiling gives off uniform, low temperature heat on both clear and cloudy days. It can also create landscaping effects with ponds on the ground. Through rainwater and reused water, humidity and ventilation in the basement of the building can be controlled, and the effects of landscaping can be produced from the outside.

Another thing needed for sustainable architecture is the establishment of new relationships between nature and humans. Nature should be recognized as an object of friendship, not an object of overcoming. This is because humans and the environment are interdependent. Humans create environments, and environments affect human life. Humans are organic beings who experience and modify the environment. In other words, they are the only ones who reorganize the environment and adapt to the new environment. Humans with these abilities should consider how the new environment to reorganize will affect not only humans, but also the main factors that make up the ecosystem. Because all the substances that make up the ecosystem affect each other. Assuming that a site is selected and developed, no matter how well-designed it is, spatial displacement occurs due to the development that occurs there. This means the location of the ecological components that made up the site changes. In development, conflicts with the ecosystem are inevitable due to the intervention of the artificial environment. Therefore, changes in the sun, water, and air caused by conflicts with ecosystems should be actively reflected in buildings and the inflow of energy materials should be minimized. To do so, architects need to approach from the establishment of the earth based on these three principles: Economy of resources, Life Cycle Design, and Human-Centered Design (also for the Disabled). The more buildings made up of this approach, the more sustainable our society will be able to realize sustainable architecture and further build a sustainable society. Therefore, these three principles are essential to modern architects and should be led by architects in a sustainable society.

Modern architecture must actively use eco-friendly architecture technology, and architects must also combine bioregionalism. This is because buildings contain problems of each era and technology to solve them. The buildings we currently use also contain technology and information that complement previous problems. Therefore, the technologies that we consider and apply to buildings today will exist in different forms in future buildings. In addition, we should think about the impact of buildings on the ecosystem and actively use the spatial displacement of the land created by the buildings inside the buildings. If a society comes where it is natural to produce energy inside buildings by reducing the inflow of energy and saving resources, sustainable architecture will be able to realize a sustainable society. The very first step has already begun.

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AUTHOR

JOONWOO KIM