The two fields of historic preservation and sustainable design include many similar values concerning conservation, yet produce buildings that ultimately look and perform differently. Historic preservation relies on the maintenance of traditional materials to ensure that historic buildings are preserved for future generations. Sustainable design typically works with new construction to create buildings that have little negative impact on the environment. The similarities yet separateness that exist between historic preservation and sustainable design provide a compelling platform to ask how we can combine the two fields within one building project. The combination of these two felds is currently being explored in post-Katrina New Orleans, and I am asking how we can combine historic preservation with aspects of sustainable design to create a sustainable preservation hybrid, or fusion between technological aspects of “green” design with traditional methods of preservation, that will allow historic buildings to maintain their integrity and achieve the values of sustainability. New Orleans provides a great opportunity to examine this question due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing efforts to rebuild the city. One specific area of New Orleans, the historic district of Holy Cross, plays home to two key organizations involved in the rebuilding: the Preservation Resource Center, which preserves the existing historic housing stock, and Global Green, which builds new, sustainable design projects. These two organizations work right down the street from one another, yet have yet to combine their building methods or work together on a shared project. This relationship between Global Green/sustainable design and the Preservation Resource Center/historic preservation provides a good opportunity to examine how elements of new sustainable design can be combined with the traditional methods of preservation in order to achieve a sustainable preservation hybrid. I examine the creation of a sustainable preservation hybrid by conducting a literature review, interviews and site visits, and energy modeling. The literature review reveals that preservationists and architects involved with sustainable design like the idea of creating a hybrid, but still lack a thorough understanding of each other’s tacit values. The interviews reveal how the organizations working in Holy Cross also embrace the idea of a sustainable preservation hybrid, yet remain somewhat lost as to how to actually create such a building. The energy modeling then demonstrates which combination of “green” materials from sustainable design and “traditional” materials from historic preservation combine to create a building that achieves both the values of sustainable design and historic preservation. Whether or not we can combine preservation and sustainable design to make a hybrid poses an original and relevant question in the context of post-Katrina New Orleans and elsewhere. Since we are currently facing an energy crisis, the conclusions as to how we can combine these two fields prove how a single, historic building can simultaneously conserve both environmental and historic resources. / text

Green buildings are increasingly in demand yet current green building practices often do not consider hazard mitigation. High-performance buildings that can withstand hazards, protect residents, and do not need to be rebuilt following a disaster are truly sustainable buildings. This report focuses on current hazard mitigation and disaster resilience standards for wildfires and earthquakes through an in-depth analysis of case studies and best practices for these hazards. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) framework is the ideal vehicle to incorporate hazard mitigation methods into official green building certification. Language for a new LEED Hazard Mitigation and Resilience credit area is established using guidelines for hazard mitigation for wildfires and earthquakes. / text

Green roof design has proceeded without integration of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A literature survey was therefore conducted in order to determine which aspects of green roof functioning might be enhanced by AMF, and subsequently levels of AMF and endophyte colonization were determined for seven plant species used in green roofs. Plants were sampled from an experimental green roof and from the field. A commercial growing medium was also tested for AMF inoculum potential. Colonization was poor in both field and rooftop samples of the commercially popular succulent, Sedum acre, but significantly higher in Solidago bicolor, a proposed green roof species. The commercial growing medium was found to contain extremely low levels of viable AMF propagules. Although the apparent lack of mycorrhizal dependency of S. acre helps to explain its popularity as a green roof plant, its overuse precludes the important ecosystem services potentially provided by AMF symbioses.

The current human-created division between the natural and built environments has exacerbated environmental problems because nature has been designed as and, consequently, is seen as an Other to be utilized and manipulated at will. Exploring this disconnected relationship between humans and nature, as well as its origin and its effect on building occupants and the environment, is thus a necessary part of this project. The primary concern, however, centers on how we can establish a relationship with the natural environment through interior design to help foster ecological design practices and positive environmental behaviors that move beyond sustainability, resulting in a positive human-nature relation while supporting a coevolutionary perspective. Specifically, this investigation utilizes biophilic design as a solution to the division. The product is an adaptively reused structure that houses a mixed-use, multi-unit residential development, which explores the creation of human-nature connections through direct, indirect, and symbolic means.

Gävle kommun har som mål att öka cyklandet i Gävle. År 2025 ska andelen resor kortare än fyra kilometer vara 60%, i senaste undersökningen från år 2012 låg den andelen på 24% (Atterbrand et al, 2012). Enligt samma undersökning konstaterades det att Gävle kommun inte är på väg att uppnå sina mål då andelen kortare resor som genomförs med cykel har stått på samma siffra sedan 2006 (Indebetou et al, 2012). Examensarbetet syftar till att ta fram ett koncept som uppmuntrar fler människor till att välja cykeln framför andra färdmedel. Problemformuleringen handlar om hur intresset för att cykla i stadsmiljö kan ökas. Arbetet har begränsats till att fokusera på en lokal nivå, men tanken är att resultatet ska kunna användas för att skapa liknande produkter till alla stadsmiljöer.Metoder som har använts för att komma fram till slutresultatet är intervjuer med privatpersoner och nyckelpersoner inom Gävle kommun, litteraturstudier, funktionsanalys och marknadsundersökning. Till undersökningen har matrial från Gävle kommun använts, men även vetenskapliga artiklar och intervjuer. Här används fakta för att styrka anledningar till varför personer bör välja att cykla framför andra färdmedel samt vad Gävle har för potential som cykelstad. I genomförandet visas flera skissförslag som tagits fram med inspiration från undersökningen. Här presenteras även olika behov som konstaterats utifrån intervjuer med privatpersoner, som används för att välja ett skissförslag att arbeta vidare med. Därefter följer arbetet utvecklingen till det slutliga resultatet som blev en app till smartphones. Utseende och funktioner för appen som framtagits uppkom efter marknadsundersökningar där två appar till smartphones undersöktes, och även en funktion till cyklister som Gävle kommun erbjuder via deras hemsida för att erbjuda en anpassad vägvisning för just cyklister. De appar som undersöktes är RunKeeper och Google Maps. RunKeeper är en motiverande app för att öka intresset för motion. Google Maps är en app som genom GPS ger vägvisning för bilister, cyklister och gångtrafikanter. Marknadsundersökningen gav underlag för den slutgiltiga appen som döpts till Cyclum. Cyculm ger tips om ställen att cykla till, visar cykelbanor i staden och kan erbjuda cyklisten vägvisning mellan två punkter som användaren själv anger. Genom att använda Cyclum kan cyklisten samla in statistik kring sitt cykelanvändande, ett sätt att motivera till att cykla mer. / Gävle municipality has a goal to increase cycling in Gävle. In the year 2025, the proportion of journeys less than four kilometers should be at 60%, a survey from 2012 showed that the proportion were only 24% (Atterbrand et al, 2012). According to the same survey, it was found that the municipality of Gävle will not achieve their goals about the proportion of short trips undertaken by bicycle since the number has not increased since 2006 (Indebetou et al, 2012). The essay aims to develop a concept that will encourage more people to choose the bicycle over other means of transport. The main goal is to find out how the interest in cycling in urban environments can be increased. The work has been limited to focusing to a local level, but the idea is that the results can be used to create similar products to all urban environments. Methods that have been used to get to the final result are interviews with individuals and with people working for the municipality of Gävle. The work also include a study of different scientific articles, an analysis to decide functions of the resulting concept and market research to determent what would be necessary to the results. For the research, official material from municipality of Gävle is used, as well as scientific articles and interviews. The facts are used to confirm reasons why people should choose to bike over other modes of transport as well as to show that Gävle has potential as a cycling city. The facts that are mentioned in the research are later on used to make different design proposals. Based on the interviews made, three bigger needs are presented as a way to select a design proposal to develop further. The result is presented at the end in the form of an app to smartphones. The appearance and features for the app that has been produced occurred after making a market research where two apps for smartphones were investigated, and also a feature to cyclists who the municipality of Gävle offers via their website to offer a custom wayfinding just for cyclists. The apps that were investigated is called RunKeeper and Google Maps. RunKeeper is a motivational app to increase interest in the exercise. Google Maps is an app that uses GPS to give directions for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The market investigation provided the basis for the final app dubbed Cyclum. Cyculm give tips on places to bike to show bike lanes in the city and can offer the cyclist wayfinding between two points that the user specifies. By using Cyclum cyclist can collect statistics about their bicycle use, a way to motivate to bike more.

The current human-created division between the natural and built environments has exacerbated environmental problems because nature has been designed as and, consequently, is seen as an Other to be utilized and manipulated at will. Exploring this disconnected relationship between humans and nature, as well as its origin and its effect on building occupants and the environment, is thus a necessary part of this project. The primary concern, however, centers on how we can establish a relationship with the natural environment through interior design to help foster ecological design practices and positive environmental behaviors that move beyond sustainability, resulting in a positive human-nature relation while supporting a coevolutionary perspective. Specifically, this investigation utilizes biophilic design as a solution to the division. The product is an adaptively reused structure that houses a mixed-use, multi-unit residential development, which explores the creation of human-nature connections through direct, indirect, and symbolic means.

This exploratory research examined the degree of adoption and impact of the concepts of Building Information Model (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Integrated Design Process (IDP) and Building Energy Simulation (BES) on the design processes of advanced architectural firms when executing sustainable design. Six offices identified by the press for a strong commitment to sustainable design and influence in the design of high performance buildings were selected as cases. In semi-standardized interviews, these firms presented their perceptions of the influence of BIM, BES, and IPD/IDP. The results show that a generalization of sustainable design processes is possible. A design process for sustainability (DEPROSU) model was created by collecting best practices from data gathered from the interviews and the critical literature review. Secondary contributions show that BIM, IDP/IPD and BES have a synergistic effect in sustainable design methods, and that the human resource profile from these firms has evolved towards multi-skilled professionals knowledgeable in BES, BIM, parametric design, sustainability and construction processes. This research provides evidence of commonalities found in the design processes of the selected firms. These commonalities, which have been represented in the DEPROSU model, can potentially be validated as protocols or standards for sustainable design, providing architectural design practices with concrete patterns for improvement and or validation of their design methods.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in Environmental Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 341-370). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004 & res_dat=xri:pqdiss & rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation & rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR00376.

Interior designers require advanced sustainable strategies beyond the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system to expand their ecological accountability. Biomimicry is a biology inspired design (BID) methodology that is integrating into U.S. interior design (ID) curricula. This thesis research aims to identify the extent to which biomimicry is taught in Canadian post-secondary ID programs. Through a mixed-methodology research design, this study explored the strategies and lessons learned from North America interior design educators teaching biomimicry. Integrating a science-based problem-solving methodology into design education requires a transition strategy that includes both high-tech and low-tech teaching tools. This study discusses avenues to heighten biomimicry awareness, for Canadian educators, and addresses the challenges that weaving a complex multidisciplinary topic into interior design pedagogy will bring. Future research regarding biomimicry applications from interior design learner and practitioner perspectives would complement this study, and inform biology inspired design curricula development. / February 2016

Partindo do pressuposto de que o ato de projetar deve se ajustar às transformações sociais e conceituais contemporâneas e aos novos requisitos advindos da busca pelo desenvolvimento sustentável, este trabalho realizou estudo sobre as características e princípios do projeto sustentável em arquitetura e construção. Estabeleceu como hipótese que a combinação da tradição e da inovação (voltada para tecnologia limpa) pode contribuir para que os projetos tenham como finalidade a sustentabilidade. O estudo, de abordagem qualitativa e multidisciplinar, apresentou um panorama sobre a sustentabilidade nos campos de conhecimento da arquitetura e da construção, com dados coletados através de pesquisa bibliográfica, com a utilização de pressupostos da pesquisa antropológica e dos estudos de caso. A tese revelou que a arquitetura e construção sustentável contempla várias dimensões e que o processo para sua concretização é diferenciado, incorporando novas variáveis e apresentando vários desafios e perspectivas. Tanto a tradição (antigos saberes) como a inovação (novos saberes) podem fornecer lições e referenciais que rompam com as práticas usuais em arquitetura e construção e possibilitar a eleição de alternativas mais sustentáveis para os edifícios e assentamentos humanos, uma vez que propiciam uma melhor adequação ao meio natural e cultural, às necessidades e potencialidades locais e às necessidades e exigência dos usuários. Os achados da tese se propõem a integrar o conhecimento acumulado sobre o tema, na expectativa de que as conclusões alcançadas, mesmo se constituindo em um olhar sobre a realidade específica, possam ser úteis para a teoria e a prática de projetos sustentáveis em arquitetura e construção, contribuindo, assim, para a criação de habitats mais humanos. / Considering the assumption that the design act should respond to social and conceptual contemporary changes and the new requirements of achieving sustainability, this work studied characteristics and principles of sustainable design in architecture and construction. The hypothesis established by this study was that the combination between tradition and innovation (looking for an alternative technology) can contribute for sustainable design. This was a qualitative and multidisciplinary study and presented a panorama on sustainability in architecture and construction knowledge fields, with updated from the literature added with contributions from the anthropologic sciences and including a case study. The thesis showed that sustainable architecture and construction requires the consideration of many dimensions and the process for their materialization is differentiated, incorporating new variables and presenting many challenges and perspectives. Both, tradition (old knowledge) and innovation (new knowledge) can contribute with lessons and references that break up with the usual practices in architecture and construction and make possible the election of more sustainable alternatives for buildings and human environments, since they are more suited to value social and cultural aspects and the environment, to better exploit local potentialities and supply user’s needs. The thesis findings intend to integrate the accumulated knowledge on the theme, in the expectation that the conclusions, even if restricted to a specific point of view, can be a useful addition to the theory and the practice of sustainable architecture and construction, thus contributing for the creation of more human habitats.