Architects must put more thought into designing green buildings
Architects must learn to use tech to stay relevant
The birth of new technologies that resemble figments of sci-fi has changed facets of human life and altered our behaviour.
Climate change is an everyday reality and governments are bracing themselves for more acute environmental changes.
These two forces of change - one we embrace, the other we want to stop - have had a tremendous impact on the architecture, engineering and construction industry, including the way architects design.
In the latter half of my 30-year practice, traditional drafting methods gave way to computer-assisted design, legislation has made green certification mandatory for all new buildings and market demand has driven the industry to innovate for sustainable buildings and construction.
Early adopters of technology are key to the success of a company and even the transformation of the industry.
The complexity of global challenges such as combating climate change necessitates innovative solutions.
Technology can help architects optimise the buildings' design for energy efficiency.
It requires more than adoption of new intelligent systems, a transformation of design methodology and process.
Environmental simulations are now par for the course for architectural projects.
The competitive nature of the building industry pushes the players further to innovate solutions to challenges, undertaking private research and development traditionally sponsored by the public sector.
In this digital age, where most jobs have to be redesigned, architects are not spared.
Those who write codes have the agility to evolve new solutions to challenges.
OPTIONS
Clients want options; design optioneering is very much part of the rigorous design process to ensure that no matter what the building looks like in the end, it will raise comfort levels and at the same time mitigate the deterioration of the environment.
Beyond a building's energy-efficiency design, its use and maintenance determine the actual energy savings. Internet of Things analytics will help maintain optimal performance throughout a building's life.
This is in line with the Building and Construction Authority's push for super-low energy buildings using technology and building solutions to achieve even lower energy consumption.
The Construction Industry Transformation Map envisions an advanced and integrated sector with adoption of leading technologies, led by progressive and collaborative companies poised to capture business opportunities.
But with the great leaps in technology, can it stop climate change? That remains to be seen, but it is important to know that climate change is not an isolated problem - it is a consequence of human behaviour.
Building a green environment is only half of the equation.
No one chooses not to live green, but does the current Singaporean idea of the good life leave room for environmental considerations? Are our aspirations forcing environmental protection to take a back seat?
I do not have the answers, but I know my responsibility as an architect is to leave behind places better than I found them.
Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said: "Remember the impression that one gets from good architecture, that it expresses a thought. It makes one wants to respond with a gesture."
I believe architecture can be an instrument of thought to raise green consciousness.
The writer is the CEO of DP Architects. This is an edited version of an article that appeared in The Business Times last Friday.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
