Key Trends in the XXI Century Architecture

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 502.

Text A

Contemporary Architecture

Unit 7

Prepare a short presentation in PowerPoint program devoted to professional education of architects in the Russian Federation as compared to that in the UK.

Home task

Retell the text.

Exercise 4

Write a short summary of the text containing 6 – 7 sentences.

Exercise 3

The Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh, inaugurated 2004

The XXI century is full of unique designs and environmentally-friendly concepts geared towards the future of architecture. Major concerns that influence the architecture of these buildings include air quality, water preservation and energy efficiency. Modular homes and structures are a prevalent feature in the XXI century building. These homes are pre-engineered in factories with steel cores, eco-friendly attributes and long term durability.

The XXI century architecture has moved the industry further towards sustainable development. Designers and architects are demonstrating a greater environmental awareness in modern structures and designs. As the global community becomes more eco-aware there is growing pressure for more projects to be sustainable and less reliant on artificial sources. Architecture in the XXI century is moving towards a more sustainable model in order for the continuation of growth and stabilization of the environment.

Sustainable architecture is architecture which is designed in an environmentally friendly way. The goal of sustainable or “green” architecture is to create structures which are beautiful and functional, but which also contribute to a sustainable lifestyle and culture. Interest in sustainable architecture grew radically in the early XXI century in response to growing concerns about the environment, but, in fact, people have been building sustainably for thousands of years, because sustainable projects are often practical in nature.

A truly sustainable building will have a design, which addresses a number of issues, including heating and cooling, water usage, environmental quality, and energy usage. Architects can deal with environmental aspects of building construction in a variety of ways, all of which are designed to increase efficiency without being cumbersome or detracting from the function of the building.

Much of sustainable architecture focuses on building intelligently. For example, a building may be oriented towards the south in the Northern Hemisphere so that the building will be warmed through the day by the sun, and a building may be insulated with extra care to minimize heat loss. Plumbing systems may be designed to utilize less water while still functioning normally, and the building might include smart lighting which turns off when people are not around to save energy.

Contemporary architects are promoting the importance of natural systems. They are designing large-scale buildings illuminated by the sun and naturally ventilated with double-skin windows that let in air but keep out noise and heat. Strategies for natural ventilation and illumination are now becoming more widely accepted as architects and engineers develop advanced techniques for providing natural air-conditioning in buildings of unprecedented size in the hottest of climates, as well as reviving older, forgotten strategies.

The materials used to construct large-scale buildings - concrete, steel, wood, plastics - all create environmental problems because of the energy used to fabricate them, the toxic chemicals that make them attractive, waterproof, or fireproof, and the energy needed to transport them. Some architects and engineers concerned with environmental sensitivity are now employing a variety of strategies to limit the environmental impact of building construction. Among these solutions is the reuse of existing buildings through adaptive reuse, which is a form of recycling on an architectural scale. For new construction, architects can better control the use of materials and reduce waste by utilizing materials that require little energy to produce and ship, are renewable, modular and prefabricated.

Greenery inside and outside of buildings is a crucial part of the cycle of water consumption and waste. Understanding this relationship is important, as architects attempt to curb water consumption, reduce waste water, and use natural plant materials to mitigate the impact buildings have on their surroundings. Large buildings can consume millions of gallons of water a day, while during a single rain storm millions of gallons can be lost, as untreated water runs off into sewers or the ground. Engineers and architects are now collaborating to develop ways of using this run-off as undrinkable "gray" water in sinks and toilets. Greenery cleans our air by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, and cleans our water by filtering run-off water before it is released into the surrounding environment.

Answer the questions:

1. What are the major concerns of the XXI century architecture?

2. What are designers and architects demonstrating in modern structures and designs?

3. How can the term “sustainable architecture” be defined?

4. Which issues are addressed by a truly sustainable building?

5. How do architects achieve the aim of sustainability in their designs?

6. What is a form of recycling on an architectural scale?

7. What strategies to limit the environmental impact of building construction are used in new structures?

8. Why is the aspect of greenery so important for modern architects?