Green architecture describes an approach to buildings that seeks to reduce environmental impact across design, construction, use and eventual adaptation or reuse.
Start with climate
Before adding technology, good environmental design begins with the basics: orientation, shade, compactness, daylight, natural ventilation, insulation, thermal mass and protection from unwanted heat gain.
Think in systems
A building is never only a building. It is connected to energy, water, soil, transport, materials and maintenance. Green architecture looks at these relationships together. A low-energy house built from high-impact materials or placed in a car-dependent location may still carry a large environmental cost.
Materials matter
Lower-impact design can include reused materials, responsibly sourced timber, cork, earth, lime, stone and other regionally appropriate resources. Durability, repairability and simple detailing are often as important as a material's headline credentials.
Beauty and performance can reinforce each other
Deep window reveals, shaded courtyards, planted roofs, pergolas and thick earthen walls can be environmental strategies and architectural pleasures at the same time. The aim is not to make sustainability invisible, but to make it part of the character of a place.
Our digital resources explore these principles through drawings, studies and concept packages that can be adapted to different sites and regulations.