The Architecture of Sustainable Environments.

The last four decades holds numerous examples of so-called sustainable, ecological or low energy buildings also in Nordic settings. In a Danish context such initiatives including passive houses tend to have a strong focus on heat savings and less focus on non-heating energy purposes, tend to disregard aspects of infrastructure and human mobility and tend to sometimes conflict with architectural quality[i]. On the other hand architecture can and should contribute to sustainability[ii].

District heating and mobility without motors can be practiced most efficiently in dense urban contexts. On the other hand most Danish people chose green, suburban or even rural settlement as their human habitat if they can afford so. In this crucial and cross-disciplinary conflict between energy efficiency and human ideals urban architecture stands as a key mediator with density as a key parameter.

How dense is a Nordic sustainable settlement and what should architecture aim for on such conditions?

On the basis of literature studies and case studies the research project examines this with regard to human mobility, energy supply, building integrated energy production, urban food production, water supply and diversion, modern urban life and urban functions, mixed-use buildings, inhabitant's preferences and ideals.

[i] Architecture and Energy. Towards a broader Focus.. / Lauring, Michael ; Marsh, Rob. 2009. 8 s. Konferencen: Passivhus Norden 2009, nr. 2, Gøteborg, Sverige, 27. april 2009 - 29. oktober 2009.

[ii] Architectural Quality of Low Energy Houses. / Lauring, Michael ; Marsh, Rob. I: Passivhus Norden 2008 Conference Proceedings : Den første nordiske passivhuskonferanse. SINTEF, 2008. s. 126-133