Architecture Issues
Green building doesn't directly say anything about architecture, yet it can't be completely ignored because architectural choices can easily affect the environmental impact of a building. Architecture also has various psychological effects on the occupants, and a pattern language of design ideas on how to design good buildings also exists.
The following are all guidelines, written knowing they are sometimes wrong. Since so many of the recommendations here are subjective, the intent is to bring the issues to light rather than necessarily present solutions. The assumption is that it is always better to do things on purpose, rather than take the chance that all unmade design decisions come out positive. It is important to acknowledge that "the devil is in the details".
Discover Wants, Needs & Limitations
What keeps people from building green? Here are some things that get in the way, and others that aid in green design...
Traditionally, architecture focuses heavily on the study of aesthetics, largely because this has been what is important to their customers. While green building is not about aesthetics, beauty and style can easily be at odds with it. Related to this, is the competing desire for status, occupants notion of comfort, and their idea of what "home" means. These things can also be at odds with green building. Read more...
There are barriers to everything and green building is no exception. Read more...
Before you build, its best to figure out what you actually need, so the build is just the right size. Read more...
Guidelines: Patterns for Building
Studies by architects of occupant behavior, show that what people thing they want and what they use are often not the same thing. Here are the principles that all the following design patterns are based on. Read more...
Green architecture is by definition about the site and climate. Here are some ideas on picking and utilizing a site. Read more...
Now that you have the big picture clear, you can begin the overall layout. Read more...
With the overall layout in mind, here some design criteria. Read more...
Then there are green construction ideas that should be thought about during design. Read more...
With the building built, landscaping also needs to be thought about in all the same ways. In fact a preliminary sketch of what the landscaping is to be should be thought hand-in-hand with the overall layout. Read more...
Resources
A Pattern Language, Alexander et al, Oxford University Press 1977
Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design,
Jacobson, Silverstein & Winslow,
Taunton, 2002
The Not so Big House, Sarah Susanka, Taunton, 1998
Creating the Not so Big House, Sarah Susanka, 2000
Not so Big Solutions for Your Home, Sarah Susanka, 2002
How Buildings Learn, Stewart Brand
Home, Witold Rybczynski, Viking, 1986
The Passive Solar Energy Book, Edward Mazria, Rodale, 1979
EEBA Builders Guild to Cold climates (etc), Joe Lstiburek, 1998
"Future proofing your building", Environmental Building News, V12 #2 Feb 2003
"Small is Beautiful", Environmental Building News, V8#1, Jan 1999
The Architecture of Happiness, Alain de Botton, 2006