GREEN BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THE ROLE OF THE ARCHITECT

Abstract

This study is about Green building and environmental sustainability and the role the Architect plays in harnessing the synergy between the two concepts in addressing the ever increasing distortions in the climatic and environmental balance. The discourse on environmental sustainability remains both a regional and globally-relevant phenomenon especially now that Nigeria and other nations of the world are poised to address the negative consequences of man’s unbridled exploitation of the natural resources available to him; hence the adverse effects of climate change. Green Architecture or green buildings or ecological Architecture which are buildings designed and constructed according to energy saving criteria and for the reduction of pollution is now an evolving phenomenon in the struggle for environmental sustainability. The rapid growth in development during the last couple of decades did come with active construction activities which in some instances neglected the impacts on the environment and human health and activities. The concept of organic architecture (green architecture) was the fundamental or guiding concept of great architects like Franklyold Wright (1867 - 1957) but it has now been identified and recognized as a veritable approach towards environmental sustainability. Use of ecofriendly regenerative design approaches such as courtyards, integrative design approach, use of building materials that reduce carbon emissions, energy conservation through recycling and re-use methods to ensure maximum energy efficiency are all part and parcel of the discourse on green architecture and by extension environmental sustainability. The data for this study were collected from both primary and secondary sources, hence the study adopted descriptive design in its investigation. It was discovered that with the right policy in place, Green building practices will help in the efforts towards environmental sustainability; therefore the paper recommends that designers in the built environment should employ more of the concept of green architecture and it should be incorporated into the National Building Code in Nigeria.