Before one begins the process of designing a building or examining a building for environmental assets and liabilities, it is prudent to learn and understand some or all of the key themes and strategies. But before you begin to think like an environmental designer you need to realize that there are problems and issues related to nearly every aspect of modern (Western – Developed world) building design and construction. So what then does environmental design really mean…



Environmental Design is design that engages environmental considerations. It is design that includes environmental criteria in the decision making or filtering steps that lead to the completion of a design. Adjectivally, the term environmental is often thought of as an incidental issue. A public concern and an addition to marketing that adds cost but distinguishes one product over another. However, the term environmental modifies design so radically that it is almost a discipline on to its own.



To achieve environmental design it is imperative that the entire design method, approach, and discipline be overhauled. Every component, every guideline, every mark of the pen must consider the implications of the adjective environmental. As such, environmental design must be thought of as an overall approach or philosophy. It\'s limits go well beyond the practice of design to every aspect of society and to the personal life of every designer. It becomes a way of life, a way of thinking, a means to interact with the world.



But if environmental design includes consideration of the environment than what is design exclusive of environmental criteria? Perhaps labelled as conventional, western, or modern design, non-environmental design surrounds many of us. It is our local archetype that has manifested out of an optimization of the current western societal framework. Costs and therefore deterrents are applicable only in a narrow sense. Only in relatively undeveloped regions of the world or in select cases where alternative designs have survived the cost cutting accounting to be built do we see really different examples of building design.



At this point, you sit back and think for a moment about the steps you will follow (or have already followed) when planning your building or examining a building. First of all, have you already chosen a site or has a piece of land already been zoned for your project? If you are already planning on a single piece of land then you need to rethink your methodology. Restricting yourself to a piece of land before you understand environmental design may introduce impacts that outweigh the rest of the project. Always, try to have 2 or more sites to choose from.



Even before you begin looking for a piece of land to build, the first step of the project should include a meeting of your newly formed design team.Together the environmental goals of the project can be set and prioritized.



The overall approach to any building project or environmental assessment should include the goal of minimizing the ecological footprint of any development (new construction and existing). Calculating and understanding the project’s or building’s ecological footprint serves to educate all participants and provide a benchmark in order to make decisions upon.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE
Planning

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ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
Setting Goals

Develop a Vision Statement that includes the environmental principles of the project and the integrated design approach.

Establish environmental design goals that the vision statement requires.

Determine environmental criteria that will assist the design to meet the environmental goals.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE
Planning

issue content

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
Setting Goals

Develop a Vision Statement that includes the environmental principles of the project and the integrated design approach.

Establish environmental design goals that the vision statement requires.

Determine environmental criteria that will assist the design to meet the environmental goals.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
Setting Goals

Develop a Vision Statement that includes the environmental principles of the project and the integrated design approach.

Establish environmental design goals that the vision statement requires.

Determine environmental criteria that will assist the design to meet the environmental goals.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
2 or More Sites to Choose From

Ideally, two or more sites should be examined for all criteria including environmental such that the specific project occupies an optimum space.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE
Theory

Once the interdisciplinary design team has been assembled, the potential sites must be scrutinized to find the optimal combination of site features that will allow for the least impact to the site and surroundings. The first step is to collect all the relevant data from each proposed site. Then a comparison can be made between sites and the optimal location will present itself. There are a variety of criteria that should be considered when deciding on a site to develop. Avoid selecting inappropriate sites and always attempt to minimize any environmental impacts that may occur from the development.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
Minimizing Ecological Footprint

Minimize the overall ecological footprint of the project. An ecological footprint is the combined environmental impacts of the project including the construction, operation, and decommissioning.

ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE
Team Building

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ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT
Forming a Design Team

Assemble an interdisciplinary design team before the site selection process. That includes client, users if possible, engineers, landscapers, maintenance staff, etc.