- A sustainable society restores, preserves, and enhances nature
and culture for the benefit of all life, present and future; a diverse
and healthy environment is intrinsically valuable and essential to a healthy
society; today's society is seriously degrading the environment and is
not sustainable;
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- We are ecologically interdependent with the whole natural environment;
we are socially, culturally, and economically interdependent with all of
humanity; sustainability, in the context of this interdependence, requires
partnership, equity, and balance among all parties;
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- Buildings and the built environment play a major role in the
human impact on the natural environment and on the quality of life; sustainable
design integrates consideration of resource and energy efficiency, healthy
buildings and materials, ecologically and socially sensitive land-use,
and an aesthetic sensitivity that inspires, affirms, and ennobles; sustainable
design can significantly reduce adverse human impacts on the natural environment
while simultaneously improving quality of life and economic well being;
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as members of the world's architectural and building-design professions,
individually and through our professional organisations, to:
- Place environmental and social sustainability at the core of
our practices and professional responsibilities
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- Develop and continually improve practices, procedures, products,
curricula, services, and standards that will enable the implementation
of sustainable design
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- Educate our fellow professionals, the building industry, clients,
students, and the general public about the critical importance and substantial
opportunities of sustainable design
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- Establish policies, regulations, and practices in government
and business that ensure sustainable design becomes normal practice
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- Bring all existing and future elements of the built environment
- in their design, production, use, and eventual reuse - up to sustainable
design standards.
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The success of human development now threatens the health of the environment
on which we depend. The structures and performance patterns that have developed
in our buildings, our built environment equipment, our urban systems and
the landscape are the major causes of our present predicament and inevitably
the principal arena of opportunity for its resolution. Accordingly, the
Architects have developed the following statement of intent.
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Meeting in Chicago from 18-21 June 1993 to consider the Theme "Architecture
at the Crossroads: Designing a Sustainable Future", and conscious of
the outcomes of the Earth Summit, the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992, Architects
from all continents recognized the emergence of global environmental problems,
and committed themselves to charting a new course for the Design Professions
for the 21st Century. |
2
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They commit themselves to participating with other professionals and with
the local and global community in the development of an ecologically sustainable
future. |
3
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Recognizing the decisive role of local communities in shaping their own
futures they commit themselves to engaging in ongoing community education
and participatory design and construction processes in the establishment
of ecologically sustainable settlements. |
4
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Also recognizing that the designed and constructed environment is the dominant
component of our accumulated capital wealth and shapes our future environmental
impact they commit their design and professional skills to the redevelopment
and extension of this capital resource in support of sustainable systems
of human settlement through design and the use of appropriate technologies. |
5
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They adopt a world view which embraces individual and collective interdependence
with the local and global environment as the basis of a New Design Paradigm
of Environmental Interdependence. |
6
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They accept that the development and utilisation of a new Design Paradigm
of Environmental Interdependence must encompass improvement of economic,
social, cultural and environmental conditions. |
7
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They acknowledge that Architects must add to their traditional concerns
for excellence and efficiency a commitment to developing and applying innovative
designs, technologies and methods to achieve a sustainable future. |
8
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They pledge themselves to establishing attitudes and values, and business
and professional ethics and practices, to achieve a sustainable future. |
9
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Aware of the long lead times and great social, economic and technological
difficulties associated with the major reorientation of our buildings, urban
systems and landscapes that is now seen to be necessary, they undertake
to bring the implications of this situation to the attention of the world
community and to devise and make widely available appropriate design and
development strategies. |
10
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Recognizing that the imperatives deriving form the evolving environmental
crisis are constrained in time, the Architectural Profession undertakes
to explore all opportunities for the rapid transformation of the existing
built environment stock and the development of new stock to achieve ecological
sustainability within the limited time that is likely to be available. |
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Recognizing that motorized movement of people and goods degrades the environment
locally and globally they undertake to explore every opportunity, both through
the alteration and reconstruction of existing buildings and built environment
systems and through new construction, to enhance local self reliance supported
by the local complementarity of facilities whilst respecting cultural and
environmental requirements. |
12
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Knowing that urban and near-urban land often has available to it a good
supply of water and nutrients they undertake to optimize the biological
productivity of urban are as for wood and wood products, fuel, food, fodder,
fibres, together with the production of urban landscapes that support the
comfort, health and cultural life of the community. |
Architects involved in the design, planning and building of human settlements
and their supportive systems and hinterlands fully support the further development
of a global culture of interdependence with the environment and individually
and collectively through their professional associations they will work
to promote its realisation by adopting the following Principles and Practices.
- Principle 1
Individually and collectively the members of the Architecture Profession
will advise their clients and assist with the education of the broader
community on the environmental implications of development trends, strategies
and policies.
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- Principle 2
The Architecture Profession will engage with local communities in formulating
appropriate strategies and design guidelines for sustainable human settlement
which are economically and environmentally appropriate to their particular
culture and place.
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- Principle 3
Architects will, through their work seek to give full expression to a culture
of interdependence with the environment.
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- Principle 4
Architects will advance ecologically sustainable development by contributing
to and supporting appropriate designs, products, services and technologies.
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- Principle 5
Architects should promote the development of an ecologically sustainable
future for the Planet and ensure that development strategies, design concepts
and innovations which are consistent with, or improve the prospect of,
ecological sustainability are made available globally, including to disadvantaged
groups and nations, with appropriate mechanism to protect intellectual
property.
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- Principle 6
In developing ecologically sustainable building and settlement practices
all sources of relevant knowledge and methods, including those of indigenous
people, should be considered.
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- Principle 7
Architects should promote healthy and environmentally responsible living
and behavioural patterns and develop designs and technologies in support
of such lifestyles.
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- Principle 8
Architects will promote development strategies and projects which anticipate
the needs, and recognise the rights of present and future generations.
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- Principle 9
Architects will, through their practices, implement the International Conventions
and Agreements for protection of the rights and well being of the Earth
and its peoples, the integrity and diversity of the Cultural Heritage,
Monuments and Sites, and the biodiversity, integrity and sustainability
of the global ecosystem.
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- Principle 10
The initial education and Continuing Professional Development of Architects
should recognise the need for a wide range of knowledge and insights from
the Arts, Culture and Humanities, the Natural and Social Sciences, and
the Technologies as a basis for understanding the behaviour and management
of ecological systems, and for creating ecologically sustainable forms
of production, development and settlement.
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Design, Professional Practice and Work Organisation Guidelines for an
Ecologically Sustainable Future
Practices 1
Architects should ensure that all Design outcomes and work practices
should:
1.1
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avoid any significant additional and irreversible damage to the environment
on the construction site or elsewhere. |
1.2
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use caution in decision making; in a context of limited information there
should be an avoidance of decisions and actions which may result in irreversible
damage to environmental assets of air, water, soil, flora and fauna and
the ecosystems of which these form part. |
1.3
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prevent the transfer of environmental damage or contamination across worksite
or other boundaries. |
1.4
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permit future generations to enjoy an environment with at least the same
qualities and quantities of environmental assets as present generations. |
| 1.5 |
preclude the irreversible reduction of biological or cultural diversity. |
1.6
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create designs, buildings, structures, products, services and technologies,
which operate and function in ways which are environmentally beneficial
or neutral in their effects. |
1.7
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use preventative approaches, using clean and ecologically sustainable materials
and processes, in preference to curative, or ameliorative measures. |
| 1.8 |
rehabilitate and restore degraded environments as part of the Design and
Planning process |
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Practices 2
The work of the Architecture Profession should be directed to create
buildings, structures, products and technologies throughout the built environment
and the landscape which:
2.1
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use materials which are non-toxic or of very low toxicity, are reusable,
which can be eventually recycled through non-hazardous processes, and which
do not decrease biodiversity by threatening species of flora and fauna with
extinction. |
2.2
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use materials and combinations of materials that can safely be returned
to the biosphere without threat to humans or other life. |
2.3
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are designed for a long life, are reusable for other purposes, and are not
rendered prematurely obsolete through changes in fashion. |
2.4
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are designed so that they may be assembled and disassembled to permit the
replacement of broken, damaged or non functioning components, and be modernised
and updated through rehabilitation or retrofitting with improved components
and systems. |
| 2.5 |
enable their use for other purposes when their original use is ended. |
2.6
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are efficient in their use of energy, are capable of further improvement
in their energy efficiency, which operate, where applicable, within the
boundaries set by solar income, and which utilise sustainable and renewable
energy sources. |
| 2.7 |
minimise the use of energy and waste in their fabrication and construction. |
2.8
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include innate "smartness" or "intelligence", where
this is applicable, to enable self management and regulation of component
systems. |
| 2.9 |
promote the health and well being of the users and of the biosphere. |
| 2.10 |
promote, respect and nurture cultural values and cultural heritage. |
2.11
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exemplify methods of practice that facilitate and encourage user participation
in the design, construction and future management processes of buildings,
the built environment, built environment systems, and the landscape. |
2.12
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recycle of provide for the recycling of all material flows, including glass,
metals, plastics, paper, organic materials, nutrients, and water. |
2.13
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form part of, or contribute to the development of, locally self reliant
local communities based on local complementarity of life supporting facilities. |
2.14
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promote pedestrian access to a wide range of life supporting facilities,
encourages the non-motorised movement of people and goods and discourages
motorised transport. |
2.15
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encourages the use of very efficient methods of motorised transport of people
and goods where such movement is necessary. |
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Practices 3
A Planetary culture of Interdependence requires Architects to operate
professional practices which ensure:
3.1
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that they run their professional practices and their offices in ways that
are compatible with global sustainability. |
3.2
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that they conduct relationships with suppliers, customers, clients, employees
and the community with the same professional standards and ethics that they
apply to their own practices. |
3.3
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that Environmental auditing, monitoring and forecasting are utilised to
ensure that the well being of both present and future generations, and other
species are adequately protected and nurtured. |
3.4
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that work and decision making are equally informed and guided by an understanding
of socio-economic and ecological realities. |
3.5
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that similar criteria of acceptable environmental impact are applied in
all countries and locations, irrespective of their socio-economic status. |
3.6
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that the ecological integrity of the planetary commons of oceans and atmosphere
are respected and protected, and not used for the disposal of wastes which
threaten environmental integrity at the local, regional or global level. |
3.7
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that products, services and technologies which degrade the environment,
decrease biodiversity, and threaten the health and lives of present and
future generations are not used. |
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Practices 4
Architects should promote the development of new designs and innovations,
and where appropriate reintroduce old but neglected practices which :
4.1
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restore and rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, and their component soil,
water, air, flora and fauna. |
4.2
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protect and maintain the health and well being of people by improving the
quality of the environment in which they live. |
4.3
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protect, maintain and conserve the integrity and diversity of biological
systems, and of cultural and heritage structures and artefacts. |
| 4.4 |
ensure that energy is conserved wherever possible. |
| 4.5 |
ensure that energy use in buildings, appliances and built environment systems
is efficient. |
| 4.6 |
base the choice of primary energy wherever possible on sustainable and renewable
resources. |
4.7
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where it is necessary to use non-renewable energy resource, use that resource
that is least damaging to the environment. |
4.8
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aim to design buildings and their support systems that can operate on the
solar and solar derived energy that is available. |
4.9
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minimise the use of energy and waste in the fabrication and construction
of products, buildings, structures and technologies. |
4.10
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enable products, buildings, structures, and technologies to be more easily
assembled and disassembled so that damaged, non functioning and broken parts
can be easily replaced. |
4.11
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improve the effective life of buildings, structures, products and technologies,
by the use of long lasting non-toxic or very low toxicity materials, and
by the development of cost effective regimes for their long term maintenance. |
4.12
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permit the continuous updating and modernisation of building structures,
products and technologies through design which enables their easy rehabilitation,
including by the retrofitting with more advanced components and systems. |
4.13
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provide the equipment and other means to reduce the production of wastes,
to reuse wastes for new productive purposes, and to effectively recycle
waste materials. |
4.14
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promote the use of non-toxic or very low toxicity reusable materials and
building components in buildings, structures, products and technologies. |
4.15
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enable buildings, structures, products and technologies to be used for other
purposes when their initial usefulness is ended. |
4.16
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develop and use materials which can be recycled and eventually returned
safely to the environment. |
4.17
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improve the forecasting, monitoring, assessment and auditing of environmental
changes, and the efficiency of management of environmental resources. |
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