Introduction

When people talk about sustainability, they usually think of three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. These are important, but they leave out something essential—culture. Without culture, sustainability can become a checklist of numbers and certifications that ignore the way people actually live, remember and connect to places.

This article argues that culture should be recognized as the fourth pillar of sustainability. Culture is not just about preserving traditions or celebrating heritage—it shapes identity, trust and belonging. In architecture and urban design, culture gives meaning to spaces, connects us to the past and helps us imagine futures where communities thrive together.

Through a series of interviews led by the co-directors of the UIA Sustainability Commission with leading architects, urban thinkers, and cultural experts from around the world, we can see how culture brings depth to sustainability. Their insights show that sustainable architecture must do more than save energy or reduce emissions; it must also nurture dignity, equity and memory.

Why Culture Matters in Sustainability

The current global model of sustainability is dominated by systems such as LEED or BREEAM (international sustainability certifications) which use standardized metrics to measure performance. While these frameworks encourage energy efficiency and resource conservation, they often overlook cultural meaning. A building may score high on sustainability charts, but if it ignores how people actually use space, it risks alienating the very communities it is meant to serve.

Culture brings a human dimension to sustainability. It is about how people interact with their surroundings, how traditions shape daily routines, and how memories are tied to streets, plazas, or homes. For example, in many parts of the world, local building practices have developed over centuries to respond to climate, materials, and community life. Ignoring this knowledge in favor of imported “universal” solutions not only wastes resources but also erases identity.

Architecture is never neutral; it tells stories and reflects values. Buildings and urban spaces embody rituals, emotions, and aspirations. This means that sustainability cannot be reduced to technical efficiency alone; it must also honor culture as a living, adaptive force. When architects and planners include culture as a foundation of sustainability, they create spaces that not only function well but also inspire belonging and resilience.

Culture is not decoration—it is the framework that makes environmental, social, and economic sustainability meaningful. Without it, sustainability becomes fragile, disconnected from the lives of real people.

Lessons from Voices Around the World

To understand how culture enriches sustainability, a global series of interviews was carried out with more than 20 leading architects, urbanists, and thinkers. These voices, ranging from Pritzker Prize winners like Alejandro Aravena and Álvaro Siza to city-makers like Jan Gehl and Carlos Moreno, shared insights grounded in practice and experience.

Jan Gehl, known for transforming Copenhagen’s streets into people-friendly spaces, emphasized how small interventions—like benches, bike lanes, and pedestrian routes—can transform daily life. These are not expensive high-tech solutions, but culturally sensitive ones that respond to how people actually live in cities.

In Chile, indigenous Mapuche traditions teach respect for the land as a reciprocal relationship rather than as a resource to exploit. This worldview offers a model of ecological care rooted in culture. Similarly, in India and China, vernacular practices such as courtyard houses or community-based water systems reveal how traditional wisdom can guide modern sustainability.

Architect Rahul Mehrotra warns against designing permanent solutions for temporary needs. Cities are always changing, and sustainability must respond with flexibility. Housing, for example, should not only be affordable but also culturally adequate—spaces that support family life, community interaction, and dignity.

These voices remind us that sustainability is not just about technical performance but also about values, emotions, and ways of living. By learning from diverse cultural practices, architects can design spaces that are resilient, inclusive, and deeply meaningful.

Rethinking Architecture Through Culture

If culture is central to sustainability, then architecture must change how it works. Instead of imposing rigid blueprints, design should be a conversation between people, places, and traditions. This means listening before drawing, and responding to what communities actually need rather than what global trends dictate.

One key shift is moving away from the idea of permanence. Too often, buildings are designed as fixed objects, when in reality cities and societies are constantly evolving. Sustainable design should embrace flexibility and transformation. Spaces must allow for change—welcoming new uses, adapting to growth, or responding to crises.

A second shift is recognizing that beauty is not just about aesthetics but about emotional connection. A sustainable building should not only reduce energy but also inspire care and attachment. People are more likely to protect and maintain spaces they feel proud of.

Finally, architectural education must evolve. Future architects need more than technical skills—they need empathy, humility, and the ability to engage with communities. Learning from vernacular practices, indigenous wisdom, and interdisciplinary dialogue helps create professionals who design with people, not just for them.

By placing culture at the center, architecture becomes more than a profession of construction—it becomes an act of care. Care for memory, for identity, and for the shared future of communities.

Conclusion

Sustainability is not just about saving energy or reducing waste—it is about building lives that are dignified, resilient, and connected. To achieve this, culture must stand alongside the environment, society, and economy as a pillar of sustainability.

Architecture has a unique role to play. It shapes the spaces where we live, work, and dream. By listening to culture—traditions, memories, and everyday practices—design can create places that are not only efficient but also meaningful.

The future of sustainable design will not be found in one-size-fits-all solutions. It will emerge from dialogue, empathy, and creativity rooted in context. Recognizing culture as the missing pillar of sustainability gives us the chance to build cities and buildings that reflect who we are, respect where we come from, and inspire where we want to go.

Keywords: People-Centered Design, Cultural Sustainability, UIA Sustainability Commission, Wisdom of Tradition, Place-Based Architecture.

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