Two Approaches to Sustainable Design

The way buildings are designed in The Netherlands and the United Kingdom is quite different. In the UK, common belief says that if you design by the book, your building will be OK. In Holland it is more important how a building interacts with its environment, on every possible level, whatever that may imply.

In the UK design is more of a science, whereas in Holland it is more of an art. The main reason for this difference, I think, is education. English universities cover every aspect of design. The curriculum includes organizational aspects, which is why there is more emphasis on methodology. In Holland, these aspects are covered in the Architectural Engineering courses. Architectural education is focused on design and design only, which is why the approach is more conceptual.

The difference is particularly visible in relation to sustainability.

In the UK, as for every aspect of design, sustainability is a matter of scoring. The BREEAM method is being used to rate the level of sustainability of a building. In The Netherlands, in spite of numerous attempts, no such system has been adopted to date. The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) movement however is rapidly gaining popularity. This approach provides a set of principles. It is more of a philosophy, and therefore fits the conceptual approach better.

Both approaches have their pros and cons. BREEAM provides a step-by-step approach and a hands-on tool with clear objectives for the design process. But it is also being criticized for its tick-box mentality and for invoking passivity. BREEAM is a framework, which by definition means that it does not deal with anything that goes beyond the framework. In that sense it discourages creativity and advocates mediocrity.

C2C is a more of a holistic approach. It’s core principles are open for interpretation, so it leaves room for creativity. However, it is also a vague approach. It is complicated to make C2C measurable, which means anybody can call himself a C2C expert.

I guess BREEAM is more of a route map, whereas C2C gives you a direction. Both are helpful in sustainable design, but both should also be put in perspective. BREEAM should not be seen as an objective, but as a point of departure. And C2C should not be seen as inspiration, but as an incentive to develop a set of measurable objectives.

That way, creativity always wins.

Maurits, the author, is a Dutch architect currently working and living in the UK. As he has a daytime job and a family, most work on this blog is being done at night. More info here.