Sustainable architecture
Limiting the impact of construction and buildings on the environment, improving the lives of people and the community is the major goal of sustainable architecture. When we talk about sustainable architecture, we are talking about a continuous process that goes from the conception, design and planning of the project to the choice of materials and even to the construction.
There are numerous dimensions that the pursuit of sustainable architecture includes, such as:
⦿ The design and implementation of thermal systems, in order not only to save energy but also to capture it;
⦿ Appropriate implementation of houses and buildings to enhance natural heating and cooling as well as light;
⦿ Intensive use of natural energies such as solar;
⦿ Creation of structures for collecting, storing and recycling water, which will be used both in the house and in the gardens;
⦿ Use of plants in the covering of walls and roofs, which will allow for greater thermal efficiency;
⦿ Use of natural and recyclable materials, such as wood, cork, or hemp for example;
⦿ Replacement of conventional materials such as concrete and plastics with more environmentally friendly and less polluting materials, such as rammed earth and bioplastics;
⦿ Harmonious integration into the landscape, taking advantage of its specificity and orientation.
The correct analysis of the investment needed for the construction and viability of hotel, commercial or other projects is a factor that should also be taken into account in the sustainability dimension. The abandoned houses that we see around us slowly deteriorating, the half-built roads with iron structures in sight, the unfinished buildings that time breaks down and scatter the remains over the fields, are examples of what often happens due to bad planning and lack of resources, contributing to a more polluted and aesthetically deplorable environment that certainly jeopardises the sustainability of the places where they are located.
The programme of sustainable architecture is ambitious but urgent as we witness the effects of climate change on a daily basis. One of the biggest problems of this speciality is the fact that it has been agreed that it is more expensive and therefore only possible for those who can afford these "extras". However, in the medium and long term, the individual and collective profitability of this process is real.
There are already financial evaluation models for this type of sustainable architecture, developed namely by the International Living Future Institute, a non-governmental organisation that brings together architects, designers, economists, engineers of various specialities and public and industrial decision-makers with the aim of promoting a society that is more just, culturally richer and, above all, ecological.
The real estate industry is one of the most polluting on the planet, which is why in recent years scientific, technical and cultural efforts have been made to implement increasingly sustainable architecture. To start with, we can talk about the thermal insulation of houses and buildings, which is so dramatic in Portugal. Or the windows that do not insulate.
The initial investment to create a thermally comfortable home is easily recouped and is therefore always advisable. The issue of water becomes more important every day. Simple things like proper insulation of pipes to reduce waste are a must. But whenever possible, why not make use of rainwater in a house surrounded by gardens and which will need watering? If we prepare right from the start the use of water, the creation of underground cisterns and the separation of grey water for easy reuse, we can calculate the savings achieved.
And if we talk about energy? The energy gains start with the choice of solar orientation, which is so dear to the old folks and which for years we ignored, then the good insulation of the building and extend to the use of photovoltaic systems or even solar panels. The latter have the advantage of not only ensuring the energy of the houses but also being able to sell it to the network, which in a country with so many hours of sunshine like Portugal will certainly be an added value. Portugal has between 2,200 and 3,000 hours of annual sunshine, while Germany, for example, has between 1,200 and 1,700 hours.
We can be bolder and think about green façades that are both a decorative element and part of the thermal system.
Widely used in office spaces as they improve the visual comfort and positivity of the work environment. Or we can use recyclable materials whenever possible, either for insulation, such as cork, or as elements of the construction itself. In the warmer areas of coastal Alentejo, it is already common to use cane or bamboo roofs which, in addition to their picturesque appearance, are easily recyclable.
The challenges of sustainable architecture are many and for us this is a specialty that we cherish and advise whether we are designing a house, a hotel, offices or even commercial spaces, because we are fully aware of the weight that our activity has on the environment. Another aspect of sustainable architecture is the re-use of buildings and their re-adaptation for new uses. We can give the example of large abandoned factories that are reused for museums or exhibition areas. But we can also give the example, although little seen among us, of the reuse of containers as housing and even workplaces.
Sustainable architecture in its multiple aspects is therefore an imperative, both for individuals and for decision-makers and public bodies, whose mission should be to promote and regulate cities and buildings that are more and more environmentally friendly and future-proof.
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Our projects
Methodology
1. The briefing with the objectives of the project.
2. The research and analysis of the environmental context where the project will take place, whether it is about the surrounding area and the cultures that best adapt to each site, or about the client's own taste and ways of life or those planned for the place to be worked on.
3. The design of the project and its presentation to the client.
4. The financial planning and of the works themselves (namely because of the seasons and the interaction with other construction works).
5. The execution of the final project and the management of the entire operation.
6. Monitoring the adaptation of the plants and the development of the garden itself.
Interior architecture
We complete projects with interior architectural specialists who prepare spaces for the demands of life. As important, if not more important, as when we talk about family homes, offices or shops. Interior architecture is the synthesis which gives each project its own special touch.
Landscape architecture
We do not dispense with landscape architecture because it is the one that best knows how to highlight the surroundings and delineate the exterior spaces, adapting them to the landscape and the characteristics of the territory or the city.
Modern architecture
This conception of modern architecture also extends to the vision of cities and their planning, as well as the concern to find the simplest, most rational and practical solutions for housing, trying to meet the reconstruction needs that the destruction of cities during World War II made urgent.