Design Parameters Within this section defined parameters for the design will be outlined. Consideration will be given to technical as well as aesthetic aspects.
Sustainable Design
The holistic approach to sustainability presented in the Brundtland-report identifies three major aspects of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic. This stresses on sustainability being viewed as a whole, as the interweaving of social, environmental and economic aspects, underlining the realization that our world is made up of mutual depending elements [DAC, 2014]. Social Sustainability Social sustainability sustains an empathetic approach that places the needs of the user at the highest level of consideration. In an architectural and urban context social sustainability is about ensuring inclusion and diversity and to create safe and appealing environments which all can benefit from [DAC, 2014]. Given the social context of Greenland, a post-colonial society still depending on a block grant from Denmark [of DKK 3.6 billion] for areas such as education, health, fisheries, and environment [Sejersen, 2015, p.28], a major challenge in adaptation strategies is to raise awareness of the long-term view [Folke et al., 2002]. This involves catering for the foundation for human agency to deal innovatively with developments in the region. Otherwise, these peoples
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DESIGN PARAMETERS
might not be in a position to seize new opportunities, therefore leading to an urban decertification and immense emigration [Sejersen, 2015, p. 52]. Therefore, throughout this proposal, the initiative of framing the opportunity for a cultural interchange between modern principles and Inuit traditions is sustained. In addition, the presented solution stands as a supporting element of this first step towards an empathetic approach on the integration of the North. This initiative shall be achieved by creating a venue that facilitates and promotes local entrepreneurs, but also offers them the opportunity to learn about the ‘modern world’ and ‘modern traditions’. This way, the fundamental principle of social sustainability, adaptation, is highlighted. Environmental Sustainability Environmental sustainability is the most commonly debated aspect of the topic, and is defined as the correlation between construction means and how they interact with the environment. Kaj Birket-Smith [cited in Sejersen, 2015] talks about the extreme environment of the Arctic region and its close correlation to nature by referring to the Eskimo communities. These peoples live at the
world’s back door, at the threshold to the empty polar wasteland. They are marginal not only in terms of geographical positioning, but also in terms of resources, as highlighted in the Analysis chapter. In this sense, transportation is a major opportunity for reducing our carbon footprint. Therefore, locally sourced materials shall be considerer, in order to reduce the overall consumption and emissions. Nonetheless, sustainability also entails the design of a pleasant indoor environment for the user. The psychical perception of a place is influences by physical features. Therefore, by strategical use of physical considerations, one can define a successful environment for in terms of energy efficient design, as well as metaphysical perception It is all the more essential to built consciously within this environment, and analyze all forms of energy use in the building, relating them to the different needs of individual architectural programs, to see where savings can be made, and at the same time, make the greatest use of natural resources and provide a successful indoor environment [Phillips, 2004].