“Cradle-to-cradle” architecture. Eco-effectiveness and quality of life: Arquitectura “cuna-a-cuna”: ecoeficiencia y calidad de vida

• M. J. Agudo-Martínez ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Sevilla

     Universidad de Sevilla

     Sevilla, España

     
• Localización: Renovation wave: 12º Congreso Europeo sobre Eficiencia Energética y Sostenibilidad en Arquitectura y Urbanismo – 5º Congreso Internacional de Construcción Avanzada: Bilbao, 29-30 Septiembre 2021 / Rufino Javier Hernández Minguillón (ed. lit.), 2021, ISBN 978-84-1319-374-8, págs. 169-178
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • In the 2002 book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, the authors, W. McDonough and M. Braungart, raised the social benefits associated with circular economies geared towards waste disposal. This proposed a radical revision of the design process based on three principles based on nature itself: the transformation of waste into raw materials, the use of clean and renewable energies and the commitment to natural and cultural diversity. In this sense, today the Cradle to Cradle Certificate (C2C) has an international recognition in relation to the design and manufacture of products that advocate a Circular Economy. The revision of industrial production was thus proposed in an improved proposal, since the three Rs (recycle, reuse and reduce) of traditional environmentalism were insufficient to stop the unstoppable deterioration of the planet. Therefore, the novel factor was the management of waste and its reuse as raw material. The objective of the work is to demonstrate the existence of practices related to this revisionism in the field of architecture, clarifying the existing relationships between sustainable housing and quality of life. Thus, for example, issues such as the use of natural lighting, cross ventilation, not only mean energy savings and self-sufficiency, but also require a new approach to the building from the beginning. All this from a new conception of environmental sustainability that brings architecture closer to industry and new technologies, but also with reuse of resources and use of local materials, and above all considering people and place, with community participation, community ties and solidarity. The main conclusion is that this new ecological approach to architectural production is also compatible with other concepts such as Bioarchitecture and its wide range of possibilities, such as bioluminescence or bamboo construction, but also the Internet of Things (IOT), 3D printing or robotics. Architects such as Shigeru Ban or Simon Vélez adopt alternative forms that open new paths for architecture much more respectful of nature and landscape.