Tectonics and Sustainable Architecture: The Notion of Classical and Digital Sustainable Tectonics in Architecture

Abstract

Tectonics–the art of construction- is an essential topic in architectural theory that deals with the potentials of structure, techniques and materials to create poetic architecture. On the other hand, sustainable architecture is a multidisciplinary field concerned with buildings designed for wellbeing, as well as to provide healthy environments while sustaining architectural qualities. The new approaches in architectural research have given way to a distinct collaboration between the two domains (tectonics and sustainability) –in both their classical and digital facets—to constitute what is known as "sustainable tectonics", as a way to generate remarkable and empathic architectural forms. The article aims to shed light on the practices that adopt implicit thought of tectonics, and its relation to sustainability. The pursuit of sustainability is thus explored through two categories: classical sustainable tectonics and digital sustainable tectonics, to finally extract the mechanism of the tectonic theory and its application in sustainable architecture. The findings offer a clear mechanism in achieving distinguished architecture, through the integration of classical tectonic factors in passive sustainable practices, and digital tectonics in active sustainable design.