Sustainable aesthetic in architecture

Abstract

Form is a matter seldom considered when addressing sustainability. A substantial amount of the waste produced, however, depends on the unforeseen aesthetical degradation of manufactured objects, which has direct consequences for the planet’s sustainability. This appears to be the result of the high regard in which contemporary mentality holds the “value of novelty” (Riegl) as concerns form. Novelty and the related concepts of modernity and creativity have become the main targets of contemporary aesthetic production and also the main criteria in assessing it. Such a view has had an undeniable impact on Architecture, Design and Urban Planning. In the twentieth century, many buildings have been demolished or abandoned merely because the inhabitants could no longer comply with the unusual form of dwelling that the said buildings determined, both as regards private and public space. I intend to cast some light on the root causes of this trend, while also providing a perspective on some solutions, namely those in the field of architectural education. Vernacular traditional architecture stands out as a wellspring of sustainable forms. Following its lessons, a wider concept of sustainability will be presented, one that is rooted in the “global ecology” understanding.