Sustainable construction techniques from structural design to interior fit-out: assessing and improving the environmental impact of buildings

Contents Introduction Sustainable construction techniques – current situation Architecture and its materials Between tradition and innovation Development of sustainability models for buildings Principles and fields of action Environmental objectives, criteria and assessment methods Environmental objectives and assessment criteria Life cycle assessments of buildings Tools for the ecological assessment of buildings Strategies for material use in the construction process Design strategies for resource-efficient buildings Optimisation of the material life cycle Optimisation of the building life cycle Design phases and processes Optimisation as a process Phase 1: Project brief / feasibility study Phase 2: Competition /concept design Phase 3: Developed design/planning application Phase 4: Procurement /execution drawings Phase 5: Construction Phase 6: Handover / use Environmental impacts of building components Components in the building biological and building ecological assessment Floor constructions Opaque facades Transparent facades Roofs Load-bearing and non-load-bearing interior walls Floor systems – floor coverings, screeds and impact sound insulation Case studies Introduction Holiday residence on Taylor’s Island (USA) Refurbishment and conversion of single-family home in Hamburg (D) Mixed residential and commercial building in Zurich (CH) Office building in Krems (A) Lower secondary school in Langenzersdorf (A) Appendix