Shelter for Living and Human Settlements

Human always needs a place that ensures privacy, safety, and storage. Organized grouping of human habitation is called as a settlement. Human settlements can be categorized into two main types. Urban settlements include large cities and towns with many people. Rural settlements refer to generally small areas and low density of population (Boyd,n.d.)

https://www.besttours.com/usatours/newyorktours.html

http://www.wa-pedia.com/japan-guide/shirakawa-go_gokayama.shtml

Nature Inspired Buildings

“Nature is by far the richest source of inspiration and knowledge that we have.”

Marcos Cruz                                                                                                                                                            

Throughout the human history, people inspired from nature while they are designing buildings. Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia cathedral is one of the most incredible nature-inspired buildings ever designed. 

The cathedral’s inside is constructed by the idea of a forest which invites prayer. Gaudi planned to use tree-like columns that support the roof and skylights that consist of green and gold colors to reflect light in order to support the feeling of standing on a forest floor (Douglass, 2015). Many of the spire tops at the church have fruit motifs such as grapes, apples, and oranges. The turtle figures are used to support the columns (Giuffo, 2011).

https://tr.pinterest.com

https://tr.pinterest.com

Many of the spire tops at the church have fruit motifs such as grapes, apples, and oranges. The turtle figures are used to support the columns. 

https://www.flickr.com

http://lgfrance.blogspot.com 

Resource Use and Consumption

Consumption is the process which refers to a substance that is used or transformed into something else. In order to satisfy the world’s needs, the production of services and goods increases. Therefore, people use more natural resources to fulfill the need (Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth Austria &Sustainable Europe Research Institute, 2009). 

Each person uses approximately 8 tons of natural resources each year but the consumption is not distributed equally in the world. There are different types and amounts of natural resources.

Palm Oil Production in Indonesia and Malaysia

Are we really willing to dig up our tropical rainforests in order to fuel our cars?

Palm oil is an edible oil that produced from the fruit of the oil palm. It can be used for food products, cosmetics, and biofuel. The largest production is in Indonesia and Malaysia. Unfortunately, palm oil production has devastating effects on the environment. It drains plants and leads to conversion of tropical forests to agriculture (Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth Austria & Sustainable Europe Research Institute, 2009). 

References:

[1]:https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/overconsumption.pdf

[2]:http://study.com/academy/lesson/types-of-human-settlements-definitions-comparisons.html

[3]:http://study.com/academy/lesson/human-settlements-definition-functions.html

[4]:http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150913-nine-incredible-buildings-inspired-by-nature

[5]:https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngiuffo/2011/05/12/nature-in-barcelonas-la-sagrada-familia/#3180a39e599a

[6]:http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/consumption.html

SUSTAINABILITY

What is Sustainability?

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Bruntland Report for the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1992) 

Types of Sustainability

1. Economic sustainability: Way of growth, development, and productivity also it depends on the market allocation of resources, sustained levels of growth and consumption. In addition, it is based on using resources effectively and making investigation for next generations.

2. Ecological sustainability: It is occurred by ecosystem integrity, carrying capacity and biodiversity. For ecological sustainability, renewable resources should be used restrictedly and effectively. Resources must be harvested no faster than they can be regenerated.

3. Social sustainability: It is based on equity, empowerment, accessibility, participation, sharing, cultural identity, and institutional stability. For the social sustainability, people who live in a country should have enough opportunities to reach high-quality life standards.

Basic Needs for Sustainability Types

Element Criteria Economic Sustainability:

Growth

Development Productivity

Trickle Down

Social Sustainability:

Equity Empowerment Accessibility

Participation Sharing

Cultural Identity

Institutional Stability

Environmental Sustainability:

Eco-System Integrity

Carrying Capacity Biodiversity

Types of Resources

1. Renewable energy resources:  Energy sources that have the power to replenish themselves in a short period. For example: Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, Geothermal, and BioEnergy.

2. Non-renewable energy resources: Energy sources that have not powered to replenish themselves in a short period. They do not disappear in nature for many years. They cause pollution. 

Estimated length of time left for fossil fuels

Fossil fuel	Time left
Oil	50 years
Natural gas	70 years
Coal	250 years

                        Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

                 Source: http://www.newsky24.com

References:

[1]: Basiogo, A. (n.d.). Economic, social, and environmental sustainability in development theory

and urban planning practice. Retrieved from: https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/0972/fulltext.pdf

[2]: What is sustainability? (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.globalfootprints.org/sustainability

What is Universal Design?

Design and composition of environment that can be accessed, understood and used by all people regardless of their differences like age, abilities, disabilities. An environment should meet all people’s need, it should not be for the only minority of the population. Consequently, they are good designs to support all people’s needs without any discrimination.

Seven Principles of Universal Designs

1.  Equitable use: Design should be useful and marketable for people who have different abilities.
2.  Flexibility in use: Design should accommodate individual preferences and abilities.
3.  Simple and intuitive use: Using of design can be understood easily.
4.  Perceptible information: Design should provide necessary information for user.
5.  Tolerance for error: Design should minimize hazards.
6.  Low physical effort: Design should be used comfortably with a minimum of fatigue.
7.  Size and space for approach and use: Design should support appropriate size and space for users regardless of users’ body size, mobility or posture. 

Universal Design Examples

Source : pinterest.com

Source: http://whqr.org/post/wednesday-coastline-what-are-benefits-universal-design#stream/0

Source: pinterest.com

Reference:

[1]: What is Universal Design? The Seven Principles. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-7-Principles/

ENVIRONMENT AND MAN

The environment is all the external objects and conditions around people. There is natural, built, social and virtual environments. 

www.santamariadelcampo.it

www.everactive.org

ocean.nationalgeographic.com/

The Symbiotic Relationship between Man and Environment

The environment determines experiences and lifestyles of societies. The Ancient Egyptians found agriculture for the first time (c. 6000 - c. 3150 BCE). Their experiences and lifestyles were shaped by environmental conditions such as convenient lands and water. Without the Nile River Valley, Egyptians could not have found agriculture and civilized. Also, the best known Egyptian myths are linked to or directly inspired by the river’s flood (Mark, 2017).

www.q-files.com

www.shutterstock.com

Moreover, human actions can change the environment and behavior. The most impressive man-made islands can be seen in Dubai (Nag, 2017). Dubai has one of the largest man- made islands in the world. Many luxury hotels and resorts are constructed to make the island attractive to international tourists and improve the economic growth (Berman, 2017).

www.alfanardubai.com

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bReEvC4CRis

Population Growth and Poverty

The poorest people have more children than the others. Because of the low economic resources, people may not access education. They tend to do agriculture, so these people need to have more labors and income. 

 

rprogress.org

References:

[1]: http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/island-vacations/dubai-man-made-islands-facts

[2]: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/man-made-islands-in-dubai.html

[3]: http://www.ancient.eu/article/997/

REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE

Waste Management

Waste management is the process of treating solid wastes and offers variety of solutions for recycling items that don’t belong to trash. It is based on working to make a garbage as a vulnerable resource.

Methods of Waste Disposal

1- Landfill: burying the wastes in the lands. It has negative impacts on the environment.

2-Incineration:  municipal solid wastes are burned at high temperatures. It can reduce the volume of solid wastes.

3- Recovery: taking useful discarded items for a specific next use. Wastes can be converted to energy such as useable heat, fuel or electricity.

4-Recycling: converting waste products into new products. Purposes of the recycling are; reducing volume of the landfill, energy usage, air and water pollution. 

http://www.keywordsuggests.com

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWquu80yngc#action=share

Reference:

[1]: What is Waste Management. (n. d.). Retrieved May 1, 2017, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/waste-management-and-waste-disposal-methods.php 

SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Biophilic Design

Biophilic Design is a modernist design of the places that aims to commune with the environment and make familiar us with nature. The green architecture or biophilic design tries to decrease the negative environmental impact of the built environment by reconnecting us to the natural world and continuing sustainable development and providing healthy habitats for individuals.

Examples of Biophilic Design

This hotel is shown as one of the most beautiful and striking examples of biophilic design.

(Naman Rethreat Hotel- Da Nang City, Vietnam)

The ground floor of this hotel includes open spaces surrounded by lotus ponds and hanging gardens.

Also, in the interior design of the building, different plants, natural materials, glass with plenty of sunlight were used and it was attempted to create a feeling of nature.

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular (the Latin word): ''vernaculus'', meaning "domestic, native, indigenous"

Vernacular architecture is based on the unique characteristics of the local environment, climate, culture, traditions, natural materials, technology and the experience of community.

The examples of Vernacular Architecture

A traditional Batak house, Sumatra, Indonesia

www.commons.wikimedia.org

            The cave homes of Ortahisar, Cappadocia, Turkey

www.naturalhomes.org/ortahisar.htm

The Great Mosque (The world's largest earthen building), Djenné

In order to protect the mosque from severe floods, it was built on the heightened platform of mud bricks. In the day, the walls of Mosque warm slowly and then the stored energy is disseminated in the night.To ventilate the inside of the Mosque, it possesses roof vents with ceramic caps that can be taken out at night. Also, it has three towers, each 11m high topped with an ostrich egg, meaning to the symbol of fertility and purity.

http://www.naturalhomes.org/great-mosque-djenne.htm

References:

[1]: http://www.contemporist.com/this-new-resort-spa-is-covered-in-hanging-gardens/?utm_content=buffere24d0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer
[2]: http://www.biophilicdesign.net/
[3]: http://www.naturalhomes.org/great-mosque-djenne.htm
[4]: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Vernacular_architecture

DISASTER

DISASTER

What is Disaster?

A disaster is a sudden, trouble event that causes serious disruption of the functioning of society or community and leads to human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources.

Example of Natural Disaster: Flood

blogs.agu.org


Manila, Philippines, the flood after severe storms, resulted from the overflow of Marikina River in 2012. 

Example of Man-Made Disaster: 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

www.basicplanet.com/natural-disasters/

What is Mitigation?

Mitigation aims at reducing the loss of life and property resulting from the disaster.

An example of mitigation: 

Japan Earthquake Resistant Buildings

Because of living in an area prone to earthquake, Japanese people try to improve technologies about minimizing negative impacts of earthquake thanks to their past experiences of disaster.

http://web-japan.org/trends/11_sci-tech/sci110728.html

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0cz-oDfUg0

Disaster Management And Mitigation (DMM)

Example of Disaster Management:

Disaster policy of India 

India is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Indian people has experienced many types of disasters like droughts, famines, cyclones, earthquakes, chemical disasters, mid-air head-on air collisions, rail accidents, road accidents and terrorism. To become resilient for the serious impact of the disaster, Indian people established the National Disaster Management Authority with the Prime Minister, gave disaster management training by the National Institute of Disaster Management to the people and provided disaster management education in middle and high schools.

http://www.supplychaindigital.com/scm/can-india-survive-disaster

References:

[1]: http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/about-disasters/what-is-a-disaster/

[2]: https://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation
[3]: http://mitigationguide.org/task-6/mitigation-actions/
[4]: http://web-japan.org/trends/11_sci-tech/sci110728.html