This is the keynote lecture of the Sustainable Environmental Design Phas II Jury, from 10.00 on Wednesday 19 January.
In the current global climate with environmental considerations attracting substantial attention, the role of environmental design of tall buildings is particularly relevant since this is one of the most energy-intensive building typologies, with increasing numbers being built worldwide and little critical consideration being given to their environmental impact. Proponents of tall buildings, while embracing the concepts and principles of environmental design show little evidence of successful performance.
In this context, the main contribution of this book is a critical review of the environmental tall building, encompassing a comprehensive qualitative definition of the sustainable tall building, followed by facts and figures of case studies, including real-life data. In addition, the book brings a global perspective of ideas, design approaches and targets for the environmental tall building in cities which became referential centres of verticalisation in the last two decades.
Joana Carla Soares Gonçalves is an architect and urbanist from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the city where she practised with Ana Maria Niemeyer before taking the MA in Environment & Energy Studies at the AA and a PhD on the sustainability of tall buildings at the University of São Paulo, where she has taught since 1998. She has worked as an environmental consultant on projects around Brazil and won awards in a number of design competitions. Currently she is part of SED programme staff at the AA. Her book The Environmental Performance of Tall Buildings was published by Earthscan in June 2010.
Book Sales (pre/post lecture) and Drinks Reception (post lecture) to celebrate the launch of this publication.