The Conflict Between Aesthetics and Sustainability: Empowering Sustainable Architecture with Aesthetics to Enhance People’s Lifestyle and Sustainable Behavior

Abstract

Climate change is the most pressing global issue that we are facing in the current era. The profession of architecture has a great responsibility to save the Earth of this global disruption.

Despite architecture having come a long way in sustainability, it still lacks any holistic approach to this problem. This chapter explores one of the needs that is related to the process of defining an aesthetic philosophy of sustainable architecture. We examined some techniques and methods that can be applied for green solutions and analyzed if they are aesthetically accepted in the world of design. Compatible with the potential usage of these methods, we found some limitations and challenges from an aesthetical point of view. The question: will you sacrifice aesthetics for efficiency, were raised. We found most of the time a conflict between two main goals of architectural design, aesthetics and sustainability. The results show, for example, that most of the people by nature would go with aesthetics and cultural values rather than efficiency and saving energy methods. This led us to emphasize the fact that we should widen the range of considerations on technical aspects and sustainable methods and work strongly together with other professionals at every phase of the design process. Although technical and environmental aspects in building design are very important, we cannot ignore the social, cultural, and aesthetics values. We agree that sustainability opens new horizons for architecture, but this should be by hold hands to guide, not by detain. In order to create an effective and desirable sustainable architecture, architects should go beyond checklists and materials codes. Architecture needs a new “style” emerging from a new sustainable aesthetic philosophy.