Rebec 2023 – Modern Construction Needs to Be Sustainable and Green, Future Bringing Challenge How to Get Best Building with Fewest Resources Possible

The green agenda in construction was not that current several years ago, and today it is one of the more important components in this field. How to build the best possible building with the fewest resources possible and how to use local resources would be the starting point on the road of changes when it comes to modern construction, it was said at the panel “Development of Urban Planning and Architecture Vision” within the Rebec 2023 conference.

According to Ian Bogle of the London-based company Bogle Architects, in the time we live in, the aim is to develop the most perfect project possible in terms of sustainability with as few resources as possible.

– What I mean is that we need to make cities greener in order to make people feel better. When people feel better, better things happen. Our company works in various locations and countries in which various rules apply. There’s the example of Prague, where the standards of construction are very strict, whereas in London we can build as much as we want – Bogle clarified.

The role of architecture in the modern world which entails a whole new way of living and a change of habits can be very significant, it was pointed out at the panel.

– The role of architecture is to serve the planet, the users, but another important thing is that architecture is not just there to meet our needs and for us to thereby destroy our children’s future. As architects, we need to look at thinks holistically and approach project in a multidisciplinary fashion in order to make the best sustainable product which will remain there for the coming generations – pointed out Alexander Marjanovic of Reardon Smith Architects London.

Talking about sustainability in architecture and construction, Marjanovic added that a group of people was stronger than an individual and that it would perhaps be good if architects exchanged experiences to the end of making the world a better place.

– It is a question of an ethical and an unethical approach. The users are those who increasingly dictate which way something will be done. I certainly have an optimistic view of the future. We need to unite cities and nature. I also believe it is important to note that, with each renewed building, we are preserving enormous energy and we need to keep that in mind when we’re thinking about the carbon footprint, especially when it comes to concrete. There are plenty of examples of buildings being repurposed which have proved to be excellent and such projects could be increasingly frequent in construction in the coming years – he clarified.

According to Mark Fenwick, architects help develop buildings and cities with the help of more analytical roles.

– Throughout the history, we have had plenty of good and bad examples. We build cities not just for us, but for our children as well. I believe that cities need to be focused on people, with sustainability as an obligation – he pointed out and added that a certain dose of caution was good when it came to global urban planning and cited the Sava Square in Belgrade as a good example, because it had shown how it was possible to turn a station into a better place with greenery and a place where people could rest.

– In different cities, there are different construction regulations. In Madrid, for example, the rules are very strict. It is clearly defined where green construction can take place. That is why I believe that the urban structure of the future cities has to be designed – he added and emphasized that his company was also working on the project of the national stadium in Belgrade, which would feature a large number of trees within the complex.

According to Milutin Folic, founder and owner of Sillage, there is a competitive attitude between the investors, because everybody is trying to push the boundaries.

– The starting point would be to develop values which always place the public interest above the personal one. I believe that, as a society and a nation, we need maturity in order to realize that the public interest is above all our individual interests. At the end of the day, it is our interest as well, for things to be better for everybody, to live in better looking cities. Even if you are the wealthiest man in the world, you need to realize that the most important thing in the world is not to move mountains. Under the influence of their clients, architects push those boundaries, not to get the best product, but to satisfy the desires of their clients. I think that we sometimes need to refuse to do so and show the strength to say “no”, and until then, the only solutions, in my opinion, would be strict construction rules – Folic emphasized.

As he said, on one hand, we need the talent in order to be able to communicate with the client and show that, if the building has a lower area, it can gain value through the implementation of good ideas.

– We don’t have to be scared to look for help from our architect colleagues who know more, because that cooperation can lead to truly good solutions – he clarified.

What is the role of architectural contests?

Contests are the best way to find a solution. The bad side of contests is that the participants don’t have the opportunity to talk to the clients or hear what their desires are, so they improvise.

– Last month, I was a judge at one such contest. We selected the winning solution, but also the second and third places in case the first solution was not to the client’s liking – Bogle points out.

Will the need for planning increase in the future, or will the money run the projects?

– My impression is that, lately, the purchasers are increasingly educated, but also spoiled, when it comes to the living conditions. People are increasingly less ready to pay for even the cheapest real estate in an environment that does not meet their standards and has no high quality of life. If there is no playground for children and other accompanying features, people no longer want to buy – Folic points out.

As he says, the future will be marked by very high expectations on the side of the purchasers. That is why he believes that all parameters will be much improved. Halfway solutions will simply stand no chance in the market.

– We recently worked on a master plan and the client wanted us to apply passive sustainability in the project. To position the building, turn it at a certain angle due to the light, to set up the waterworks where they’re supposed to go, the plants that are characteristic for this geographic area and I believe that such smart solutions are also sustainable. It’s only necessary to think and learn – Folic concluded.

S. Maricic

Sillage doo Beograd

Bogle Architects

Reardon Smith Architects

Sillage

Alexander Marjanović

Ian Bogle

Mark Fenwick

Milutin Folić

London

Prague

Madrid

Sava Square

green agenda in construction

green construction

construction of national stadium in Belgrade

passive sustainability

sustainability in construction

sustainable construction