“Self-Sufficient Green Architecture”

The book aims to establish a design process to achieve an advanced architecture self-sufficient in energy, water and food at the lowest possible price, so that it could be available to most citizens.

At present, and driven by economic interests, a “technology additive model“ of self-sufficient architecture seeks to be established in our society. This model does not improve architecture, does not educate society, and simply encourages the consumption of a large number of energy generators, water treatment artifacts and all kinds of technological devices, and forcibly incorporates them into buildings. The problem is that the fabrication, installation and maintenance of these added devices consumes a lot of energy and resources, and generates a lot of waste and emissions. On the other hand, these «technological additives» have a finite life cycle, so that they become waste within a few years, and they must be continuously replaced. Therefore it can not be said, in any way, that this model of architecture is «sustainable», “ecological”, or «self-sufficient,» or anything like that, given its heavy dependence on technology with reduced life cycle. What’s more, the incorporation of the large number of required devices substantially increases the cost of the building, and does not promote the development and innovation of new architectural typologies. And what is worse promotes consumerism and technological dependence. The same can be said when referring to water, food, and any type of human needs.

Alternatively, this book aims to promote the establishment of a new model of self-sufficient architecture, called «integrated architectural model”. This model consists of substantially improving the building design, educating society and integrating in the architecture the least amount possible of technological additives. Only by educating society the behavior and customs of each individual can be modified, and thus its needs (of energy, water, and resources) can be redefined and reduced; and only designing much better buildings their energy, water and resources consumption can be reduced drastically. Thus, the resulting buildings have very little need for energy, which can be generated by a minimal amount of technological devices, with a very small economic cost, and accessible to majority of society. Similarly, buildings can generate the basic food and water capable of ensuring the survival of its occupants.

But what is more important, from an architectural standpoint, is that the integrated architectural model encourages the creation of new architectural typologies, less arbitrary, more creative, more useful to society, more environmentally efficient, and able to evolve architecture in the right direction, and to integrate it into the natural ecosystem.

To illustrate this integrated architectural model, the book analyses five innovative and visionary architectural projects self-sufficient (in energy, water and food), made by Luis De Garrido.

The book has a strong educational and training purpose, but at the same time it is a professional and effective tool for all architects who wish to pursue an advanced architecture, self-sufficient in energy, water and food, at a cost affordable by the majority of the population.

Without a doubt, “Self sufficient green architecture” is a book that will inspire future generations to understand the complexities of self-sufficient architectural design process, and accepts the challenge of making a truly integrated architecture in Nature.