Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Building design and construction have become assimilated all over the world thanks(?) to global transportation of materials and building system technology since the 19th century. The convenience of standardized design and construction has created environmental costs of transportation and pollution. It has been increasing carbon footprint with energy consumption for heating or/and cooling and construction waste while in the construction and afterlife because buildings have been heavily relying on extracting earth’s resources and leave bigger and bigger impacts such as the greenhouse effect, energy crisis, and climate change. This crisis is beyond the tipping point now. The study seeks wisdom in vernacular historic architectural design and local construction methods with locally sourced materials without consuming resources. Interior Architecture graduate students investigate the sustainable design and construction method for an off-grid rural Senegal area and reflect on the applicability to replace the contemporary standardized design and construction.

Presenters

Myoung Joo Chun
Director of Graduate Interior Architecture, Associate Professor, Architectural + Design Studies, Endicott College, Massachusetts, United States