|
Ejaz Ahed is the former President of the Institute of Architects in Pakistan.
What was the main objective of the ACA-14 (14th Asian Congress of Architects) held in Lahore recently?
The event, hosted this year by Pakistan comprised the annual ARCASIA Council Meeting, architecture Student Jamboree attended by students from all member nations and a Congress (this year’s theme being ”Go Green: The Architecture of the new order”) where architects interact intensively, review regional and global issues, as well as the Asian architectural education, share researches professional/student exchanges organized and projects are presented by eminent professionals and intellectual discourse occurs along with cultural events and resolutions for the future are drafted. This year professionals from 20 countries attended including those from Austria, Germany and Canada and about 500 students participated.
How do you define ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Green Architecture’ and how do you think it can help us build a better life?
The world in the last century has paid a price for industrialization to serve the insatiable demand of man resulting in the depletion of natural resources. The negative effects of industrialization and the heavy usage of fossil fuels for energy affecting the atmosphere, the land and the waters we use for different purposes are known to all of us. Gandhi has said on resources “There is enough for every man’s need but not for every man’s greed”. Simply put sustainable development is one which encourages the efficient use of the world’s finite resources so that we may leave some for the coming generations.
Since the largest component of the user of resources is buildings and industrial production it is important to bring about efficiency in resource management. Green architecture is the practice of designing, constructing and operating our buildings in a sustainable manner. It applies from material extraction and product manufacture to product transportation building design and construction, operations and maintenance, and building reuse or disposal. Ultimately, adoption of sustainable building practices will lead to a shift in the building industry, with sustainability thoroughly embedded in its practice, products, standards, codes, and regulations.
How successfully has Asian architecture worked on the ‘Green Revolution’?
In architecture I would not call it ‘revolution’ but the return to consciousness to traditional practices that were sustainable combined with modern scientific knowledge and technology tools to achieve man’s dreams for it is the developed nations that are the greatest polluters of our environment. The move from fossil fuels to renewable resources such as solar and wind to produce energy would be a true application for future building design. Developed Asian countries have promulgated laws and are well on their ways to changing their local environments but Pakistan and some others must control their inefficient energy uses and luxurious lifestyles particularly in the cities.
What are the factors that have impeded the development of the ‘Go Green’ slogan and how can the economies world over, and more importantly in Asia, which is vulnerable to climate change, go about in addressing these factors and crossing the barriers?
Once you are used to wastage you must relearn to conserve. In developing nations there has to be a two pronged approach. First there is a need to raise the level of awareness in the population regarding the need for conservation and for this a national strategy has to be evolved beginning with the school system, then training of trainers which will lead to promulgation of laws leading to eventual control of wastage. Countries like India have taken a lead over Pakistan in energy conservation practices and much can be learned from them and other Asian/western nations without reinventing the wheel. 
|
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
