Sustainable Settlements

The Sustainable Residential Projects in China

Ismail Qaznili

MArch in Urban Design

School of the Built Environment

University of Nottingham

Thursday, January 01, 2009

1. Sustainability.......................................................................................................5
1.1.The Definition of Sustainability:.....................................................................5
1.2.The History of Sustainability:.........................................................................5
2. Sustainable Settlements ....................................................................................7
1.3.The Levels of Sustainability:..........................................................................7
1.4.Sustainable Buildings Architecture:...............................................................8
3. Sustainable Housing in China..............................................................................9
1.5.Sustainable Housing Objective.....................................................................10
1.6.Sustainable Housing Design Principles.........................................................11
1.6.1.Site design and planning.......................................................................11
1.6.2.Building form and typology....................................................................12
1.6.3.Building design and planning.................................................................13
1.6.3.1.The High-Rise Sustainable Building.................................................13

1.6.3.2.Low-Rise Low-Energy Design Building ............................................13

1.7.Case Study:..................................................................................................14
4. Crating more sustainable development............................................................16
............................................................................................................................16
5. Conclusion.........................................................................................................17
Introduction:

Sustainability, a key growing global awareness in the realm of urban development to

countermeasure the side effects of the rapid growth of population and the exhaustion

of natural and economic resources. Many leading developed and developing

countries has accommodated this awareness in the late 20th century such as Brazil,

Sweden, Denmark, Ecuador and China.

These examples are based on different concepts of design and function to achieve its

aim and play its role as a sustainable settlement. The concepts of renewable energy,

public transport, density control and urban sprawl control are key features in these

developments.

Applying a set of procedures or measures related to natural resource consumption

regulation to the design process of an urban development will achieve a sustainable

status, yet, to what extent. This status basically determined by two elements, duration

and efficiency. In order to achieve what could be called a more sustainable

settlement. What should designers and developers take into account while

formulating their plans? Which element of duration or efficiency should be dominant

over the other?

Essentially, they must determine and define their criteria and objectives what toward

what serve them best based on the situation they are encountering.

The aim of this essay is to discuss what does achieving more sustainable settlements

means, in regards to the principles and concepts adopted in urban development and

designs.
First, by giving a simplified introduction of the term sustainability and sustainable

development. Then demonstrating the steps to achieve sustainability in urban

developments in general context on different scales of development. Then, looking in

further detail to sustainable building design. Then, exploring sustainable housing

projects in china as case studies. Lastly, concluding what should be done to achieve

a more sustainable settlement based on the Chinese experience.

1. Sustainability

Sustainability is the process to maintain a desired status or a situation of humans’

living standards within a period of time, by enhancing the declining elements and

maintaining the flourishing. These living standards are created by the integration of

three elements: the environment both natural and man-made, the economy and the

people. Each of them is operating individually serving their purposes yet they are

interrelating in a pattern of harmony to achieve optimum living standards, hence the

term of Sustainable Development was introduced.

1.1. The Definition of Sustainability:

For the World Commission on Environment and Development in their report under

the name Our Common Future Sustainable development is “a development which

meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations

to meet their own needs” (1987). The needs which the definition refers to are the

renewable natural resources of water, air and land on the planet, which creates the

global ecosystem. Decleris (2000) stated that a “dynamic equilibrium between man

and nature and for the co-evolution of both within the Gaia mega-system” is essential

to achieve a conservation system for the ecological global system.

1.2. The History of Sustainability:

The world awareness of the need for sustainability in development was flagged by

the United Nations in the World Conference in Rio 1992 (Decleris, 2000). Defining

sustainability as a process of two main objectives, the first is to develop the economy
and the second is to ensure environment protection (Decleris, 2000). While

sustainability definition according to Man-Met University is “Sustainability is about

environmental protection, sustained economic growth and social equity” which

enclosed the social equity, the United Nations Conference definition excluded it due

to the fact that Sustainability in development is still developing and relatively new

(Decleris, 2000), still Decleris (2000) stated that the social issues are not and requires

immediate handling, because the relation between man and the ecosystem is quite

clear and possible to measure for evaluating the impact on both, while for the social

aspects of culture and ethics the relations are vague and rarely affected by the

ecosystem, thus making it hardly adaptable into a simple sustainability framework.

Sustainability according to Decleris (2000) is “Just World” where the government

in its policies, the interrelationship of the people and their relationship with the

ecosystem are in harmony. Decleris (2000) also stated four misinterpretation of

sustainability which incompatible with the term just world, as sustainability is not a just

a management of natural resources, also its not “zero growth” approach of

development but a enhancing tool for the current status efficiency, also “not “equality

of consumption”” due to each country has its unique economical characteristics and it

is not concerned about materialistic aspects of living only (Decleris, 2000).

2. Sustainable Settlements

To achieve sustainable settlements, designers should consider the aspects of the

physical elements of the environment – natural and urban – with response to the

social needs according to the economic potentials through the different respectively

scales of comprehensiveness. Generally, the largest is the city scale resembled in the

city master plans formulation, minimizing to the neighbourhood scale resembled in

the urban design planning, reaching to the smallest, the building scale resembled in

the architectural design.

1.3. The Levels of Sustainability:

Each scale aims to achieve sustainability however each scale has its own unique

methods to handle the issues of physical, social and economical aspects.

Sustainability on the city scale aims for sustainable land use planning, which focuses

on i) preserving open spaces, ii) mixed uses areas, iii) environmentally based zoning,

iv) Brownfield redevelopment, v) smart growth plans and vi) sustainable master plan.

On neighbourhood scale it aims for sustainable site development, which consider i)

creating open space preserving subdivisions, ii) considering the local environmental

features, iii) soil disturbing minimisation, iv) erosion and sedimentation control, v)

vegetation and local fauna protection, vi) using landscape for efficient water and

energy supply, vii) natural management for storm water, viii) irrigation needs

reduction, ix) environmental awareness promotion (Brown, 2000). On the building

scale the main consideration is related to the used building material and layout to

ensure a high energy and resources saving.

 1.4. Sustainable Buildings Architecture:

The major points of designing sustainable buildings according to Brown (2000) are

to create energy-design and energy-efficient units, long duration of function and

alteration possibilities, an indoor space comfy and healthy for the occupants and

efficient water cycle systems.

Brown (2000) has introduced many practices which can be followed in building

design. The practices are related to floor layout efficiency, building orientation,

construction materials and air quality.

Focusing on the building orientation practice, Brown (2000) suggested that

efficient building orientation will significantly in improve energy consumption saving.

Corresponding to the characteristics of the local climate designers can imply design

elements to improve lighting scheme in buildings by focusing on natural lighting

reliance in the daylights time periods to reduce the cost of electric lighting. Also they

can adopt forms and shape for the masses to generate natural ventilation through

buildings which help in maintaining a comfortable temperature rate in the summer and

winter also to regenerate the air quality.

3. Sustainable Housing in China

As mentioned previously that the urge for sustainability is to countermeasure the

side effects of the rapid growth of population. China is one of the largest population

countries in the globe. Thus, fostering a prosperous housing construction market of

10 million units built every year (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

This immense construction of housing units and is generating a high consumption

of energy. Throughout the last 20 years, china’s energy consumption has grown

significantly from 25 quad BTU in 1990 to 50 quad BTU by 2009 (Glicksman and Lin,

2007). Accordingly the emissions of carbon dioxide increased in a similar trend from

650 million metric tons carbon equivalent to 1150 million metric tons carbon

equivalent (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The previous values have signalled the need for energy–efficiency housing

development in China. Leading universities from China formed partnerships with MIT

and AGS to help in introducing technologies and techniques of sustainability to the

local construction and development market in China. Thus many of the major projects

were supervised by them to achieve the vision of sustainability (Glicksman and Lin,

2007).

The main issues of sustainability which need to be addresses in the building

sector according to Glicksman (2007) are the non-renewable resources, the

environment and the energy. The construction of urban facilities of housing,

commerce and services consumes vast amounts of non-renewable resources of land

and construction material while generating waste. Lately most of the inhabitants of the

urban areas remain in indoor space which generate high rate of air pollution, waste,

and water consumption which is harmful to the outdoor environment. For these space

to run and accommodate the needs of its inhabitants a large amount of energy is

required, this requisite generate high carbon dioxide emissions which plays a major

role in the global phenomenon of the global warming.

In order to reduce the detrimental impacts and achieve a sustainable status for the

urban environment, Glicksman (2007) suggested that the building sector should

consider the adoption of renewable resources in construction and waste generation

using a suitable construction materials, regulating the growth of development to

conserve land area and lastly to adapt various design approaches to create energy-

efficiency buildings.

1.5. Sustainable Housing Objective

The designers and developers of the housing sector in China adopted the

approach of sustainability covering the different aspects of the urban environment,

economically, socially and physically, as Glicksman (2007) affirmed that designers

should consider a comprehensive process that tackles all the various issues of urban

environments, that will help in realizing a sustainable status.

He also pointed out that these aspects are qualitative and quantitative and can

create a variety of design processes based on achieving two basic conditions of

sustainable development. These two conditions are the optimum utilization of

resources and the insurance of adequate living standards.

 Notably, both are faces of one coin, thus favouring one side will have to come on

the expense of the other. This is where the role of designers and developers come to

understand the needs and requirements of the sustainable status they are aiming to

realize.

1.6. Sustainable Housing Design Principles

The principles adopted in designing Sustainable housing in China are based on

three main levels of: site design and planning, building form and typology and building

design and planning according to Glicksman (2007).

1.6.1. Site design and planning

The principle is based on minimizing population density effect on the local

ecosystem and how to utilize it to achieve an acceptable living status. Beijing Star

Garden project is clear example of how redistributing population density played a

major role in improving the ecosystem to make it more sustainable.

The project was firstly designed by a firm form Singapore. The main design

theme was a high rise building of high density allocated in a fixed pattern. The design

was so typical and full of flaws. The buildings foot prints were large although it was a

high density building. The wind flow thorough site was poor making the open areas

inadequate for usage. High rise developments create less sense of community and

create a weak connection between the habitats and the outdoor open spaces

(Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The project was altered late on to low density area with various layout of

building masses to serve vital site functions to create suitable living standards. Tall
building masses were placed to block the cold winter winds while the short masses

were placed in the parts facing the warm summer breezy wind, the arrangement of

the masses allowed a gentle wind flow throughout the site to promote the usage of

the spaces thus encouraging community-based interactions (Glicksman and Lin,

2007).

1.6.2. Building form and typology

Building form and typology were based on the smallest development unit which

can be used to design the housing areas in this case the cluster concept was

adopted. The cluster is a combination of various design elements of spaces – public

and private – routes and buildings of different usages and functions serving as hub of

social, economical and environmental elements.

This principle was implemented in the housing project of Hui Long Guan in

Beijing. Three clusters of residential buildings in the centre of the project which had

been altered to meet the needs of the local natural and social characteristics of the

area (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The layout of the clusters masses was corresponding to the local wind flow

pattern to enhance the quality of the ventilation by blocking the cold wind of winter

and leaping the warm wind of summer (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The masses layout created social interactions pockets of shaded green areas

and walkways linking between and the units and providing an acceptable level of

separation from the vehicular movement creating a sense of security and pedestrian-

friendly environment (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

 1.6.3. Building design and planning

The concept of reducing the consumption of energy needed for heating/

cooling, lighting and services is the key adopted factor. This has facilitated two main

themes in housing projects in China, the High-Rise Sustainable Building and the Low-

Rise Low-Energy Design buildings (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

1.6.3.1. The High-Rise Sustainable Building

The concepts of this theme is to eliminate the flaws of orientation, construction

methods and energy consumption by giving more concern to the natural ventilation,

maximizing sun lighting, shading and passive heating and cooling.

A set of detailed guidelines were set by the MIT design workshop. These have

interpreted four main ideas:

• Reducing the depth of the building to enable efficient ventilation

• Adopting duplex type units of double height to maximize lighting

• Controlling the exposure to the sun to eliminate undesired glare

• Adjustable glazing system in the summer and winter

(Glicksman and Lin, 2007)

1.6.3.2. Low-Rise Low-Energy Design Building

A 12m by 12 m building of four units, each is a two story duplex with an

inner courtyard is the basic form of this theme. It’s favouring the idea of shared

space between the dwellers serving as green space, playground and a

 connection hub to the outside. The units are facing south with shading

elements to provide ventilation and sun lighting (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

Although it seems that both themes are based on the same ideas and

concepts to accomplish sustainability approaches of reducing energy

consumption and creating acceptable living standards for the inhabitant relying

on the natural resources, the reason between treating them as two is their

relativity to occupants’ density.

1.7. Case Study:

The cooperate efforts made by the MIT Sustainable Urban Housing in China

Group and the local developers and designing firms have generated many

sustainable projects in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

Some of these projects were introduced in brief previously; all of them were based on

the design process of providing low consumption energy designs, using passive

methods to generate heating and cooling to reduce the negative economic and

environmental impacts and to secure the basic social needs for the residents

(Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The process is generated from the studies on the local characteristics of the local

climate, the simulations of computers, the unique social and economical traits of the

designated area and the collection of feedback from the local society.

The Beijing Prototype Housing is an interesting design case. It was designed by

MIT and Tsinghua University for Beijing Vanke Co. Ltd. in 1998. It was meant to be a
mass production housing unit which is sustainable to accommodate medium-density

population (Glicksman and Lin, 2007).

The main concept of the unit is a 12m X 12m or 12m X 24m box that embraces a

court yard in the middle that serve as public realm in the unit for the residents which

encourages more social interaction and communication. This idea is adopted from the

traditional Chinese house concept. The lower units had a direct access to the

courtyard while the upper ones had access to the rooftop and they are larger than the

lower ones.

The building is facing the south to catch the prevailing desired wind flow to enable

natural ventilation and achieve maximum sun exposure in the winter by using design

elements of windows, fencing and louvers which is placed on the south façade.

The stair case is used as tube for funnelling inner ventilation to the outside by

taking it from lower levels to the top helping in applying an approach of “Bioclimatic”

which is based on utilizing the climate elements to maintain warmth in the winter and

cooling in the summer in a passive method and that was made possible because of

the courtyard.
4. Crating more sustainable development

In order to attain a more sustainable status for developments that meet the

conditions of sustainability it has to increase its running duration period.

The role of designer and developers is effective and progressing toward the aim of

sustainability. The status need to consider and pay attention to the public awareness

and acceptance of the new living style standards by the inhabitants. Since most of

them are used to live in styles which ignores the aspects of sustainability.

The cooperation of both the inhabitants and the developers is an essential key to

realise this status.

5. Conclusion

To conclude, sustainability in development is achieved by utilizing the natural

elements of the site and calibrating the design process to create an environment

where the dwellers of full awareness about the urge of sustainability and

understanding of what it has to take to live in it.

There is various design tools can be implemented in early stages of design or

to already build up developments on every scale.

China’s experience in adopting the sustainable approach of development is a

clear example on it is so helpful to tackle the issues of rapid growth of population and

the global climatic changes.

Aiming for more sustainability in development is nothing more than having last

longer and benefits more.

References

1- Brown, W. Sustainable Design, Construction, and Land Development: Guidelines for the
Southeast, (2000), Oak Ridge, Tennessee 2000

2- Decleris, M. The Law of Sustainable Development: General Principles, (2000), Luxembourg:

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2000

3- Glicksman L. and Juintow L. (eds) Sustainable Urban Housing in China: Principles and Case
Studies for Low-Energy Design Springer; 1 edition (May 7, 2007)

4- United Nations. 1987."Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development."

General Assembly Resolution 42/187, 11 December 1987. Retrieved: 2007-04-12