Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate

Architecture is more than the art of constructing individual buildings; it is also the creation of an environment. Buildings do not exist in isolation. Indeed, they not only impose their character on their surroundings but also have an incalculable effect on the lives of the human beings who inhabit them. Homes, workplaces, and infrastructure are the principal components of the built environment, serving the basic human needs for shelter, warmth, and communication, while providing water and removing waste. Too often buildings are seen as costly static containers rather than as an investment which, if healthy and sustainable, can add value.

Smart buildings respond to the demands of the human sensory system in terms of physical, psychological, and social needs, becoming havens for work, learning, and life in general. In today’s world, featuring an increasing population, climate change pressures dominate our thinking. As such, smart buildings need to be resilient and interconnected with the web of evolving circumstances, whilst also providing healthy contentment to their occupants. This Section discusses various ways in which this can be achieved by valuing lessons from vernacular architecture and nature. Beyond this, there is a debate on how to use technology wisely to enable smart operations that can be helpful for both humans and the environment.