Sustainability of the Built Environment: New Approaches to Achieving Global Goals
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 2 June 2026 | Viewed by 114
Special Issue Editors
Interests: contribution to better buildings' architecture performance; improving space flexibility and adaptability to achieve better results in daily-life routines; in line with sustainable issues and different life cycle concerns; healthcare buildings
Interests: architectural heritage from the 20th century; multifamily housing buildings; intervention strategies regarding preservation measures, energy efficiency, and thermal comfort, based on the experiences and uses of the inhabitants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: bioclimatic architecture; passive strategies; sustainable building; energy efficiency; vernacular architecture; low-carbon materials; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: sustainable construction; life cycle assessment; bio and geo-based construction products; circular economy in the construction sector; vernacular construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors, there is growing concern about incorporating measures that align with developing more sustainable projects. This began with the concept of sustainable development, a near-impossible term to define clearly. To ensure a sustainable future, development must evolve to be environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable, meeting present demands without jeopardising the needs of future generations. In addition to the ongoing need for buildings to achieve the highest possible architectural quality in terms of space design, relationship with place, and urban context, they should also attain energy neutrality, be constructed with minimal environmental impact, and be carbon neutral, amongst other sustainable development aims. Furthermore, architectural design must foster greater flexibility and adaptability to accommodate the evolving requirements of multiple generations coexisting for extended periods.
Today’s challenges and goals demand strategies and technologies beyond “sustainable construction” (a concept no longer adequate), focusing on restoration and regeneration to create positive impacts that support the long-term health and evolution of social and ecological systems. So, buildings play a crucial role in applying regenerative principles, as they are among the most significant energy and natural resources users, accounting for a third of global carbon emissions and other substantial environmental impacts throughout their life cycle.
Thus, this Special Issue seeks to compile and disseminate existing knowledge on the subject, aiming to advance regenerative buildings through integrated and passive design strategies, technologies to reduce carbon footprint, energy-efficient measures, and construction proposals with sustainable materials, among other approaches. Submissions are welcome on, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Passive architectural design practices;
- Reintroduction of vernacular construction strategies using contemporary approaches;
- Regenerative design approaches;
- Flexible and adaptative architectural proposes for more responsive buildings;
- Sustainable practices in the long term;
- Bioclimatic solutions for existing buildings;
- Retrofitting strategies for heritage building preservation;
- Indoor environmental quality;
- Energy-efficient measures and low-carbon technologies;
- Essays of sustainable urban communities;
- Tools and methods to support more sustainable built architectural projects and constructions.
Dr. Maria de Castro
Dr. Luciana Rocha
Dr. Jorge Fernandes
Dr. Ricardo Mateus
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- passive architectural design
- regenerative design
- sustainability assessment methods
- long-time architecture perspective
- sustainable practices
- energy-efficiency
- low-carbon
- vernacular construction
- flexible design
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