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Sustainability
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Sustainable Architecture, Structural Design, and Environmental Engineering
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Sustainable Architecture, Structural Design, and Environmental Engineering

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1269

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Angelo Aloisio

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Building-Architecture and Environmental Engineering, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Interests: timber engineering; structural dynamics; structural reliability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yue Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: timber engineering
Dr. Martina Sciomenta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Building-Architecture and Environmental Engineering, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Interests: timber engineering; composite structures
Dr. Michele Mirra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Interests: timber engineering; seismic retrofitting; structural durability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on sustainable solutions in architecture, structural design, and environmental engineering, with a strong emphasis on bio-based materials and innovative construction methods. The increasing demand for environmentally responsible building solutions requires the integration of advanced engineering techniques, material science, and digital tools to optimize structural performance while reducing carbon footprints. Key topics include the structural behavior and mechanical properties of timber and engineered wood, the development of short supply chain hardwood solutions, and the durability and reliability of bio-based materials in construction. Contributions on circular economy strategies, the lifecycle assessments of sustainable building materials, and digital advancements, such as parametric design, performance-based engineering, and building information modeling (BIM), are particularly encouraged. This Issue aims to bridge the gap between material science, structural engineering, and architectural design, addressing challenges such as fire resistance, mechanical optimization, and large-span timber structures. By supplementing the existing literature, it will provide a technical foundation for advancing sustainable construction methods, ensuring resilience, efficiency, and compliance with environmental standards.

Dr. Angelo Aloisio
Dr. Yue Wang
Dr. Martina Sciomenta
Dr. Michele Mirra
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

  • sustainable architecture
  • timber engineering
  • bio-based materials
  • structural design optimization
  • short supply chain construction
  • circular economy in construction
  • low-carbon building materials
  • resilient infrastructure
  • climate-responsive design
  • environmental impact assessment

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1159 KiB  
Article
Material and Environmental Factors Impacting the Durability of Oak Mooring Piles in Venice, Italy
by Giorgio Pagella and Tiziana Urso
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4327; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104327 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 603
Abstract
This study examines the rapid degradation of oak mooring piles caused by shipworms in Venice, Italy. In the last few decades, this problem has raised significant safety and environmental concerns, as the piles often need to be replaced every 18–24 months. The sound [...] Read more.
This study examines the rapid degradation of oak mooring piles caused by shipworms in Venice, Italy. In the last few decades, this problem has raised significant safety and environmental concerns, as the piles often need to be replaced every 18–24 months. The sound basic density and diameter of 22 oak piles were analysed after being exposed to shipworm attacks for 18–240 months to determine whether denser piles or larger diameters influence the rate of decay. This was performed to assess whether larger cross sections or higher densities of the piles could imply an increased durability against marine borers. The impact of environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen levels was also assessed. The results highlighted that pile density and diameter do not significantly influence the resistance against shipworms, while rising temperatures (+2 °C in the past two decades) may contribute to accelerating shipworm activity. These phenomena are worsened by the arrival of warm-water shipworms since 2013, exhibiting greater aggressiveness in wood degradation. Furthermore, the potential impact of storm surge barriers on shipworm activity remains an open research topic. Alternative materials and protection techniques introduced since 2015, such as polyurethane piles or metal stapling, face environmental and logistical challenges. Despite these alternatives, many new oak mooring piles are still installed in Venice without protection and are vulnerable to rapid deterioration. Addressing these issues requires multidisciplinary research to develop sustainable materials and preservation techniques for maintaining infrastructure in Venice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Architecture, Structural Design, and Environmental Engineering)
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21 pages, 4870 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Span Length on Environmental Performance: A Comparative Study
by Giovanni Perrucci and Dario Trabucco
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4183; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094183 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Architects and building designers are pivotal in mitigating climate change by shaping the environmental footprint of buildings from their inception, with life cycle assessment (LCA) serving as a crucial tool for quantifying these impacts. Given that structural systems contribute significantly to embodied carbon, [...] Read more.
Architects and building designers are pivotal in mitigating climate change by shaping the environmental footprint of buildings from their inception, with life cycle assessment (LCA) serving as a crucial tool for quantifying these impacts. Given that structural systems contribute significantly to embodied carbon, accounting for approximately 24% of a building’s life cycle emissions, this research investigates the relationship between structural span length—a key design factor influencing material choices and construction methods—and overall environmental performance. Through a scenario-based analysis employing building information modeling (BIM) and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) tools, this study evaluates various building configurations to reveal that in long-span scenarios, steel demonstrates a lower environmental impact compared to timber. This finding offers a novel, quantifiable insight for architects and designers to assess and optimize building designs, particularly in the context of emerging architectural trends featuring longer spans, ultimately contributing to more sustainable building practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Architecture, Structural Design, and Environmental Engineering)
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