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Sustainability
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The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability
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The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability in Geographic Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 18941

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marco Spada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of EAST—Engineering, Arts, Science and Technology, University of Suffolk, Long St, Ipswich IP3 8AH, UK
Interests: sociology; social exclusion; political sociology; cultural heritage; urban planning; architecture; urban sustainability; built environment; sustainable development; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the years, the debate on sustainability has increasingly specialised in extremely technical and specific issues. However, an omni-comprehensive approach still seems to be the best option for the comprehension, development, and success of sustainable processes.

Alongside the three classic pillars of sustainability—economics, society, and environment—culture, the fourth pillar described by Jon Hawkes, is becoming increasingly important and meaningful. Topics such as education, inclusiveness, dissemination of results, and best practices are today relevant factors for advanced sustainability projects.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to create a sort of reasoned manifesto on the theme of sustainable culture. What is sustainable culture? How culture can be included in a sustainable process? How relevant are cultural features for the development of sustainability?

Within a huge panorama of scientific publications on the subject, this Special Issue of Sustainability is aimed at all scholars, scientists, architects, planners, and financial and social operators who want to outline the characteristics of a coherent and innovative approach towards the theme of the culture sustainability.

Possible subjects include but are not limited to the following:

  • Architecture and architectural theory and critique;
  • Landscape;
  • Urban planning;
  • Education;
  • Sustainable finance;
  • Sustainable infrastructure;
  • Urban sprawl reduction;
  • Sustainable health and hospitals;
  • Megacities;
  • Air pollution and health.

References

Hawkes, J. (2004). The fourth pillar of sustainability. Melbourne: Cultural Development Network.

Nastasi, J., May, E., Snell, C. and Barry, B. eds. (2018). Special Issue: SU+RE: Sustainable + Resilient Design Systems. Hoboken: Wiley - AD Architectural Design.

Dr. Marco Spada
Guest Editor

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

  • Sustainability
  • Architecture
  • Culture
  • Urban planning

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2091 KiB  
Article
A Population Game Model for the Expansion of Airbnb in the City of Venice
by Sophia Arbara and Roberto D’Autilia
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073829 - 31 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3766
Abstract
The emergence of Airbnb along with an increase in urban tourism has intensified the pressure on urban areas while adding a new dimension to the dynamics of housing distribution, especially in historic cities. These dynamics affect local economies and significantly alter the characteristics [...] Read more.
The emergence of Airbnb along with an increase in urban tourism has intensified the pressure on urban areas while adding a new dimension to the dynamics of housing distribution, especially in historic cities. These dynamics affect local economies and significantly alter the characteristics of urban spaces, hence the necessity to not only create policies that foster sustainable tourism development but also to advance urban models that explore the relation between Airbnb and the traditional rental and accommodation sector. Through the case of Venice, the present study sheds light on the potential evolution of Airbnb housing in comparison to the traditional rental and homeowner market. In particular, we sought to understand whether a potential equilibrium between these uses exists and if so, at which point in regard to this equilibrium the historic center of Venice is. To tackle this question, methods derived from the field of game theory and specifically evolutionary game theory were used. With the agents (players) being the housing units, the designed theoretical model explored the population dynamics of the housing units in Venice given the three options of homeownership or long-term renting (residential); short term renting or Airbnb (airbnb); and no use (vacant). The findings of our theoretical population game model were validated and discussed with a dataset describing the usage patterns in the city of Venice during the past 20 years. A verification of the outcome through further case studies could eventually provide insights into the future behavior of tourism’s pressure in historic urban areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability)
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29 pages, 14975 KiB  
Article
Sustainability in Heritage Buildings: Can We Improve the Sustainable Development of Existing Buildings under Approved Document L?
by Andrew Williamson and Stephen Finnegan
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3620; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073620 - 24 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3549
Abstract
The British government has ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions countrywide by 2050, with their largest challenge being emissions from the construction industry. Approved Document L sets standards for the fabric performance of buildings to regulate their consumption of fuel and power, thereby [...] Read more.
The British government has ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions countrywide by 2050, with their largest challenge being emissions from the construction industry. Approved Document L sets standards for the fabric performance of buildings to regulate their consumption of fuel and power, thereby allowing easier transition to all-renewable grid electricity and the phasing out of fossil fuels. Whilst this approach has shown success in new builds, its effectiveness on retrofits, especially regarding built heritage, is significantly reduced. Responding to this, the paper investigates alternative sustainable design solutions that could feasibly justify revisions to Approved Document L, to improve the sustainable performance of existing buildings and bring them in line the government’s 2050 targets. Trialing solutions on a listed building case study, benchmark figures are used to analyse the energy, carbon, and cost implications of sustainable design approaches relating to passive design, low-carbon technologies, renewable energy, and additional considerations. Using this method, it is reasonable to conclude that the standards of Approved Document L for existing buildings are currently underperforming but can feasibly be revised to encompass the full breadth of contemporary sustainable design solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability)
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15 pages, 2890 KiB  
Article
Cultural Consumption and Citizen Engagement—Strategies for Built Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development. A Case Study of Indore City, India
by Soniya Billore
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2878; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052878 - 7 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5461
Abstract
Cultural heritage is an invaluable asset of any city, region, or community and is an important component in the sustainable development of societies and economies. However, the role of cultural heritage has been understudied in terms of its social embeddedness and impact on [...] Read more.
Cultural heritage is an invaluable asset of any city, region, or community and is an important component in the sustainable development of societies and economies. However, the role of cultural heritage has been understudied in terms of its social embeddedness and impact on social cohesion. This has led to a demand for more insights on how cultural heritage is conserved globally and more significantly via the role of societal stakeholders. Inclusive strategies allow diverse sections of a community to engage and enrich not only the anthropological interpretations of society but also support social stability and foster positive social change. This paper exemplifies how an inclusive approach was used to engage citizen engagement for the sustainable development of the built heritage in the city of Indore in central India. Best practices are presented through secondary data through various print and online sources relevant to the context. Open coding of secondary data has helped to identify strategic approaches and relationships that emerge as crucial to citizen engagement as presented in this study. The paper discusses strategies that, based on diversity and inclusivity, contribute to the enrichment of community knowledge, increased synergistic participation, and the enhancement of the sense of collective responsibility in cultural consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability)
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27 pages, 13280 KiB  
Article
Building the Future on Lessons of Historic Reinforced Concrete
by Maria Bostenaru Dan
Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5925; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155925 - 23 Jul 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4504
Abstract
This contribution presents the way the construction material reinforced concrete was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, from both the technical (Hennebique system) and the philosophical points of view. The philosophy underlying the use of this material is evident in [...] Read more.
This contribution presents the way the construction material reinforced concrete was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, from both the technical (Hennebique system) and the philosophical points of view. The philosophy underlying the use of this material is evident in the theories on finding a language of form corresponding to tectonics, and its dialogue with timber, formulated by certain notable practicing architects of the time across Europe. Not to be neglected are aspects relating to the conservation of material and to interventions carried out over time. In Modernist times, this meant a change from the artistic expression of Art Nouveau. Today, it means technical adaptation. The paper addresses thus sustainability of intervention versus conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Fourth Pillar: Culture in Sustainability)
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