Lightweight Environmental Architecture

The building industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries that also contribute significantly to carbon emissions. The building industry has relied mostly on non-renewable sources dominated by fossil fuels, which are naturally destined to run out and are known for their destructive effect on the environment resulting in climate change. On the contrary, the natural resources-based or so-called bioclimatic design provides a sustainable alternative that exploits natural and climate potential to reduce material resource use and energy consumption. This chapter analyzes active and passive strategies, focusing on lightweight envelope systems from a historical to a future perspective. It demonstrates the global potential of bioclimatic architecture using Sun, wind, and water, both separately and in combination, as the main design drivers. Furthermore, the presented case studies show successful implementations of bioclimatic principles that can inspire future developments.