Sustainability: concepts and application in architecture

Abstract

The work presents an analysis of the application of sustainability concepts to the architectural production of students at the School of Architecture and Urbanism at the Federal Fluminense University. The research investigates the consequences of the concept, listing eight principles and demonstrating them in practical project examples. The text also addressed how the bases and parameters were formed through dimensions and indicators; nevertheless, it describes the trajectory of sustainability in cities, in construction and architecture, complemented by the World Agendas. On the other hand, civil construction, being one of the largest energy consumers in the world, needs instruments for sustainable optimization and energy efficiency certifications prove to be a tangible means in the search for reducing the impact of the architecture sector, whether international ones such as the Building Research Institution Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), as well as national ones, such as the Selo Procel Edifica. In the methodology, consultations in secondary sources stand out: books, articles and course completion work (TCC), the latter of which were extracted from a sample of eight TCC, representing 10% of the total guidance carried out over the most recent 20 years, which present the principles of sustainability more emphatically, specifically as references. The results describe the evolution of the concept through the proposals and how the inclusion of the topic in the Architecture and Urbanism Course triggers reflections, raises awareness among students and improves the quality of projects.