Buildings as communicators in the local area

It is not just users of green buildings who benefit from added value

The social function of buildings is set to attract greater interest in future. One indicator of this is the certificate developed by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), which has coined a new concept of accessibility for properties. "Accessible buildings" are well integrated into their surroundings and urban context and widely accepted by the people around them due to their openness to the outside world. Architecture, the quality of the user experience and the location enhance the building’s communicative function within the urban fabric.

Location and public transport links are particularly important for green buildings. Given that transport accounts for some 50% of total oil consumption worldwide, accessibility on foot or by bicycle as well as good public transport connections are a basic requirement for an energy-efficient property.

Bicycle stands and car sharing
Because a large proportion of car journeys are less than five kilometres, switching to cycling can make a major contribution to environmentally sound, energy-efficient mobility. Parking for bikes should be a standard feature of any sustainable building. Measures such as organising car sharing or promoting car pools are also beneficial.

When developing new commercial buildings, flexibility increasingly extends to use by third parties. In addition to outdoor space being publicly accessible, the building itself and facilities like a cafeteria or library are also open to visitors. The aim is to open up the property to as many users as possible as a kind of multifunctional communal space.

Making creative use of space
The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) advocates including public use in or around the building, ideally on the ground floor and featuring disabled access. This space can take the form of offices, conference rooms, studios or restaurants and cafés. Making use of space in this way not only cuts costs, it also creates a more diverse, creative atmosphere and boosts productivity.

Making the best possible use of land and giving priority to existing space and buildings is another key factor in high-quality sociocultural construction. Sustainable urban planning needs to reverse a situation where use of space has doubled in Germany since 1950. On average, 129 hectares of greenfield land gets eaten up every day. Recycling derelict sites and existing buildings generates added value in terms of the quality of urban life and the urban microclimate.

Efficient land use in construction rather than urban sprawl
Urban sprawl refers to the unplanned, uncontrolled spread of urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a city. Los Angeles is an infamous example of this phenomenon. Sustainable urban planning seeks to counter this explosive process of urbanisation by encouraging more efficient land use. This includes filling existing gaps in urban areas, "redensification" of existing developments by adding new storeys and converting existing buildings to new uses.

Integration of historic buildings
Conserving and opening up our historic and cultural heritage is a key aspect of protecting listed buildings, but it also meets the needs of sustainable urban development. Integrating historic properties from a social and town planning perspective brings incalculable benefits for urbanites and their living environment. This is particularly true now that renovated listed buildings have to comply with the latest energy efficiency standards.