OTWO Magazine July 2020 | Page 78

ring Gibraltar ’ s contribution to world sustainable development . OPPORTUNITIES
The construction industry plays an important role in the impact of various industries on the natural environment . It is a typical industry with high energy and resource consumption and high pollution .
Although ‘ green ’ building refurbishment creates many opportunities for meeting the United Nation ’ s SDGs , most green buildings are new builds rather than retrofitted / refurbished existing buildings , as the latter is yet to enter the mainstream practice despite the many well-established and known benefits , and the dire need to take action in order to achieve sustainable development and urban renewal .
Irrespective of the above mentioned , the green retrofitting of existing and ‘ old stock ’ residential buildings generated over time has become an important breakthrough for the construction industry to achieve sustainable development , hence being upgraded to the national strategic level . The greening of existing houses improves their performance , saves resources , protects the environment and prolongs the lifecycle of buildings , hence being also able to lead in improved operational efficiency . The strategy is equally important in urban renewal . Therefore , green transformation is advantageous in promoting economic and social sustainable development . IMAGINE OCEAN HEIGHTS & MONTAGU COUNTERGUARD
SDGs are interconnected , and many can be achieved simultaneously . Furthermore , in order to achieve a truly sustainable refurbishment , all principles of sustainability should be exhausted where appropriate , such as building orientation , form and other main design parameters including internal layout alterations , fenestration alterations , upgrading insulation , enhancing ventilation , improving air tightness , adjusting thermal mass and landscaping to improve microclimate , use of more energy efficient equipment and appliances , as well as the building ’ s ability to promote the health and well-being of its occupants , enhance their quality of life , strengthen community cohesion and seek opportunities to revitalise the local community , enhance and promote its heritage and preserve the sense of attachment to place .
The following graphic does not illustrate findings of an in-depth comprehensive study of Ocean Heights and Montagu Counterguard due to various pre-imposed restrictions and limitation . In turn , it seeks to demonstrate through specific examples how a conscious approach to refurbishment without need for a radical transformation offers the opportunity of material improvement of the existing stock by satisfying various SGDs whilst looking beyond technical retrofitting , with focus placed upon improvement of the existing building , enhancement of the structure and its local context and improving the liveability of this residential complex and the adjacent area .
In order to fully utilise the refurbishment opportunities at Ocean Heights and Montagu Counterguard comprehensive study is required in order to maximise the potential the site offers by seeking to apply all SDGs in a multitude of ways and allowing for trade-offs to be identified together with ways of mitigating against them . Environmental impact can be fully evaluated through a Life Cycle Assessment ( LCA ) of all phases of the project .
Through applying a conscious approach to refurbishment , Ocean Heights has the potential to become a community where it is more convenient and more affordable for its residents to live in a sustainable manner , supported by a series of strategies and incentives , such as building attractive community spaces and introducing new residents at the development to community activities to help achieve a sustainable standard of living .
Precinct-scale design can contribute to sustainable development by incorporating various building typologies , climate sensitive designs , urban greening , water and energy management strategies , affordable housing options and strengthening a sense of place and community , as well as inclusive urban planning and design , which can lead to achievement of various SDGs , as per examples showcased above . Aforementioned precinct-scale planning examples in respect of Ocean Heights have been primarily focused upon improving the liveability of the development through community building , retrofitting , climate sensitive designs , urban greening , heritage considerations , as well as a sense of place and community engagement strategies ( among others ).
Although we talk about an individual building and its adjacent area for the purpose of this article , let
38 OTWO 12 / JULY 2020