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EDITOR’ S NOTE
In the early years of the green building movement in South Africa, the focus was on the performance of new buildings as designed, while tools were being developed to apply to the‘ existing stock’. From then, the various rating tools were rolled out in succession.
Over the past 18 years, the vision of what makes a green building has evolved enormously and presently there is a justifiable focus on existing or legacy stock buildings, where concise as built rating tools are available. Refurbishments, rebuilds and the current buzzword word, adaptive reuse, are trending. Adaptive reuse comes with multiple advantages, especially when being done for function and the preservation of legacy. In terms of the embodied carbon and energy associated with the original structure, the recycled structures offer a EC / EE value of zero to the developer.
However, not all functioning green buildings have been rated under the Green Building Council of SAs Green Star tools. It is really heartening to see thousands of developers, property owners, architects and other professions in the trade, spontaneously building sustainably. Stories of not only preservation of the cultural overlay of a building, but also its being converted into a highly productive working asset are emerging.
To Build’ s March edition has serendipitously picked up the adaptive reuse theme, with some stunning projects that showcase the preservation of a building’ s heritage while growing its productive use. See the Khyber Rock house article), and an enchanting tale of the reuse of old and / or abandoned working farm buildings in the mountains of the Western Cape( Dwarsrivier Farm).
In this edition, we also take a look at minimalism and also conscious living, with two creative opinions by respected professional architects taking centre stage. You are invited to express your view, based on the thoughts of Landseer Collen( BPAS) and Mark Rielly( ARRCC).
Got something you want to add? Email me at editor @ tobuild. co. za. Well articulated comments will be published in the next edition.
Gareth
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