Chapter 1 Architectural Styles 29
• “smart” materials that can respond to
environmental conditions
• sustainable materials harvested from
renewable natural resources
Sustainable Housing
In many areas, home builders now offer
sustainable housing. These homes are guaran-
teed to be built using materials that have been
harvested and processed using sustainable
processes. For example, sustainable lumber is
lumber that was planted, grown, and cut in a
way that protects the forest’s long-term health.
After the lumber was cut, it was processed and
transported by companies that use responsible
environmental practices.
borrow from the more formal styles of the past,
but also incorporate unique structural and dec-
orative elements in new homes.
More homes are being developed using envi-
ronmentally friendly building materials and
construction techniques. See Figure 1-33. Trends
include creating designs for homes that use or
re-use:
• existing building materials
• newly developed materials that have a less
harmful effect on the environment
• materials and processes that are free of
toxic chemicals and other items that can
damage the environment or human, plant,
or animal life
• materials that are easily recyclable or are
reusable indefi nitely, or that are biodegradable
in common landfi ll conditions
svic/Shutterstock.com
Figure 1-33. Architects can be environmentally responsible by designing houses to use sustainable materials
or newly developed materials that are easily recyclable and free from toxic chemicals. This house is being built
entirely of sustainable lumber.
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