THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE ADAPTATION OF HERITAGE-INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE IN CONTEXT

Abstract

Despite the considerable contributions in the developing world relevant to the development of sustainable environments, the concept of sustainable architecture is yet not widely considered within most of the developing communities whose priority lies with the immediate resolutions of many existing problems. This paper aims to analyze the challenges and applicability of sustainable architecture concepts in developing countries in order to develop a strategy to create a more sustainable built environment. It represents a pragmatic approach to investigate the role that indigenous practices and heritage inspired architectural solutions as key elements in this respect. The study suggests that utilization of scientific studies conducted on these traditional features and solutions in the early design stages and a computer aided adaptation using the available software can introduce a much progressive and environmentally aware architecture. As well, the study supposes that rational and pragmatic practices should be executed through an integrative approach to produce a synthesis of both pre-industrial and high tech-based design. This approach may confer a new dimension of hybridism to a distinct regional architecture. It might result in a much more ecologically-aware built environment as well as maintain a high level of self-consciousness.