Abstract
Architecture, as a mean of art and as a factor that physically shapes the environment, undoubtedly serves as a form of expression of ethical attitudes. It combines ethical values and responsibility for solving environmental problems with aesthetic qualities of the built environment. The holistic approach is gaining ground in the paradigm of sustainability, where architectural concepts such as biophilic, biomimetic, resilient, restorative, and others reinforce the idea of coexistence between humans and nature. In the 21st century, sustainability has become a global phenomenon; therefore, contemporary architecture is expected to reflect the idea of sustainability in its expression. This study explores the relationship between ethics and aesthetics in sustainable architecture in practice. Furthermore, this study attempts to illustrate how the architectural expression of certified sustainable buildings in the Baltic Sea region reflects the trends of sustainability within an ethical paradigm. The research question of this study is as follows: what are the prevailing aesthetic trends and are environmental ethical values expressed in the sustainable architecture of the Baltic Sea region? The study of examples of sustainable architecture was carried out by analyzing the three main databases of certified sustainable buildings—Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). The study found eight predominant groups of aesthetic expressions of sustainable buildings and the absence of a distinctive architectural expression that could be considered as sustainability aesthetics. It can be hypothesized that the lack of aesthetic distinctiveness of certified sustainable buildings could be related to the absence of cultural, aesthetically oriented criteria in building sustainability rating systems.
Highlights
It can be hypothesized that the lack of aesthetic distinctiveness of certified sustainable buildings could be related to the absence of cultural, aesthetically oriented criteria in building sustainability rating systems
The research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the prevailing aesthetic trends and are the environmental ethical values expressed in the sustainable architecture of the Baltic Sea region?
The concept of sustainability as an ethical paradigm has evolved from its original definition as a human-centered approach to a holistic approach of human–environment co-creation
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Sustainability is currently recognized as the most important development trend in societies It is finding its way into almost all scientific disciplines and fields of practice, including construction and architecture. Contemporary legal frameworks in numerous countries and supranational entities, such as the European Union (EU), and even the global development paradigm dictate that some aspects of architectural sustainability are enforced by law. Regional peculiarities are undoubtedly relevant to sustainable architecture, including climatic and material aspects, aesthetic expression, and the links with the context of buildings. Considering the relevance of regionality, this research focuses on the ethics and aesthetics of sustainable architecture of the Baltic Sea region. The research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the prevailing aesthetic trends and are the environmental ethical values expressed in the sustainable architecture of the Baltic Sea region?
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