Introduction
Over the past few decades, the decrease of ecological state and the level of pollution forced the global society to revise the conception of modern construction. This essay investigates the current sustainable high-rise building worldwide, its purpose is to compare skyscrapers with green high-rise buildings, investigates the main parameters of sustainable modern construction, and provides examples from different parts of the world.
Background
This work focuses on the modern construction of high-rise buildings according to the principles of sustainability. This term is defined as “balancing a growing economy, protection for the environment, and social responsibility, so they together lead to an improved quality of life for ourselves and future generations” (Jin, Zhang, Zuo & Lindsay, 2013, p. 34). A high level of pollution, global energy consumption, substantial population growth, and intensive urban development in the context of limited space resulted in the necessity of the new approach to urban construction (Hong, Deng, Ezeh & Peng, 2019). This subject should be studied as the concept of sustainable building is highly essential supported by the majority of developed and developing countries that care about the current population and future generations (Neyestani, 2017). This research may be regarded as an introduction review that identifies sustainable construction, describes its parameters and the main difference from skyscrapers’ building, and provide examples of green high-rise buildings in different regions with a particularly hot and humid climate.
Skyscrapers and Sustainable High-Rise Building
Skyscrapers are not a new type of construction, people were familiar with these buildings several centuries ago. Shibam, a desert city found in the territory of Yemen, has buildings “up to fourteen stories in height” made from mud bricks (El-Shorbagy, 2009, p. 2). Modern skyscrapers built upward solve the problem of a lack of space, however, they are not ecologically friendly (Elotefy, Abdelmagid, Morghany & Ahmed, 2015). As the indoor atmosphere is cut from the outdoor environment and created artificially to achieve appropriate human comfort, skyscrapers may be regarded as huge engines that release substantial amounts of carbon dioxide (El-Shorbagy, 2009). With the construction of skyscrapers, Dubai was considered as “the largest polluter in UAE” and “an example of an unsustainable city” (as cited by Jin et al., 2013, p. 33). Skyscrapers do not meet the modern requirements of ecological safety anymore (Abdellatif & Al-Shamma’a, 2015). On the contrary, modern green high-rise buildings satisfy all demands of reasonable energy consumption, safety, and the accessibility of facilities in various climatic conditions (Wan, Chan & Cheng, 2012). Sustainable construction is environmentally responsible, and it combines the community’s comfort with economic development.
Parameters of Sustainable Green High-Rise Building
The reasonable and perspective strategy of green high-rise buildings requires specific principles. In general, in developed countries, such construction is certified according to the standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design which require environmental safety, reasonable site planning, and the efficiency of resources (Alnaser, 2008). The sustainable high-rise building is conducted by several parameters of modern urban development – the decrease of energy consumption and transportation energy usage and the accessibility of green courtyards and parks (Darwish, 2014). The parameters include the use of innovative materials, and the maintenance of comfort zones for living and public interaction as well (El-Shorbagy, 2009). In a hot climate, the sustainable building should “modify extremes of air temperature and protect the inhabitants from solar radiation” (Sharma, 2016, p. 135). These main principles are currently applied in the majority of regions and climate zones.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country that started to realize the importance of reasonable city development and, with the support from the government, educational institutions, and other non-governmental organizations, it started the elaboration of sustainable building. It is using innovative technologies to address both the current population’s demands and the needs of future generations. Troika, an exclusive residence, was built on the territory of Kuala Lumpur City Centre, it includes three residential towers, office units, boutiques, and restaurants (Sayigh, 2017). It meets all modern standards of sustainability, efficiency, and attractiveness of urban living through the balance between nature and urban construction.
The main difference of this residence from previous constructions lays in the elaborated position and layout of buildings that provide comfortable living in a hot, humid climate (Sayigh, 2017). The solar orientation, glass walls, and “the twisting geometry of the towers” provide enough daylighting, regulate heat, and protect from excessive solar radiation (Sayigh, 2017, p. 21). The open courtyard area creates its own microclimate, with winds and shade “naturally filtering the outdoor polluted air affected by the traffic” (Sayigh, 2017, p. 21). The extended green helps to decrease tropical humidity and heat waves naturally as well.
Dubai
In recent years, Dubai has postponed the beneficial practice of meeting the demands of wealthy investors. In 2007, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, introduced the Dubai Strategic Plan (Jin et al., 2013). It currently aims to develop Dubai’s economic sectors to create its vision as a safe, sustainable, and attractive area, and the plan includes green building development as well (Asif, 2016). It focuses on the construction of mixed-use buildings to decrease the transportation energy use and balance energy efficiency due to the symbiosis of commercial and residential areas.
The most influential examples of Dubai’s sustainable green building are mixed-use towers, the Burj Dubai, Dynamic, and Nakheel Towers. The Burj Dubai, the highest building in the world at present, includes residential and commercial areas, offices, and a hotel. The concentration of important units in one place promotes the reasonable energy consumption that is spread within 24 hours as offices demand energy during the daytime and the hotel’s energy usage is highly substantial at night (Jin et al., 2013). After the Burj Dubai, the Nakheel Tower will be the next tallest building worldwide when it will be completed. It will consist of not only offices, shops, apartments, and a hotel but “an experience centre and observation facilities along with a special sky function space” as well (Jin et al., 2013, p. 37). Besides reasonable energy consumption, The Nakheel Tower will support one more principle of sustainable green building – the comfort zone for visitors, as sky function space and bridges promote community interaction.
Other Regions
Various countries all over the world are currently included in sustainable building development to provide the comfort zone for the community, reduce energy consumption and maintain the balance of nature and urban environment (Navaei, 2015). For, instance, Guinea-Bissau and Southern Angola focus on natural ventilation and innovative materials to control and dissipate heat (Guedes, Cantuária, Borges, Pereira, Aleixo & Alves, 2013). Salford Quays in Manchester, England, is a combination of residential buildings, courtyards, and public facilities that provides public integration, accessibility, and high functionality (Kalcheva, Taki & Hadi, 2016). The majority of countries consider climate conditions during the construction of sustainable buildings as well.
Conclusion
The global community currently started to realize the importance of reasonable city development. The construction of sustainable green high-rise buildings that do not pollute the environment, decrease energy consumption and provide the balance of nature with the urban environment for comfortable living, is highly essential at the present time. Such buildings may actually be found in Malaysia, Dubai, African countries, and other regions.
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