WORLD
DAY OF ARCHITECTURE
Media Release: Embargoed until 01 October 2007.
Statement by Hassan Asmal, President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
World Day of Architecture will be celebrated on 1 October 2007 (first Monday in October) along with the United Nations World Habitat Day.
The International Union of Architects (UIA) has chosen the theme “Transmitting zero Co2 emission architecture”. The UIA “aims to demonstrate architects’ ability to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions through ecological design, construction and maintenance of buildings and cities”. In a statement on its website, it notes that “no less than 50% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the construction and transport sectors. To remedy this, the mobilisation of the world’s architects is crucial. It is their responsibility to pass on to future generations a built inheritance and urban environments that do not irremediably compromise our planet's future and its climate”.
On this day the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) formally launches its Habitat Charter in which it commits its members to striving for sustainability in all their projects (to view the Charter go to www.saia.org.za). In doing so, we also call upon all design professionals as well as others involved in the built environment sector to commit themselves to the implementation of sustainable practices in all their projects (old and new).
SAIA through its participation in the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) wishes to bring to your attention, the availability of the document ‘An Architects guide to designing for sustainability’ which was prepared for the CAA by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa.
SAIA has also agreed to co-ordinate the Sustainability Committee for Region 5 (Africa) of the UIA and looks forward to making this a powerful voice in the promotion of sustainability in the built environment.
The launch of the Green Building Council (an initiative of SAPOA that also has a representative of SAIA on its Board) is a welcome addition to the various resources that are available to practitioners as well as owners, developers etc to implement and/or measure their effectiveness with regard to attaining sustainable goals in their projects.
The perception in these parts of the world that sustainable or “green architecture” (as it is more popularly known) is a fringe activity concerned with mud bricks, gum poles, straw bales etc. needs to come to an end; SUSTAINABILITY needs to become very much a part of the main stream of activity in the built environment and in doing so, we need to embrace the latest technological developments as well as build on the lessons from more basic technological and tried and tested methods such as mud and straw bale construction.
Given the challenges of global warming, predicted energy demands and shortage of essential commodities such as water, SAIA appeals to all South Africans to embrace the notion of sustainability in the built environment so that together we can create an environment that is beneficial for ourselves as well as for future generations.
For more information, Please contact the Executive Officer, Mrs Su Linning or the Coordinator of Promotions & Communication, Mr Solam Mkhabela.
SAIA Secretariat:
T: 011 782 1315 F: 011 782 8775
e-mail: admin@saia.org.za
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