Author(s)

A. Sharma

Abstract

Sustainable design is a phrase commonly used in the realms of design practice and yet the definition of the same remains quite fuzzy, thus providing the motivation for this research. The paper looks at contemporary sustainable design practices in the area of architecture design, building construction and landscape architecture. The objective is to understand what the term \“sustainable design” really means as used in practice and what strategies are being employed towards the goal of sustainable development. The practices are assessed for their empathies as per the currently defined social, ecological, economical well-being goals of sustainable development. The paper concludes that out of the conventional triad of social, economic and ecological well-being, the socioecological well-being is emerging as the prevalent trend among the contemporary sustainable design practice. The trend needs to be continuously refined in this direction through intelligent employment of social and economic capital. Keywords: sustainable design, sustainable development, eco-architecture, urban design, landscape. 1 The concept of sustainable development As currently being advocated, \“sustainable development means that the needs of the present generation should be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]. This understanding of sustainable development is a progressive refinement of the concept outlaid in the Brundtland commission report in 1987 and then at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio declaration was based on the premise that the development and environment issues are mutually

Keywords

sustainable design, sustainable development, eco-architecture, urban design, landscape