We are making our internal evidence compilation, *The Environmental Value of Architecture BOOK*, publicly available on our website.
~Aiming to Enhance True Environmental Value by Visualizing Qualitative Environmental Value~
PRESS RELEASE
2021.07.07
Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu) will begin publishing the internal technical information booklet *Environmental Value of Architecture BOOK*, which compiles evidence on various environmental values associated with buildings, in three installments on its website starting July 7.
The technologies adopted in environmentally conscious architecture offer a variety of environmental values. Traditionally, discussions have centered on reducing “environmental impact”—primarily negative impacts—and have focused on “narrowly defined” environmental values that are easily quantifiable, such as energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, water usage, waste volume, and resource consumption.On the other hand, “environmental quality”—which encompasses positive impacts such as comfort, convenience, and health—has not been widely discussed, as qualitative assessments have been the norm. Recently, however, attempts have been made to quantify these aspects, and as a result, it has become possible to view environmental value in a broader sense.Furthermore, numerous research papers have reported that reducing negative impacts leads to various benefits as positive impacts.
This book classifies and organizes this evidence from research papers both in Japan and abroad, summarizing the results in an easy-to-understand manner. Although it is formatted as an internal technical information booklet, we have decided to make it publicly available in the hope that it will be read by students specializing in architecture and anyone interested in the environmental value of buildings.
We hope this book will contribute to the creation of architecture with truly high environmental value and the building of a sustainable society.
The technologies adopted in environmentally conscious architecture offer a variety of environmental values. Traditionally, discussions have centered on reducing “environmental impact”—primarily negative impacts—and have focused on “narrowly defined” environmental values that are easily quantifiable, such as energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, water usage, waste volume, and resource consumption.On the other hand, “environmental quality”—which encompasses positive impacts such as comfort, convenience, and health—has not been widely discussed, as qualitative assessments have been the norm. Recently, however, attempts have been made to quantify these aspects, and as a result, it has become possible to view environmental value in a broader sense.Furthermore, numerous research papers have reported that reducing negative impacts leads to various benefits as positive impacts.
This book classifies and organizes this evidence from research papers both in Japan and abroad, summarizing the results in an easy-to-understand manner. Although it is formatted as an internal technical information booklet, we have decided to make it publicly available in the hope that it will be read by students specializing in architecture and anyone interested in the environmental value of buildings.
We hope this book will contribute to the creation of architecture with truly high environmental value and the building of a sustainable society.
Publication Title: The Environmental Value of Architecture BOOK
Publication Date: March 25, 2021 (Internal Release Date)
Author: Nikken Sekkei Engineering Department MEP Design Group
Format: A4, 76 pages
First Issue: July 7, 2021
Subsequent issues are scheduled to be distributed twice a month.
Publication Date: March 25, 2021 (Internal Release Date)
Author: Nikken Sekkei Engineering Department MEP Design Group
Format: A4, 76 pages
First Issue: July 7, 2021
Subsequent issues are scheduled to be distributed twice a month.
Focus of This Book: Environmental Value That Encompasses Both Negative and Positive Impacts
Until now, discussions regarding the evaluation of environmental architecture have centered on “negative impacts”—specifically, “environmental value” in the “narrow sense,” such as the reduction of “environmental burdens.” This book focuses on “environmental quality”—a concept that has not been discussed in the past because it could not be quantified—as a “positive impact,” and compiles evidence for quantitatively evaluating environmentally conscious architecture from the perspectives of both negative and positive impacts.
Structure of This Book
1. Environmental Value in Architecture
This section provides an overview of the classification of environmental value and the impact of architectural elements on environmental value.
2. Environmental Value by Architectural Element
This section organizes and explains the surveyed environmental values by architectural element.
3. Concepts for Buildings Designed to Maximize Environmental Value
This section summarizes the environmental building technologies expected to be most effective—and the corresponding environmental values—for buildings designed to enhance “Health,” “Productivity,” and “Resilience” within the classifications of environmental value.
4. Environmental Building Technologies and Environmental Values: Case Studies
This section introduces environmental architectural technologies that have been actually adopted in real-world examples of environmental architecture and are expected to enhance environmental value.
5. References
We have compiled the sources of the literature on environmental value introduced in Chapter 2.
* You are free to reuse the contents of this booklet, but please do so at your own risk.
*Please note that we do not produce printed copies of this booklet.
This section provides an overview of the classification of environmental value and the impact of architectural elements on environmental value.
2. Environmental Value by Architectural Element
This section organizes and explains the surveyed environmental values by architectural element.
3. Concepts for Buildings Designed to Maximize Environmental Value
This section summarizes the environmental building technologies expected to be most effective—and the corresponding environmental values—for buildings designed to enhance “Health,” “Productivity,” and “Resilience” within the classifications of environmental value.
4. Environmental Building Technologies and Environmental Values: Case Studies
This section introduces environmental architectural technologies that have been actually adopted in real-world examples of environmental architecture and are expected to enhance environmental value.
5. References
We have compiled the sources of the literature on environmental value introduced in Chapter 2.
* You are free to reuse the contents of this booklet, but please do so at your own risk.
*Please note that we do not produce printed copies of this booklet.
About Nikken Sekkei
Nikkens is a professional services firm engaged in architectural design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services.
Upholding our core philosophy of “contributing to society through valuable work,” we have been committed to creating a better social environment for 120 years since our founding in 1900, striving to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of our clients. To date, we have been involved in a wide range of projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years, we have expanded our operations to India, Russia, and Europe.
For inquiries regarding this matter
Nikken Sekkei, Public Relations Office Tel. 03-5226-3030 (Main) e-mail webmaster@nikken.jp
Upholding our core philosophy of “contributing to society through valuable work,” we have been committed to creating a better social environment for 120 years since our founding in 1900, striving to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of our clients. To date, we have been involved in a wide range of projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years, we have expanded our operations to India, Russia, and Europe.
For inquiries regarding this matter
Nikken Sekkei, Public Relations Office Tel. 03-5226-3030 (Main) e-mail webmaster@nikken.jp
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