THE IMPACT
Many of the architectural innovations have had impacts on society and the environment. The impact of architecture and its innovation has is very significant. Every day there are new buildings being produced and these are having impacts society and the environment.
Positive effects on society:
- Innovations that are environmentally friendly such as solar panels are a viable option for people to choose for their energy source. These innovations have persuaded people to be more eco-friendly when using energy or simply even turning on a heater.
- Lower costs (when using sustainable energy)
- Use sustainable energy
- Saving structures from falling apart (self healing concrete – cracks can lead to this)
- Less costs in maintenance (self –healing concrete)
Negative effects on society:
- Cost of materials can be expensive
- Jobs (people who work in the traditional coal mine industries and might have to switch or change jobs)
- Older buildings cannot always be retro-fitted with the new innovations e.g. sweating roof could not be put in to an already existing roof structure
Positive effects on environment:
- Sustainable use of raw materials e.g. cross laminated timber
- Using less energy e.g. sweating roof technology means less need for air-conditioning, which uses lots of energy.
- Using solar panels means clean energy is produced instead of carbon producing energy (e.g. coal)
Negative effects on environment:
- Materials used to make some innovations (e.g. polymer production used in aerogel insulation) can produce unwanted by products
- Cutting down trees e.g. cross-laminated timber (even plantation timber can effect the environment because when the trees are cut down the soil loses it nutrients and can effect further growth of natural plant life)
The impact of architectural innovations in my life:
The holiday house that my family and me go to every year is fully powered by solar and wind energy. This has given me an awareness of how much carbon is produced (educational) and has helped me, and my family to think more about our carbon footprint. Some new houses are designed so that they are passive solar houses (keep cool in summer and warm in winter) – the holiday house that I stay at on South Stradbroke Island has been designed to be passive solar. This allows me to go into a beautiful environment and be comfortable (keep warm or cool) in it. Overall architecture has a significant impact on my life. It is everywhere in the built environment (education, housing, commercial architecture, theaters, churches, historical structures etc.) and it is always changing and developing. It plays a big part in everyone’s life.
Architecture 