Forest planning and architectural design; developing a common sustainable practices monitoring and reporting method

Abstract

Forest provide us with oxygen and purify the air we breathe. They filter water and are our greatest ally when it comes to tackle climate change. In recent years, they have become highly important to help our society to leave a Fossil Economy for a fossil-free alternative. This transition comes with a high and increasing demand on wood products. Forests are under heavy pressure. A new fossil-free economy has to be fully aligned with our environment's natural dynamics. Interdisciplinary investigations and active engagement of all stakeholders are needed for the definition of shared international sustainable forest policies. This research has explored theoretical and practical knowledge, tools and methods. The outcome of this project has been developed using research for design method as well as research by design. It has resulted from discussions with architects, builders, forest engineers and researchers. This knowledge have been collected during field studies, in parallel with landscape analysis and mapping. In the meantime, concrete experimentations and practical evaluations have been conducted at the author´s farm. First, the result of this project has been the writing of a proposal for a common sustainable practices, monitoring and reporting system in architectural design and forest planning. This proposal has been designed as a method shared by the forestry and construction industries to better measure, evaluate and adjust their activities for better sustainability, throughout the processes that involves the architectural project. Second, the method has been tested as part of an architectural project, allowing for deeper investigations on new architectural design and forestry practices. Finally, this project sought for first answers and has intended to open discussions on architects´ responsibilities in latest European forest policies.