5 ways architecture is fighting climate change The cities of the future will be almost entirely green

Hong Kong architecture firm Ronald Lu & Partners is one of the most important hubs dedicated to sustainability in urban planning and architecture - and because of this commitment, it has produced a paper that discusses the main innovations that already exist in the world today and could revolutionize the world of urban planning in the future. The idea behind these five ways to make architecture more sustainable is to take advantage of technical knowledge and material research to make buildings increasingly integrated with the surrounding natural environment, creating a man-made ecosystem in which humans and nature can be one. 

Here are the 5 ways architecture is fighting climate change.

1. Biophilic Design

Biophilic design is a central concept in the philosophy of sustainable architecture and describes the link between buildings and the ecosystem that surrounds them through their relationship with the natural environment. This type of design is essential when it comes to high-density urban areas since this type of design promotes city cooling, rainwater reduction, and particulate air filtration. Ronald Lu & Partners has applied this concept in its Treehouse project - an eco-conscious integrated system that seamlessly connects interior to exterior, man to nature. It is a zero-impact workplace focused on worker well-being with walls covered in greenery, water features and nature-themed materials and furnishings. 

2. The biodiversity issue 

Urban water management strategies are an increasingly critical issue in a world that is already headed for drought. The solution proposed by sustainable urbanism is to make these strategies similar to natural soil processes - this type of concept has been called Sponge City. Through this technique, surface runoff of rainwater is first absorbed, then naturally filtered by the soil. The infiltration of runoff allows aquifers to replenish themselves and water bodies to regenerate by eliminating malodorous water sources and restoring natural habitats.