ACCESSIBLE SUSTAINABILITY FOR LATVIA
Master thesis in Sustainable Architecture (MSSUSARC)
Authors:
Florian Betat, Marija Katrīna Dambe
Supervisor:
Pasi Aalto (Department of Architecture and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Co-supervisor:
Tommy Kleiven (Department of Architecture and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
NTNU
Department of Architecture and Technology
Date:
01.06.2019
ABSTRACT
As a result of global warming and environmental pollution already a serious impact for man and nature can be observed. Yet, these impacts will grow much worse if the way one lives does not change swiftly. This thesis has been written as a response to the urgency of climate change prevention and environmental pollution reduction. While the need to act in both of the fields is large, the matters of ‘how’ are one of the main questions. Over the last years, multiple policies and legislations have been developed that guide, limit and restrict actions in the most influential sectors. Yet, further limitations are to expect in near future. Since the building sector has a very high environmental impact and is thus strongly affected by legal matters, possible future challenges in countries with low income such as Latvia will be expected. This fact was strongly motivating to identify strategies on how residential building in rural Latvia can stay affordable while increasing its sustainability, thus, reducing the potential financial burden and making a sustainable development accessible for everyone.
The presented thesis approaches the topic in five chapters in five different ways. Such an approach allows to identify methods and benefits in multiple layers. Firstly, the thesis starts by explaining the urgency of building sustainable and the challenges that come along with that. Subsequently, in-depth research in the second chapter helps to develop a wider knowledge and understanding of the context. In addition, it highlights key factors on the topics that will help to preserve cultural values and increase sustainability as well as various other benefits.
The gained knowledge and the key factors are used in chapter three for the development of guidelines for a residential building in Latvia. Ideally, these can be used by other planners as a draft for further building developments. In chapter four, the guidelines are tested on a possible construction system. This developed system should be seen to represent one of many ways to enable sustainable and affordable building in Latvia.
Lastly, the work is tested and illustrated in chapter five with the help of a scenario based planning. Such approach allows to test the developed work to the cultural setting, the building’s lifetime and the functionality of the developed construction system. Additionally, the playful manner used in this illustration should enable the reader to visualize the vision the authors of this work have in mind.
Taken together, with this thesis it was possible to identify the many advantages that can be taken from sustainable building for one’s own benefit. Furthermore, it was possible to show that choosing environmentally friendly solutions can go along with cost reduction in short and long term. Intriguingly, the results indicate how great levels of sustainability can be achieved even in countries with reduced income if the relevant knowledge and the know-how is communicated to the general public.
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