Defining A Healthy Landscape - GGO Architects & Their Eco Design Process
At GGO Architects, we believe that designing a great building takes defining the surrounding environments’ needs and systems to support the occupants’ optimal health. We believe that good design is responsible design, drawing something that is meant to be a legacy. Our process is broken up into several parts:
Environmental Effectiveness / Responsibility : We always start with a sense of place: what is the surrounding environment like? What are its challenges and where can design and construction build solutions? We make sure that we are creating something as close to net zero as possible, to ensure the longevity of the environment and that the local culture and history is being acknowledged.
Durability - Design doesn't matter if it doesn't last. Pairing environmental patterns to projecting climate change shifts, architecture takes into account materials and the complex work it takes to construct. We work thoroughly with our engineer and construction teams to ensure minimal waste (which both lessens environmental impact and overall construction cost) and detailed building.
Biophilia - Native flora and fauna are vital for a healthy community. Our landscape design celebrates biodiversity and its necessity for a thriving and sustainable ecosystem. Native landscaping further supports a decrease in utilities (thanks to plants like drought-resistant yucca in the desert states) and lessens the need for consistent maintenance.
Wellness - It's proven that people need natural light & fresh air. With over 70% of our time spent inside, it is becoming increasingly imperative that buildings are designed with wellness in mind. Focusing on window placement to support passive energy to decide on what HVAC system will supply the greatest amount of fresh air and leading filtration system, wellness becomes a leading value in every decision we make.
Energy Optimization - We always aim to pursue Passive Energy Design in every building to reduce the holistic energy demand of every building-- we call it Passive Survivability. By integrating the influence of the regional environment along with optimizing the thermal efficiency of the envelope into the design process, the total energy demand is reduced to a level where the amount of power that needs to be generated by the PV system becomes increasingly affordable.
Aesthetics of Good Design - The spaces we occupy have the opportunity to encourage creativity in daily life - we believe good design has this effect. We focus on bringing a space to life through light, color and playful lines, encouraging those who interact with our work to be as curious as we are.
Benefits of high performance buildings: Many overestimate the benefits of high performance buildings. Commercial properties have the opportunity to save over 60% in their monthly utilities by integrating LEED design principles, while studies have proven the positive emotional and physical effects on those who work or live within buildings that have standards matching those of or received WELL Certification. Beyond the immediate users of the space, high performance buildings have a ripple effect across their communities -- with energy needs so little, urban centers that boast copious amounts of green buildings host a lower heat index while supporting low energy draws from municipal power plants.
