IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i12p5053-d1414362.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards Sustainable Education by Design: Evaluating Pro-Ecological Architectural Solutions in Centers for Environmental Education

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Bradecki

    (Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Barbara Uherek-Bradecka

    (Faculty of Architecture, Civil Construction and Applied Arts, Academy of Silesia, 40-555 Katowice, Poland)

  • Anna Tofiluk

    (Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warszawa, Poland)

  • Michael Laar

    (Faculty of European Campus Rottal-Inn, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, 94469 Deggendorf, Germany)

  • Jonathan Natanian

    (Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel)

Abstract

The imperative shift towards ecological consciousness in architectural design, driven by the pressing need to mitigate energy consumption and carbon emissions while fostering user well-being, has propelled the discourse on sustainable architecture to the forefront of contemporary dialogue. Concepts such as ecological architecture, sustainable, green, and regenerative design have emerged as pivotal frameworks aimed at aligning architectural practices with environmental imperatives. In this evolving architectural landscape, the centers for ecological education (CEEs) play an important role, embodying the intersection of architecture and ecological education. These centers, with their diverse educational initiatives, provide dedicated spaces for comprehensive ecological education. However, a gap exists in the literature regarding studies focusing on CEEs and the evaluation criteria for such facilities. This article seeks to bridge this gap by evaluating buildings designated for ecological education, aiming to present ecological content while exemplifying sustainable architectural principles. The study employs a research by design approach, combining a literature review with site investigations and qualitative assessments to elucidate the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in designing CEEs. Criteria for assessing the ecological quality of buildings are formulated. Through a comparative analysis, the article identifies key parameters for evaluating CEEs, considering their dual function as educational spaces and architectural exemplars. The evaluation framework developed in this study provides a valuable tool for architects, designers, and policymakers seeking to promote ecological education and sustainable architectural practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Bradecki & Barbara Uherek-Bradecka & Anna Tofiluk & Michael Laar & Jonathan Natanian, 2024. "Towards Sustainable Education by Design: Evaluating Pro-Ecological Architectural Solutions in Centers for Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5053-:d:1414362
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5053/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5053/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Manshu Huang & Yinying Tao & Shunian Qiu & Yiming Chang, 2023. "Healthy Community Assessment Model Based on the German DGNB System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Małgorzata Hanzl & Anna Tofiluk & Kinga Zinowiec-Cieplik & Magdalena Grochulska-Salak & Anna Nowak, 2021. "The Role of Vegetation in Climate Adaptability: Case Studies of Lodz and Warsaw," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 9-24.
    3. Agnieszka Starzyk & Kinga Rybak-Niedziółka & Przemysław Łacek & Łukasz Mazur & Anna Stefańska & Małgorzata Kurcjusz & Aleksandra Nowysz, 2023. "Environmental and Architectural Solutions in the Problem of Waste Incineration Plants in Poland: A Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bianca Gasparetto Rebelatto & Amanda Lange Salvia & Luciana Londero Brandli & Walter Leal Filho, 2024. "Examining Energy Efficiency Practices in Office Buildings through the Lens of LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB Certifications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Zheng Zhao & Ziyu Zhou & Ye Lu & Zhuoge Li & Qiang Wei & Hongbin Xu, 2023. "Predictions of the Key Operating Parameters in Waste Incineration Using Big Data and a Multiverse Optimizer Deep Learning Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Petr Kupec & Jana Marková & Petr Pelikán & Martina Brychtová & Sabina Autratová & Jitka Fialová, 2022. "Urban Parks Hydrological Regime in the Context of Climate Change—A Case Study of Štěpánka Forest Park (Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Jeremy Carter & S.M. Labib & Ian Mell, 2024. "Understanding and Assessing Climate Change Risk to Green Infrastructure: Experiences from Greater Manchester (UK)," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-22, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5053-:d:1414362. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.