| Vol. - No. | Vol.4 - No.2 |
|---|---|
| Date | Jun., 2015 |
| Title | The Environmental Impact of Tall vs Small: A Comparative Study |
| Author |
Christopher Drew, Katrina Fernandez Nova, and Keara Fanning |
| Institutions | Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 111 West Monroe Street, Suite 2300, Chicago, Illinois 60603, USA |
| Abstract |
The concept of vertical living has been hailed as a solution to control fast growth and urbanization of cities worldwide. As super tall residential projects become more common and sustainability considerations become more necessary, their efficiency has been called into question. How do vertical residential developments compare with suburban homes? What are the environmental advantages and disadvantages of vertical communities? Is there a middle ground? We present the results from an AS+GG study that compares the environmental performance of different housing typologies ranging from a 215 supertall building to single family residences, including several scales in between. Our samples comprise 2,000 residential units per type and include the infrastructure needed to support them. We analyzed land use, energy use, and lifecycle carbon emissions for each typology. The results show that different typologies perform better depending on the parameter being assessed. We discuss these findings; assess overall performance, and present conclusions. |
| Keyword | Supertall, Energy, Land, Urban sprawl, lifecycle carbon |
| PP. | PP.109~116 |
| Paper File |
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