The new book explores “socially sustainable” architecture

Alexandra Staub, author and professor of architecture, author and professor of architecture in Pennsylvania’s Stackman School of Arts and Architecture, looks at ways architects can help better services towards society by changing the approach to the architecture process in her latest book, entitled Architecture and Social Sustainability: An Understanding a New Paradigm.

The book, published by Routledge, provides an example of “how better design for stakeholder agencies can serve historically marginalized groups,” according to the book’s summary.

As Staub argues, sustainability is usually presented as having three elements: ecological, economic and social. Architects often talk about ecological sustainability, such as designing energy-efficient buildings and using materials that do not harm the planet. Social sustainability in the context of the constructed environment is less discussed and is poorly defined.

“We’ve been working hard to get the most out of our business,” said Staub, an affiliate researcher at the Rock Ethics Institute in Pennsylvania and an affiliate researcher at Hamer Center for Community Design.

The first section of the book traces the history of how architecture and urban design became exclusive and identifies theoretical and practical tools that can be used to draw more stakeholders into the construction process.

Part 2 of the book offers nine case studies from the US, Brazil, Nigeria, the UK, Germany, Sweden and India, showing examples of socially sustainable design on various scales.

This book is open access and can be viewed and downloaded from the Routledge website.

“It was important to me that publications were easy to obtain. [their] The ability to pay,” Stubb said.

Architecture and Social Sustainability: An Understanding a New Paradigm is about students, professionals, educators, and those interested in how the built environment is shaped, and what can be done to make that process more sustainable.