Significance of meaningful built environments in sustainable development with special reference to ayurveda-eco tourism in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Scarcity and the rapid decline of earth’s natural resources is an outstanding global issue in the present context. Construction industry is highly responsible for utilising these resources at large. Therefore Eco-friendly Sustainable approach has become a key consideration and a current trend in present day Construction sector. In this arena, the words Green, Sustainable, Eco-friendly, Environmental, energy efficiency, Carbon-zero, Climate responsive and so on are interchangeable. All in all, the ultimate motive is to raise the living condition of our lives and protect the earth for today and tomorrow. In uplifting the living condition, physical aspects as well as psychological aspects often play significant roles. At present, professionals involved in construction sector are very much concerned about physical sustainability achieved through green technology and often tends to ignore psychological sustainability that could be achieved through conceptual or meaningful architectural approach. Therefore, this paper focuses on the Architects approach to sustainable development through creating meaningful built environments. This is approached by relating architectural theories such as Psychology of Sustainability, Sensual Architecture and Conceptual Architectural theories to selected case studies. The selected case studies would focus on the current development projects in Sri Lanka, related to Ayurveda-Eco Tourism.