Abstract:
Environmental sciences and technologies have been integral parts of architectural education for
decades. However, environmental concerns seem to be of secondary importance in the practice
of architecture in general and construction practices in particular. Building sector accounts for
one-sixth of global fresh water consumption, one-quarter of global timer consumption and two-
/
fifth of global energy consumption on one side and almost one quarter of green house gas
emissions on the other. The building industry also generates waste on a scale that dwarf the
industrial sector. Recognizing the environmental impacts of the building sector there are calls for
greener buildings and construction practices. Several rating mechanisms and certification
authorities have emerged in developed countries (e.g., Green Star, BREEM, LEED, CASBEE) to
recognize, award and promote green buildings. Regulatory and incentives mechanism are also
promoted by the state sector to gradually transform the building stocks from ordinary buildings
to green buildings. Although such mechanisms are emerging in some developing countries like Sri
Lanka and Thailand, the very limited number of certified green buildings existing in these
countries indicates that green building practices are not the norms in the contemporary practice
of architecture in these countries. Studies show that lack of awareness of consumers (users), lack
of influence by the authorities (state), lack of understanding Vo f costs and benefits by the clients,
lack of knowledge of building professionals, are prominent among the barriers to mainstream
sustainable construction practices. All these barriers have some connotations to architectural
education. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to discuss the paradigm shifty needed in
architectural education to serve the state, society, business and profession in future. The paper is
based on an empirical research conducted at 50+ architecture firms in Bangkok wit^the aim of
identifying drivers and barriers of sustainable construction practices and knowledge management
needs.
