Sustainable built environment design: some lessons from the past

Abstract

This paper seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits of reflecting on the past with a view to identifying how we might improve in the future. A number of lessons from the past are highlighted. These have been drawn from the author’s experiences as a professionally qualified civil and structural engineer gained from the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair and strengthening of built environment infrastructure during a period of just over 35 years. Ten main lessons have been identified from a brief review of vernacular construction; other industries; feedback from asset managers; the author’s site experience; strength assessment, repair and strengthening work; multi-disciplinary design challenges; feedback from construction and maintenance specialists and the author’s interaction with various client organisations. The challenge we face as construction professionals is to ensure that these lessons are not forgotten and that appropriate action is taken to improve the service we provide to our clients and to Society, in general.