Ecominimalism: The Antidote to Eco-bling - Softcover

Eco-minimalism: the antidote to eco-bling reminds us that to build energy-efficient, ecologically benign and sustainable buildings is complex, comprising a set of interdependent factors influenced by little-understood science. The headline technologies, while legitimate in isolation, become less obvious in practice when context, building use, local climate, geology, economics, and many other influences come into play. The danger is that buildings are ‘greenwashed’ with eco-bling which is at best unnecessary and at worst counter productive and ecologically damaging.

This book exposes the pitfalls of such greenwashing in an immediate, visually-arresting and authoritative way. The quickfire format is based on 30 years of practical experience. Its central message is that eco-bling should be ditched in favour of ‘eco-minimalism’ – the holistic, considered and appropriate deployment of building science in support of truly ecological, affordable sustainable architecture for everyone.

The book is based on original experience and research from an architect at the vanguard of ‘green’ architecture. A critique of the technical fix approach is counterbalanced with the good housekeeping and frequently counter-intuitive eco-minimal alternative aimed at aspirant green architects, other construction professionals, developers, and owners for projects at all scales.A concluding chapter examines costs, demonstrating that eco-minimalism represents not just good green value for money but, quite simply, good value for money.

Howard Liddell is Director of Gaia Architects and a founding partner of Gaia Planning. His distinguished career has included chairing the RIBA’s environment group, while he holds the first and currently only A* award in sustainable design for his innovative application of sustainable development principles in the built environment.