Abstract:
Mankind is being continuously challenged by an increasing level of environmental, cultural and economic crises. Unfortunately the majority of interventions are westernized responses, formed within the framework of capitalist business models. In turn, these materialistic attitudes have resulted in the prevailing architectural ethos of the 20th century as one of mechanization and ubiquity which drives excess and conformity whilst overlooking the virtues and integrity of sustainable design. If we are to ensure the longevity of modern society, architectural responses to the current global climate must be realigned to integrate humanitarian values and provide an alternative direction for future design. This thesis addresses a conceptual shift in architectural thinking which is displayed in the typology of the airport. The airport's unpredictable nature and constant evolution offers the potential to revolutionize current unsustainable practices. The designs will be derived from a response to environmental concerns and cultural sensitivity, rather than having a sole focus on economic viability. It will challenge the current preconceptions and contradictory nature of contemporary 'sustainable' architecture by returning to the fundamental drivers that encompass environmental, economic and social dimensions and ensure the long term endurance of natural resources. These ideas will be demonstrated on three different sites located in three different continents, climate zones, societies and stages of development. Each design will encompass local conditions - geographic, social, political and environmental as well as the metaphysical legacy of the place - spiritual and historical. This process will determine a new architectural linkage between place and meaning and will transcend stagnant solutions, creating a refined architecture with evolutionary potential and new understanding of sustainability that goes beyond a single life cycle. The creation of an alternative design approach that is derived from the region and responds to local conditions provides logic which can be adapted into other built contexts. This adaptable, generic typology mediates between the typically static built environment and ever-changing nature of society and the natural environment, resulting in an architecture that is functional, enduring and responsive to the global climate.