Briefing: Strategies for designing a green built environment

The case for protecting the environment has been centre stage in the public consciousness for some years now. The question for designers of the built environment – engineers, architects and masterplanners – is how it can be done. An environmental focus in design is now mainstream; eco-engineering and green rating systems are now part of everyday design practice. ‘Green design’, however, should do more and should aim to integrate all human interventions in the environment in a seamless and benign way. This paper proposes five strategies towards this end.