Durability
Seems like an obvious goal in the design and construction of buildings. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it is. Think about this....in this country, for the vast majority of residential construction we use a cheap, disposable material for the roof - asphalt shingles. We are happy if it lasts 25 years. Then, when its “all used up”, tear it off, throw it away and install asphalt shingles AGAIN! Over 300 square miles of asphalt composition roofing goes into landfills every year. Doesn’t sound very durable (or sustainable) to me. But, hey, it’s cheap!
So, you might be asking, “Why this topic?” Recently, I spent almost two weeks in Italy visiting my daughter. While there, I was on the lookout for a potential Green Column topic. Seemed like a good idea knowing that I must write this upon my return to the real world. And, I was hoping to come across some progressive topic with that always cool Italian style!
During a trip to the Campania region in south central Italy, I saw and visited many VERY OLD buildings. Churches, cathedrals, chapels, monasteries, cloisters, palazzos....many were at least 500 years old. And, for the most part, well cared for buildings. The basic building material? Stone. Lots of it! Stone buildings. Stone bridges. Stone sidewalks. Stone streets! Also, a fair amount of brick, terra cotta, stucco - all long-lasting, durable materials. Roof? Mostly long-lasting clay roof tiles. NO asphalt roof shingles.
Obviously, we are not likely to employ the extensive use of stone and masonry construction methodology to improve durability in our buildings. But, the lessons of durable building construction can be translated to the realities of today. The development community and the environmental community should agree - buildings that last a long time are desirable.
Like many things, easier said than done. For the most part, our building industry is driven by initial cost (how little will it cost to build?). As architects, our clients want us to deliver more for less. So, how do we do it? How do we design and construct more durable buildings without increasing cost? The latest in building science tells us to design for the control of water - rain, surfacewater, groundwater, interior moisture, atmospheric/exterior moisture, services (plumbing), construction moisture and ice damming. This idea of water control is not so new. It’s why those old buildings in Italy have lasted so long.
Can we design more durable buildings without increasing the cost? I don’t think so. Since water damage control is critical to durability, it must be elevated to being a REQUIREMENT for building design. No exceptions. Yes, in most cases (if not all?) it will increase initial cost. We need to translate the additional cost of a durable building into the Return On Investment (ROI) of a durable building!
I know, not easy, but increasing the durability of building constructions is low-hanging fruit. And, if those old buildings in Italy are any indication, somewhat timeless.
