Concrete Plans: Architecture's Sustainable Future

Sustainability Editor Bea Jovele, LVI, examines how sustainable construction methods could help reduce environmental damage and reshape the future of the built environment.

Beatrice Jovele

Sustainability Editor, 2026

Photography by Ruby Hellier

Art Director, 2026

Have you ever thought about sustainable construction?

It’s a form of building which uses renewable energy and recyclable materials, while also focusing on being energy efficient. As you have probably heard, the combustion of fossil fuels has a major impact on the environment so by using fewer fossil fuels, the environment will benefit.

It’s clear that the construction materials that were commonly used in the past have had their effects on the environment- It is vital therefore to discuss and compare different sustainable building practices. Construction continues to damage the environment due to the traditional materials which are still being used. To slow down the rate of global warming, which is a goal that almost everyone wants to achieve, sustainable construction should be put in place.

It is essential to raise awareness about the issue because it will lead to more people understanding the immense positive impact renewable energy and other sustainable methods can have. Embodied ecological impacts come with many materials. If you didn’t know, embodied ecological impacts are the effects on ecosystems when resources for the built environment are extracted or manufactured. When collecting resources, the embodied ecological impacts can be very harmful and can affect habitats, soil, water and many other parts of the natural environment.

Cement is probably what comes to mind when you think about things like pavements. However, did you know it can lead to destruction of habitats, sedimentation and erosion due to the large machinery needed to extract the limestone?

For example, in the Amazon rainforest, an area filled with many different animals and habitats, there is the largest open pit iron mine, the ‘Serra Norte complex’. A large embodied ecological impact is that it causes a lack of water in places which are already struggling. This is because there is a high demand for fresh water in mines causing the local areas to have a ‘depleting water supply’.

Modular Construction

So, what are these sustainable construction methods?

Modular construction is where buildings are made of repeated and standardised sections, known as modules. In a 2021 report, Savills says that ‘10% of new homes being built involve modular construction methods’.

The modules are rarely constructed on site meaning they will have to be transported to the final destination. Factories that specialise in modular construction are usually environments which have a bit more control than on- site construction. This means the quality is high and everyone knows what they need to be doing and which material needs to be used, reducing waste overall.

Is it worth using this building method rather than the traditional way of building?

A major environmental benefit is that less waste will end up in landfills, which contributes to the amount of fossil fuels released into the atmosphere. As the materials and modules are higher in quality, there is a potential for reuse.

The manufacturers take recycling into consideration during the building process. Modular projects can be completed 30-50% faster than other traditional building method. This is because the pieces are standardised and repeated, meaning the builders and manufacturers do not need to think about new designs every time they make something. Sadly, the opportunity for variety in modular construction is very limited. As the designs are repeated, it is difficult to create an interesting architectural building.

This may be disappointing for an architect or the client who may have wanted something more creative and less common. There is also a downside to having the modules built off-site as the transportation to the building site could be costly. This adds an extra cost and adds pollution because fossil fuels will need to be used for the vehicles.

Lean Construction:

Another sustainable method is lean construction - which is used to minimise waste and maximise value.

There are four main principles when it comes to lean construction, which include, ‘highlight the process’, ‘plan, don’t react’, ‘establish structures’ and ‘minimise waste’, this helps streamline the method and helps everyone understand the aims of lean construction. There is increased efficiency when using lean construction.

By minimising waste there is less excess material which may need be cut and treated. The four principles of lean construction indicate that there would be a controlled environment where everyone knows their role, helping to keep the workspace much safer.

During the construction process, less time is spent working on materials as there is a bigger focus on using only required materials and not creating waste. Builders will therefore work fewer hours, reducing the amount they are paid and less money will be spent on materials, However, there is an issue of mindset.

This is because many people do not like the idea of changing building methods, using more traditional ones for a while. As a result, the rate of change to more sustainable methods is slow as more time will need to be spent on understanding new technology. Adjusting to new technology and building techniques can take a while, extending the time taken on the project. Of these two sustainable architecture methods, lean construction is simply not very impactful - as it does not incorporate specific ways to build. It focused on reducing waste but there are not many steps highlighted in the process.

By contrast, I believe that modular construction is hugely impactful as it feels innovative and more creative than what has been created before, along with being sustainable and efficient. The clear message is that we should not just think green but act it too.