The Sustainable Design Operating System: A 3‑Layer Framework for Resilient Architecture

Explore the Sustainable Design Operating System a 3‑layer framework grounded in Ardiani & Shateri (2018). Learn how Resource Intelligence, Life Cycle Thinking, and Human Adaptation create resilient, low‑impact buildings. Includes a practical implementation checklist.

Conceptual Framework · Sustainable Design
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framework · ardiani & shateri 2018

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Based on Ardiani & Shateri (2018) · Specialty Journal of Architecture and Construction

Principles & strategies

fig 1 · conceptual framework
Resource conservation
  • 1. Energy conservation
  • 2. Water conservation
  • 3. Land conservation
  • 4. Material conservation
Life cycle design
  • 1. Pre‑building phases
  • 2. Building phases
  • 3. Post‑building phases
Design for human adaption
  • 1. Protecting human health & comfort
  • 2. Protecting physical resources
Figure 1: conceptual framework for sustainable design (Ardiani & Shateri, 2018)

RESOURCE INTELLIGENCE

Map inputs & outputs · reduce before renew

Energy

Passive first, insulation, embodied energy, renewables.

Water

Low-flow, rainwater, greywater reuse.

Land

Mixed-use, adaptive reuse, natural drainage.

Material

Durable, disassembly, local, recycled.

LIFE CYCLE THINKING

Pre-building

Recycled/local materials, long-life, low-maintenance.

Building phase

Flexibility, reuse, mechanical fixings, replacement cycles.

Post-building

Deconstruction, recycling, demolition waste reduction.

HUMAN ADAPTATION

Health & comfort

Thermal, daylight, acoustic, IAQ, biophilic.

Physical resilience

Fire, disaster, CPTED, flood/seismic.

THE INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY LOOP

🌍 environmental 👥 social 💰 economic

"If one pillar is missing — the design is incomplete." – Ardiani & Shateri

Implementation checklist

Reduced demand before tech?
Adaptable in 30 years?
Materials separable at end-of-life?
Improves human well-being?
Working with climate?

If any answer is NO — redesign.

Sustainable design is not a style.
It is a decision-making system. Architecture shifts from object creation → ecosystem participation.

📚 Key references

  • • Ardiani, M. & Shateri, M. (2018). Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Design. Specialty Journal of Architecture and Construction, 4(2), 15–24.
  • • Brundtland Commission (1987). Our Common Future.
  • • Sev, A. (2009); Sinha (2002); Datschefski (2001).
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conceptual framework · ardiani & shateri 2018

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