The Sustainable Tall Building ─ A Design Primer

What factors can inform and inspire the design of a tall building? What are the design options and implications in terms of architectural organisation of form and core? How can a tall building design respond to the cultural and social characteristics of a region? How can a tall building achieve a sustainable design? This design primer answers these questions and more, by exploring the architectural design opportunities and strategic decisions available to the designer. Aimed at those architects new to the typology, the book balances practical issues with the vision and cutting edge thinking that is developing in the field. Innovation is provided by not only considering environmental and energy performance, but the broader context of sustainability including urban integration, cultural identity, social sustainability and sustainable materials. This resource informs and inspires the reader in respect to the fundamental considerations necessary when creating sustainable tall buildings.

Dr. Philip Oldfield is a Lecturer in Architecture at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham. He is the co-creator and Course Director of the Masters Course in Sustainable Tall Buildings – the world’s only architecture course and qualification dedicated to the typology – whilst also being responsible for the associated tall building design studios and seminars taught at Nottingham. In addition, he has taught at universities in Chicago, Venice and Singapore. Philip is an active member of the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and is Co-Chair of the CTBUH Research, Academic and Postgraduate Working Group and a member of their Expert Peer Review Committee and Competitions Committee.