Sustainable Construction A Life Cycle Approach in Engineering

The support of the local trade can contribute significantly on the development of sustainable
communities by reducing the daily journeys, and by increasing the income of the community
that can be invested on infrastructures.
3 CASE STUDIES
The interest on sustainability of urban neighborhoods was expressed during the last decades on
a series of new residential development in many European countries. The common practices and
the particularities of each development are described through the following case studies.
3.1 Vauban, Germany
In the southern edge of Freiburg, in a former French military base was developed Vauban in the
beginning of the 90‟s (www.sustainability.murdoch.edu.au). The first priority of the city of
Freiburg was to create high quality residencies for young families in the city by minimizing
sprawl (www.sustainability.murdoch.edu.au). The plan was based on high densities, low energy
consumption, green spaces, and high accessibility levels and infrastructure such as schools
kinder gardens etc (www.levenok.com/environment/QE_fribourg.htm).
The construction of Vauban was realized in five stages. Most of the single blocks were constructed
during 1999 and were sold in small enterprises that consisted of 3 up to 21 households.
These enterprises were responsible for the detailed planning of the buildings that were their
common propriety. This procedure developed the feeling of cooperation between future neighborhoods
giving the potential of a healthy society. Social housing, housing of students and of alternative
social groups were incorporated into the settlement.
Figure 5. Axonometric view of Vauban (source: Gauzin - Muller (2001))
The area consists of row houses of two up to four floors, with a net density of 90-100
units/ha. The buildings incorporate passive solar systems or solar panels and smart ventilation
systems, with warm air traps. The population of the settlement is 5000 people and it was indented
to create 600 working spaces.
In a distance of three kilometers from the city centre (a small and compact city of 200.000 inhabitants),
Vauban is located in a rather suburban place.
The construction of parking spaces is forbidden in the residential area and the car owners
have to buy a parking place in a building that is located in the perimeter of the settlement and is
five minutes‟ walk from the residencies. Car sharing policies and incentives are also implemented
by a car sharing organization. 46% of the families do not own a car and participate on
the car sharing system. The number of cars is reduced significantly since the first residents installed
in the settlement. Vauban is an attractive place for people whose interest is to obtain a
private house and ecology is an additional element of attraction
(www.sustainability.murdoch.edu.au)
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