On the aesthetics of sustainable buildings in hot-arid climate : the case of two LEED buildings in Cairo, Egypt and las Vegas, US.

Abstract EN

As building design strongly moves to ءه realm of sustainability, ٥٥٥ can argue that tbe aesthetics of most of rated sustainable buildings to day disregard some of the inherited building features that were originally inspired and valued by local cultares.

Aithoughthe design intents of vernacular buildings in the pastwere mostly similar to the design intents of green building design today, the vernacular designs achieved these objectives while aesthetically conforming to the social and cultural needs, andmaking image of buildings an important part of the cultural identity of the place.

This raises some questions:does the extensive use of sophisticated engineering systems and systematic rating tools in green buildings today negatively aff،؛€t the aesthetics of these structures? This article analyzes the aesthetics of two LEED buildings located in different locations with different inherited architectural context while they share the same hot arid c؛im؛،te conditions, BWhaccording to Koppen climate classification.

The interior and exterior images of the buildings were analyzed in light of the inherited gestalt image of buildings across different locations in hot-arid climate.

The analysis shows an insight on the visual aesthetics of sustainable buildings today from environmental and cultural perspectives.