Towards an holistic approach for the green construction design

What does it mean “green” architecture? Ecological? Sustainable? Devoid of CO2 emission? Lots of trees? Integrated into the environment? Low energy impact? Probably green architecture means everything together, and…more. The green architecture is a new trend of architecture or, perhaps, a component of the Architecture itself in our time? A first consideration requires to consider how the building traditions of a people has certainly a wealth of features "green" even if they belong to the past and often forgotten. From the European building tradition derived typical solutions such as for residential applications common to different countries. The same use of light, and not just air, was considered one of the basic elements of a design that would maximize the contribution of natural resources, such as the air, the green, the sun. Designing and building green architecture is an important opportunity to upgrade the tradition and to rethink the quality of life in our homes and cities. For the actors in the current architectural landscape it is necessary to obtain, effectively, an integration between the “new” green criteria and the existing knowledge. While, in the past, we have talked about “integrated design”, today is affirmed a more scientific meaning of this integration, the concept of “holistic design”. One problem, whatever it is, must be faced and solved considering all aspects involved, in substance by all disciplines that help to define it. The Green Architecture is therefore able to offer a whole different contributions (economics, cultural technical, social,…) to the construction world, and in addition Green Architecture is emerging not only as a way to build, but also as a way of life. We believe that, beyond the current needs (and architectural trends), green (the green factor) should therefore return to be one of the factors always present in architecture design and construction. In other words, any project or architectural construction of high level will be, henceforth, designed in a holistic manner as green. A green approach to the built environment involves a holistic approach to the design of buildings.