How to build a sustainable city?

Have you ever wondered what a sustainable city is? How can a city's urban development move forward without neglecting sustainability? Or, what is a sustainable project? 

Recognizing when a project or action is sustainable and contributes to good environmental practices, with urban planning, reduced CO2 emissions and the implementation of renewable energy, is one of the challenges we face today and one of the main goals we've set at Arquitectura y Concreto to help protect our surroundings.

• What is a sustainable project?

• Sustainability certifications at Arquitectura y Concreto 

• Benefits of buying in a sustainable project

• Construsostenible

A sustainable project is recognized by a design and construction that conscientiously incorporate elements of the social and natural environment, seeking to reduce possible harm to local wildlife and plants. If you'd like more information about the characteristics of this type of project, read our article What is sustainable construction?.  

At Arquitectura y Concreto we seek to build sustainable cities that adapt to and tackle the environmental and social challenges that arise. We aim to build projects with sustainable qualities, making efficient and responsible use of energy, water and construction materials, while also providing comfort and health to owners.

For this reason, we've begun working toward developing sustainable projects that combine good management of natural resources, their preservation for future generations and civic awareness, through the selection of materials that meet appropriate construction conditions, comprehensive designs that provide well-being to our users, and ecological areas, such as vegetable gardens and composting systems, for the enjoyment and learning of our projects' residents.

Alliances between public and private institutions have set a clear path toward awareness and learning of sustainable practices, aiming to optimize water and energy resources as much as possible. This is done by promoting sustainable initiatives and creating educational spaces to further reduce the carbon footprint, transforming mindsets and building an environmental culture nationwide.

As a builder, we've been growing in resource protection and environmental responsibility, which is why we register our real estate projects in sustainability certification processes that endorse the actions demonstrating this transformation. Here are some of them:

A tool developed for the national (Colombian) context based on globally accepted, internationally backed standards, built on the World Green Building Council's 'Quality Assurance Guide for Green Building Rating Tools'. CASA Colombia certification shows that the project carries out the following actions:

• It makes visible the builder's responsibility for the well-being of cities and communities globally. 

• It applies the good practices of leading companies in sustainable urban development and housing for the world's population.

• It promotes integrative design processes, boosting creativity and innovation.

This gated residential apartment complex, located in the Bellavista area of Barranquilla, holds CASA Colombia pre-certification. The sustainable practices we carry out at Acuarela del Río are:  

• Low-flow faucets. 

• Environmental management to reduce the impacts generated during construction. 

• Low-environmental-impact products and materials.

• Solar control glass in windows and glass doors, a specification that improves thermal comfort inside the homes.

• Rainwater collection tank.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is an internationally recognized certification system for sustainable buildings created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the benefits it endorses are: 

• Spaces with better conditions for residents' quality of life.

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, fighting the current climate change crisis. 

• Energy and resource savings.

This hotel, located on Barú Island in Cartagena,is committed to environmentally friendly and sustainable operation. Its practices range from using recyclable materials to optimizing water and energy resources.  

Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort holds LEED certification in design and construction. Next to the hotel we have the Sofitel Residences Barú Calablanca project, which is registering apartment towers 1, 2, 3 and 4 for LEED FOR RESIDENTIAL certification, which will endorse its sustainability strategies. Learn more about this project here.

A sustainable construction certification system for new residential and commercial buildings. It was created by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and seeks to drive a massive transformation of the construction market toward more sustainable cities. 

This apartment project located in El Poblado, Medellín, is in the registration stage for EDGE certification. It consists of a single tower with two apartments per floor and 180° panoramic views. Some of the sustainable practices we carry out at Tribeca are:

• Efficient-flush toilets.

• Highly efficient construction processes using environmental control measures to minimize emissions and control erosion.

• Prioritizing regionally sourced materials.

• Lighting sensors in common areas and parking garages.

• Location in a consolidated urban area, close to public transportation.

At Arquitectura y Concreto we believe in sustainable development and contribute through our processes to mitigating our impact on the environment, which is why we designed the “Construsostenible” seal, an institutional seal of endorsement identifying projects that implement sustainable measures or are undergoing an external certification process. Look for it on our projects with this image:

The list of benefits that come with buying into sustainable projects is very long, but here are the main ones:

• Reduced energy and water consumption. This gives you the chance to save on these utilities in your home. 

• Building civic culture. Investing in this type of project reflects the responsibility we're taking for our future and our children's, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. 

• Higher quality of life. Thinking about our well-being and our families' is one of our greatest aspirations, which is why buying a sustainable project is key to achieving it.