Sustainability & Urban Design

Green design, energy performance, ecological thinking, cities, and the built environment at scale.

64 Terms

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AC Split

Split-type air conditioning system — a comfort cooling system consisting of a wall-mounted or ceiling indoor unit connec…

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Active Frontage

A building facade that engages visually and physically with the street — through shop windows, entrances, permeable fenc…

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Alun-Alun

The central open square of a traditional Javanese city, located in front of the kraton (royal palace) and the main mosqu…

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Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms and ecosystems. In sustainable architecture, biodiversity is promoted through habitat pr…

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Biomimicry

Design approach imitating natural systems and patterns to solve architectural and environmental challenges. Biomimicry l…

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BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics)

Solar photovoltaic systems integrated into building surfaces (facades, roofs, windows) that generate electricity while s…

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Block

An urban area bounded by streets on all sides. Block size affects walkability, permeability, and neighborhood character.

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BREEAMBREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method — the UK's leading sustainability assessment and certifi…

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Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases — particularly CO₂ — emitted directly or indirectly by a building over its lifetime…

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Carbon Neutral

A state where the net carbon emissions produced by a building are zero, typically through energy efficiency, renewable e…

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Circular Economy

An economic model where materials and products are designed for reuse, recycling, or biodegradability, minimizing waste.…

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Climate Adaptation

Strategies to make buildings resilient to climate change impacts like extreme heat, floods, and storms. Adaptation inclu…

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Climate Responsive

Architecture designed to respond to local climate conditions through orientation, shading, ventilation, and material cho…

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Density

A measure of how intensively land is used, typically expressed as dwellings per hectare (dph) or floor area ratio (FAR).…

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Edge

A linear element that separates or connects different districts, like a waterfront, wall, or transition zone. Edges defi…

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Embodied Carbon

The carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacture, transport, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materi…

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Energy Efficiency

Designing buildings to minimize energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, and equipment. Energy-efficient build…

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Exhaust Fan

Ventilation fan or exhaust fan — a mechanical fan that removes moist or polluted air from a room and exhausts it outside…

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FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

A certification ensuring timber comes from responsibly managed forests. FSC certification verifies sustainable forestry …

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Genius Loci

Latin for 'spirit of a place.' In architecture and urbanism, genius loci refers to the distinctive, intangible character…

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Gentrification

The process where revitalized urban areas attract higher-income residents and businesses, often displacing existing comm…

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Geotextile

Geotextile membrane — a permeable fabric layer placed over soil to separate materials, filter water, and control erosion…

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Grass Block

Permeable paving block — a concrete or plastic unit with voids filled with soil and grass, allowing pedestrian or light …

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Green Building

A holistic approach to sustainable construction minimizing environmental impact through efficient design, materials, and…

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Green Infrastructure

Natural or nature-based systems for managing stormwater, air quality, and urban heat. Green infrastructure includes gree…

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Green Roof

A roof covered with vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane and drainage layer. Green roofs reduce stormwater r…

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Greenship

Indonesia's national green building rating system, developed and administered by the Green Building Council Indonesia (G…

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Grey Water

Relatively clean wastewater from showers, sinks, and washing machines that can be treated and reused for irrigation or t…

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Infill Development

Development that fills vacant lots or underutilized sites within existing urban areas. Infill increases density and vita…

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Kampung

An informal urban settlement — a dense, organically grown neighbourhood characterised by narrow pedestrian lanes, mixed …

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Landmark

A distinctive building or feature that aids navigation and creates visual identity. Landmarks are focal points that orie…

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LEEDLEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — the most widely used green building certification system in the world, d…

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Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)

A comprehensive analysis of a product or building's environmental impact from raw material extraction through end-of-lif…

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Masterplan

A comprehensive plan for the development of an area — defining land uses, street networks, public spaces, building heigh…

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Mixed Use

Development that combines different types of programme — housing, retail, offices, leisure — within a single building or…

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Native Plants

Plants species indigenous to a region, adapted to local climate and soil. Native plants require less water, maintenance,…

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Natural Ventilation

The movement of fresh air through a building without mechanical fans, driven by pressure differences from wind or by the…

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Net-Zero

Buildings producing as much energy as they consume over a year, typically combining efficiency and renewable generation.…

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New Urbanism

Urban design movement promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with human-scale development. New urbanism rejects spr…

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Node

A significant point or junction in an urban fabric, like a plaza, transit station, or landmark. Nodes organize navigatio…

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Orientasi Bangunan

Building orientation — the positioning of a building's major facades and openings relative to solar angles and prevailin…

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Passive Design

Design strategies that minimize mechanical heating and cooling through orientation, insulation, thermal mass, and ventil…

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Passive HousePassivhaus

A rigorous energy performance standard that reduces a building's heating and cooling demand by up to 90% compared to con…

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Paving Block

Interlocking concrete paver or paving stone — a modular unit used for outdoor paving (driveways, patios, walkways, and p…

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Permeable

The quality of urban areas allowing easy pedestrian movement and visual connection through streets and passages. Permeab…

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Photovoltaic PanelsPV

Solar panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. In architecture, PV panels…

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Place-Making

The collaborative process of transforming public spaces into beloved community places. Place-making involves design, pro…

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Placemaking

A collaborative approach to urban design that centres on creating public spaces people want to use — not just infrastruc…

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Plaza

An open public square, often at the center of a city or district. Plazas serve as gathering spaces for markets, celebrat…

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Public Space

Areas of a city that are open and accessible to everyone without charge — streets, squares, parks, and waterfronts. Publ…

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Public Transit

Shared transportation systems (buses, trains, metros) serving the public. Public transit reduces car dependence and enab…

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Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that naturally replenish, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal. Renewable energy red…

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RTH (Ruang Terbuka Hijau)RTH

Ruang Terbuka Hijau — open green space, a legally mandated component of Indonesian urban planning under Law No. 26/2007 …

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Street

A public thoroughfare for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, lined by buildings and public activity. Streets are fundamen…

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Street Network

The system of streets, lanes, and paths that structure a city or district. The pattern of the network — grid, radial, or…

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Sustainable Design

A contemporary design approach prioritizing environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, and long-term livability.…

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Tactical Urbanism

Small-scale, community-led design interventions creating immediate change in public spaces. Tactical urbanism includes p…

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Thermal Mass

The ability of a material to absorb, store, and slowly release heat. Heavy materials like concrete, brick, and stone hav…

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Third Place

Public gathering spaces distinct from home (first place) and work (second place) where people socialize and build commun…

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Urban Grain

The pattern and texture of a city's blocks, plots, and buildings as seen from above. Fine-grained cities have many small…

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Walkability

The degree to which an area is pedestrian-friendly, with safe, comfortable streets and close proximity to amenities. Hig…

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Water Conservation

Strategies to reduce water consumption in buildings through fixtures, landscaping, and recycling. Water conservation is …

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Waterfront

The land and structures along a body of water (river, harbor, lake). Waterfronts are valuable for commerce, recreation, …

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Zoning

A legal mechanism that divides a city or municipality into zones, each with rules about what land uses are permitted and…

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