urban space, land use and sustainability - a difficult relationship

Buildings must always be considered in conjunction with their surroundings. Factors like landscape, climate, topography, neighboring buildings traffic and infrastructure have an effect on every building plot, and determine the urban context. In addition, architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism are usually incorporated into a complex network of supply and disposal systems. This “networking” covers not just the technical infrastructure, but also social and cultural amnities that guarantee mobility, communication and integration. This is consistent with the technical and economical rationale plus the nature of human beings as “social creatures” that rely on neighborhoods, on social and cultural services. Finally, the high division of labor in employment structures render necessary the need for access to workplaces, trade and industry. Besides planning to suit the location and the provision of technical infrastructure, the efficient use of land is critical for the energy-related optimization of buildings, urban spaces and an increased quality of life.