Priorities of Architectural Programming for Sustainability: Designs of Norman Foster as a Case Study

Abstract

Architectural programming is defined as a systematic method that leads to a statement of the architectural problem, which 
defines the Goals to produce the most appropriate solution. Goals are defined as a statement that expresses aims and pur
poses and are considered a means for decision-making. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were identified in 17 
goals, of which Goals 11 and 7 were linked to architectural design. By delineating three Aspects for goals: the categories 
and main values of the goals, and the physical positions for their application, this research seeks to uncover the goals of 
architectural programming (Independent variables) regarding sus-tainability and their physical positions (Dependent varia
bles). By analyzing texts in which the architect Norman Foster   specified aspects of applying sustainability, and classifying 
its mechanisms, aiming to determine priorities of goals during the programming phase and mechanisms during the applica
tion phase. The results demonstrated that Foster focuses mainly on environmental goals, followed by economic and social 
goals. These goals are applied mainly in external building masses, internal spaces, and techniques used to recycle materials 
and reduce energy consumption. The conclusions were linked to SDG 11 in terms of its focus on environmental aspects, as 
well as SDG 7 through its focus on energy issues. The recommendations included the importance of discussing environ
mental and social goals in the initial stages of architectural programming, and that it is also possible to analyze, measure, 
and evaluate solutions within the mechanisms of the external mass using traditional methods or modern software during 
these stages. Furthermore, the importance of targeting economic objectives in new and old designs was highlighted to im
prove the sustainable performance of existing buildings.