Between Research and Practice: Experts on Implementing Sustainable Construction

• Main Authors: Krishna Bharathi, Lee Ann Nicol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-11-01
• Series: Buildings
• Subjects: energy; construction; architecture; implementation; Switzerland; Science and Technology Studies (STS); stakeholders; experts; sustainability
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/3/4/739

Despite documented political support for energy reduction measures in Switzerland’s built environment, as well as high international regard for its construction and research sectors, design practitioners and researchers perceive a diverse set of challenges involved in the implementation of green development solutions. Grounded in Science and Technology Studies (STS), observations drawn from 31 semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with Swiss building industry experts provide insight into the relationships between designers, researchers and public authorities. A series of examples from the empirical data show how regulatory frictions and the challenges of implementing construction strategies into diverse domestic and international working contexts are ameliorated.