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This paper examines the relationships between diverse technical design strategies and competing conceptions of ecological place making. It highlights the conceptual challenges involved in defining what we mean by calling a building “green” and outlines a social constructivist perspective on the development of sustainable architecture. The paper identifies six alternative logics of ecological design which have their roots in competing conceptions of environmentalism, and explores the ways in which each logic prefigures technological strategies and alternative visions of sustainable places. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of the contested nature of ecological design for architectural education, practice, and research.

In their treatment of development, researchers in the property sector tend to adopt positivist methodologies which emphasise the application of rational decision-making techniques by utility-maximisers within a mainstream economics paradigm. While considerably increasing our understanding of the development process, such research offers a partial view of its subject from a particular perspective. Recently, alternative methodological and theoretical approaches have evolved which strive to understand the wider institutional context of the development process. The paper critically reflects on these institutionalist approaches in order to develop a research framework which blends economic and social analyses of property development processes. The paper draws upon (re)interpretations of the authors' recent research to address the following points. First, that the economic structuring of development is a product of and, in turn, affects social processes. This is illustrated by a consideration of the price mechanism in the property market. Secondly, that social structures and processes are as important as their economic equivalents in 'explaining' property development. This is addressed by a discussion of the ways in which recent shifts in the social organisation of the property sector are reframing the strategies of development actors, leading to new structures of property provision and use. The paper concludes by arguing for the need to develop an understanding of property development processes which combines a sensitivity to the economic and social framing of development strategies with a fine-grain treatment of the locally contingent social responses of property actors.

1 Introductioǹ`... those who call ourselves energy analysts have made a mistake ... we have analysed energy. We should have analysed human behavior. '' Schipper (1987; quoted in Lutzenhiser, 1993, page 247)`A renewal of social theory which informs energy consumption and conservation is called for in the face of environmental challenges. '' Wilhite (2001, page 331) The challenge of mitigating and reducing the energy consumed in cities is commonly cited as a key policy objective at local, national, and international scales. In a typical recent statement, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) points to thè`u ncontrollable pace of urbanisation, and a consequent rise in energy demand ... leading to greater emissions of green house gases''. (1) According to UNEP, there is aǹ`u rgent need for the incorporation of energy efficiency issues to be included in urban planning and construction.'' Of course, this is hardly a new policy issue. Debate about energy, buildings, and cities has been around for many years, periodically leaping to the front pages stimulated variously by worries about shortages, security, safety, and pollution. As a result, we already possess immense knowledge about energy efficiency and conservation in buildings and cities. In particular, the contribution of building scientists to our knowledge about energy-efficient buildings is substantial. Energysaving technologies and materials have been successfully developed and manufactured, energy-efficient building designs have been constructed, tested, and widely publicised. In fact, for some time we have possessed the technical knowledge and identified the best-practice design techniques necessary to construct zero-energy buildings. Moreover, extensive monitoring of local, national, and international building stocks means Abstract. The author engages with debates about buildings, energy efficiency, and the innovation processö issues that are of great significance for urban sustainability because buildings are such an important constituent of urban energy consumption. Within this context, the author explores what it might mean to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of technical change. Questioning conventional accounts, he develops a sociotechnical perspective on competing energy knowledges and contexts of design, development, and consumption. It is argued that energy research and policymaking for the built environment is underpinned by a common understanding of technical change, which fails to take account of the contextual nature of energy-related choice. Describing cultural, organisational, and commercial factors shaping technological innovation, the author explores how more-or-less energy-efficient choices influencing urban development are made in response to changing opportunities and practices which sometimes favor energy efficiency, sometimes not. The author draws upon sociological accounts of technical change and illustrates both a sociotechnical perspective on energy and buildings and a key role for sociologists in the field of a...

Regulations are highly influential in shaping urban places and architectural form. This paper investigates the impact of changing regulation on the working practices of architects. First, it outlines how the building regulations have grown in scope and complexity, especially with regard to energy regulations. Secondly, the relationship of regulation and design is explored, showing a shift from a dialectic of constraint and autonomy to one of interpretation of pathways. This is partly linked to performance-based regulation and weak state enforcement. Thirdly, the response of architects to this emerging mode of design is identified. The division of labour in the design process changes, with the architect focusing increasingly on intermediation. Finally, opportunities and threats to architects and their role are examined.