Environmental Considerations for Sustainable and Green Architecture: a Study for Saudi Arabia.

The rapid population growth, associated urbanization, and infrastructure development resulted in adverse impact on the environment, which is becoming increasingly alarming and creating many challenges. These circumstances have made the concept of “Green Buildings and Sustainable Built Environment” a necessity rather than an option. This research studies and introduces the environmental considerations for green and sustainable architecture, it aims to identify the factors that affect green building design and sustainable urban development. It also defines various elements and procedures required to achieve a successful green design. Furthermore, the study classifies the main factors that drive the urban development in the Gulf region that can improve the energy efficiency and the quality of the built environment in hot countries, such as Saudi Arabia and similar climatic zones. The research methodology is based on case study approach to analyze and evaluate concerning environmental considerations. It combines observation and qualitative research methods. This research attempts to fill a gap in the literature concerning green built environment considerations in Saudi Arabia in particular and the Gulf region in general.