How have residential architectural designs improved over the last several centuries? Please include examples in your response.

          Residential architectural design has improved tremendously over the last several centuries. Technology has become more prevalent in residential architectural design. Augustin (2009), "technology will not stop evolving, and homes that are going to be continually satisfying to their owners have to be able to evolve to take advantage of new technology forms" (p. 177). For example, with the advances in technology, now architects are designing smart homes to incorporate new technologies that perform particular activities that humans formerly performed. Also, residential architectural designs have improved to affect, improve, and promote the well-being and health of residential inhabitants. For instance, residential architectural designs now incorporate more or larger windows to bring in more natural light and also to give residents varying views of nature. Also, residential architectural designs incorporate open space designs to combated the perceived notions of being confined or crowded; whereas, crowding and perceived crowding produces stress.         

What is sustainable development? Why is it important? Provide examples of how architecture has been adapted to promote sustainable development.

           Sustainability refers to finding a balance between economic, social, and environmental sustainability (Steg, 2013). Sustainable development refers to building a well-balanced relationships between these three aspects. This is why sustainable development is important because of its intention to develop this well-balanced relationship. Sustainable development attempts to integrate renewable energy sources, varying building technologies, and alternative building processes to foster sustainable and environmentally friendly development. For instance, architecture now incorporates solar lighting and heating, some aspects of wind power, and alternative means of waste treatment  to conserve energy and and cut back on the use of fossil fuels, that is, to provide better living environments and cause less damage to the environment.   

References

Augustin, S. (2009). Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Steg, L. (2013). Environmental psychology: An introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.