Built environment - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 06:45, 31 July 2025

2025-07-31T06:45:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:45, 31 July 2025
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	[[File:Busycity.jpg\|link=File:Busycity.jpg]]		[[File:Busycity.jpg\|link=File:Busycity.jpg]]
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		+	= Introduction =

	The term ‘built environment’ refers to aspects of our surroundings that are built by humans, that is, distinguished from the natural environment. It includes not only buildings, but the human-made spaces between buildings, such as parks, and the infrastructure that supports human activity such as transportation networks, utilities networks, flood defences, telecommunications, and so on.		The term ‘built environment’ refers to aspects of our surroundings that are built by humans, that is, distinguished from the natural environment. It includes not only buildings, but the human-made spaces between buildings, such as parks, and the infrastructure that supports human activity such as transportation networks, utilities networks, flood defences, telecommunications, and so on.
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		+	It provide the setting for our daily lives—homes, schools, workplaces, transport systems, public spaces, and infrastructure. It plays a fundamental role in shaping society, supporting the economy, and responding to environmental and technological challenges. The way the sector operates is deeply influenced by legal, political, and social forces.
		+
		+	= Definitions =

	The Construction Industry Council (CIC) suggest that the built environment, '...encompasses all forms of building (housing, industrial, commercial, hospitals, schools, etc.), and civil engineering infrastructure, both above and below ground and includes the managed landscapes between and around buildings.'		The Construction Industry Council (CIC) suggest that the built environment, '...encompasses all forms of building (housing, industrial, commercial, hospitals, schools, etc.), and civil engineering infrastructure, both above and below ground and includes the managed landscapes between and around buildings.'
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	'Built environment' can be a useful term, as other descriptions such as ‘buildings’, ’civil engineering’, ‘construction’, and so on, do not fully capture the extent of our human-made environment, and separating the subject into its component disciplines fragments what should be considered a holistic endeavour. However the term itself is not widely used and is easily misunderstood.		'Built environment' can be a useful term, as other descriptions such as ‘buildings’, ’civil engineering’, ‘construction’, and so on, do not fully capture the extent of our human-made environment, and separating the subject into its component disciplines fragments what should be considered a holistic endeavour. However the term itself is not widely used and is easily misunderstood.
		+
		+	The [https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/news/dt-toolkit-making-business-case-dt Digital Twin Toolkit, Developing the business case for your digital twin], published by cdbb in February 2021, suggests the built environment is made of:
		+
		+	* All economic infrastructure: transport, energy, telecoms, water, waste systems
		+	* All social infrastructure: hospitals, education facilities, prisons, …
		+	* Residential, commercial and industrial buildings
		+	* And it’s interface with the natural environment.
		+
		+	See also: Elements of the built environment.
		+
		+	= Sustainability =

	As the population increases, and there is greater pressure for sustainable development, the requirements we have from the built environment are becoming more demanding. Over half the planet's population now lives in cities and this figure is predicted to rise to more than 70% by the second half of the century, a figure made even more startling by the fact that the human population will have increased by two billion in the same time-frame.		As the population increases, and there is greater pressure for sustainable development, the requirements we have from the built environment are becoming more demanding. Over half the planet's population now lives in cities and this figure is predicted to rise to more than 70% by the second half of the century, a figure made even more startling by the fact that the human population will have increased by two billion in the same time-frame.
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	In his foreword to the Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Planning Sustainable Cities Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations wrote, “The major challenges of the twenty first century include the rapid growth of many cities and the decline of others, the expansion of the informal sector, and the role of cities in causing or mitigating climate change. Evidence from around the world suggests that contemporary urban planning has largely failed to address these challenges.”		In his foreword to the Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Planning Sustainable Cities Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations wrote, “The major challenges of the twenty first century include the rapid growth of many cities and the decline of others, the expansion of the informal sector, and the role of cities in causing or mitigating climate change. Evidence from around the world suggests that contemporary urban planning has largely failed to address these challenges.”
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		+	= Delivery and control =
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		+	The delivery of built environment projects relies on a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders and professionals. Clients—public or private—define the need and set the brief. Architects, engineers, and surveyors develop the design and ensure technical compliance. Project managers coordinate delivery, while contractors and subcontractors carry out the physical construction. Legal advisers, planners, cost consultants, facilities managers, and many others contribute specialist expertise throughout. Regulatory bodies, local authorities, and community groups also play a crucial role in influencing outcomes.
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		+	Legislation governs every stage of the construction and property lifecycle, from planning and procurement through to health and safety, sustainability, and post-occupancy use. Political priorities—such as levelling up regional economies, decarbonising the national building stock, or expanding housing supply—directly affect what is built, where, and how. Meanwhile, social issues such as housing affordability, accessibility, and community wellbeing increasingly inform public expectations and shape client objectives.

	Effective development of the built environment depends on a sustained commitment to a clear course of action over the short, medium and long term:		Effective development of the built environment depends on a sustained commitment to a clear course of action over the short, medium and long term:
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	* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.		* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.

−	NB [https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/news/dt-toolkit-making-business-case-dt Digital Twin Toolkit, Developing the business case for your digital twin], published by cdbb in February 2021, suggests the built environment is made of:	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
−		+
−	* All economic infrastructure: transport, energy, telecoms, water, waste systems	+
−	* All social infrastructure: hospitals, education facilities, prisons, …	+
−	* Residential, commercial and industrial buildings	+
−	* And it’s interface with the natural environment.	+
−		+
−	~~See also: Elements of the built environment.~~	+
−		+
−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+

	* Architecture.		* Architecture.

Designing Buildings at 08:28, 15 February 2023

2023-02-15T08:28:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:28, 15 February 2023
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	In part, this is because it is not always clear who is responsible for the built environment. It is an interdisciplinary field, with involvement form architects, engineers, town planners, landscape designers, urban designers, central and local policy makers and so on, but there is often an absence of leadership. It can seem that our built environment simply develops organically, through the constant turnover of stand-alone developments.		In part, this is because it is not always clear who is responsible for the built environment. It is an interdisciplinary field, with involvement form architects, engineers, town planners, landscape designers, urban designers, central and local policy makers and so on, but there is often an absence of leadership. It can seem that our built environment simply develops organically, through the constant turnover of stand-alone developments.

−	In his foreword to the ~~[http://mirror.unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=2831~~ Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Planning Sustainable Cities] Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations wrote, “The major challenges of the twenty first century include the rapid growth of many cities and the decline of others, the expansion of the informal sector, and the role of cities in causing or mitigating climate change. Evidence from around the world suggests that contemporary urban planning has largely failed to address these challenges.”	+	In his foreword to the Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Planning Sustainable Cities Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations wrote, “The major challenges of the twenty first century include the rapid growth of many cities and the decline of others, the expansion of the informal sector, and the role of cities in causing or mitigating climate change. Evidence from around the world suggests that contemporary urban planning has largely failed to address these challenges.”

	Effective development of the built environment depends on a sustained commitment to a clear course of action over the short, medium and long term:		Effective development of the built environment depends on a sustained commitment to a clear course of action over the short, medium and long term:

Editor at 10:19, 21 May 2021

2021-05-21T10:19:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:19, 21 May 2021
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	* Building.		* Building.
	* Building Back Better: Social impact.		* Building Back Better: Social impact.
		+	* CIAT agrees to collaboration arrangement with CIB.
	* Elements of the built environment.		* Elements of the built environment.
	* Environment.		* Environment.

Designing Buildings at 07:41, 28 April 2021

2021-04-28T07:41:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:41, 28 April 2021
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	* An appreciation of context and an understanding of the interests of stakeholders, local culture and customs.		* An appreciation of context and an understanding of the interests of stakeholders, local culture and customs.
	* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.		* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.
		+
		+	NB [https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/news/dt-toolkit-making-business-case-dt Digital Twin Toolkit, Developing the business case for your digital twin], published by cdbb in February 2021, suggests the built environment is made of:
		+
		+	* All economic infrastructure: transport, energy, telecoms, water, waste systems
		+	* All social infrastructure: hospitals, education facilities, prisons, …
		+	* Residential, commercial and industrial buildings
		+	* And it’s interface with the natural environment.

	See also: Elements of the built environment.		See also: Elements of the built environment.

Editor at 16:07, 12 October 2020

2020-10-12T16:07:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 12 October 2020
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	* Architecture.		* Architecture.
	* Building.		* Building.
		+	* Building Back Better: Social impact.
	* Elements of the built environment.		* Elements of the built environment.
	* Environment.		* Environment.

Designing Buildings at 07:38, 10 September 2020

2020-09-10T07:38:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:38, 10 September 2020
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−	~~See also: Elements of the built environment.~~
−
	[[File:Busycity.jpg\|link=File:Busycity.jpg]]		[[File:Busycity.jpg\|link=File:Busycity.jpg]]

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	* An appreciation of context and an understanding of the interests of stakeholders, local culture and customs.		* An appreciation of context and an understanding of the interests of stakeholders, local culture and customs.
	* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.		* An understanding of the ownership, safety, security and use of data as well as funding models for new infrastructure.
		+
		+	See also: Elements of the built environment.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Designing Buildings at 07:37, 10 September 2020

2020-09-10T07:37:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:37, 10 September 2020
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	* Use class.		* Use class.

−	[[Category:Theory]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Policy]] [[Category:Theory]]

Designing Buildings at 08:27, 20 August 2019

2019-08-20T08:27:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:27, 20 August 2019
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	* Elements of the built environment.		* Elements of the built environment.
	* Environment.		* Environment.
		+	* External environment.
	* Infrastructure.		* Infrastructure.
		+	* Internal environment.
	* Masterplanning.		* Masterplanning.
	* Megacity.		* Megacity.

Designing Buildings at 13:18, 19 August 2019

2019-08-19T13:18:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 19 August 2019
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	* Megacity.		* Megacity.
	* [[Must_cities_grow_to_compete%3F\|Must cities grow to compete?]]		* [[Must_cities_grow_to_compete%3F\|Must cities grow to compete?]]
		+	* Natural environment.
	* Place.		* Place.
	* Placemaking.		* Placemaking.
	* Smart cities.		* Smart cities.
	* Society.		* Society.
		+	* Thermal environment.
	* Types of building.		* Types of building.
	* Types of land.		* Types of land.

Designing Buildings at 12:38, 19 August 2019

2019-08-19T12:38:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:38, 19 August 2019
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	* Building.		* Building.
	* Elements of the built environment.		* Elements of the built environment.
		+	* Environment.
	* Infrastructure.		* Infrastructure.
	* Masterplanning.		* Masterplanning.