Cocoon Architects
Drafting in Cape Town

We practice globally, but our main area of focus is Southern Africa.

A green building is an energy efficient, resource efficient and environmentally responsible building, which incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants. Building green is an opportunity to use resources efficiently and address climate change while creating healthier and more productive environments for people to live and work in. The building industry is one of the highest carbon-dioxide (CO²) producers in the world. On a practical level, this encompasses the use of design, materials and technology to reduce energy and resource consumption and create improved human and natural environments. Passive solar architecture: this process starts right at the beginning, namely at town planning stage. Situation and orientation of streets; properties; situation and orientation of buildings on the properties; public open spaces etc. need to be carefully considered for minimum impact on the environment. Active solar architecture: these are all the technical items that one could use to support the green building process. Solar warm water collectors, solar photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, heat exchangers etc. How much energy will it take to eventually demolish a building and without permanent damage to the environment. Points are awarded to a building according to which measures have been incorporated, and, after appropriate weighting, a total score is arrived at, which determines the rating.