A Proposed Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Development - Evaluating Sustainable Development in the Built Environment - page 133

The feelings of comfort, safety and privacy or, say, the noise level all
play a large role in the quality of living for human beings. If we did not
feel safe in a place we would certainly not stay there long and would
prefer to change our living environment. However, the feelings of pri-
vacy, security and comfort and the pleasure engendered by living there
can make our lives more satisfactory and of higher quality.
Not only the biological issues but also the spatial and the physical
characteristics of the built environment, such as the layout, shape and
location of the building, also contribute to the quality of living. This
means that the sensitive modality is able to encapsulate all the modali-
ties preceding it.
The analytical modality: analysis and formal knowledge
Human feelings and perceptions are the basis for the logical process of
analysis and discernment of the parts constituting a building. The sen-
sitive is the base for developing analytical aspects.
The meaning of the analytical modality is logic and distinction. In
planning and design, the analytical modality refers to analysis and for-
mal knowledge. This usually helps decision-makers to recognise a
good construction from a bad one and the quality of analysis used in
the building design. In some cases the building can be viewed as a
good example of design and it can act as an educational tool. Again, the
shape, layout and form of the building play a strong role in providing
information for this analytical function. This explains why the spatial
and physical modalities are placed before the analytical in the modal
order. But the latter is able to anticipate and provide information for
other aspects, such as the historical modality. Education and the ability
to rationalise and discriminate between elements are the foundation
for developing a knowledge and a cultural background in construc-
tion. These are issues related to the historical modality whose core
meaning is formative power .
The historical modality: creativity and cultural
development
The historical modality qualifies creativity in design and the technol-
ogy employed in construction. The expertise in construction usually
comes from learning from good practice. Innovation in technology is
made possible through research activities that make use of analysis.
The relation between the historical modality and the analytical modal-
ity is particularly important here.
The historical modality represents the cultural and technological
progress of human beings in achieving a better quality of living. The
production of the built environment entails the use of natural materi-
als and the consumption of energy, and impacts on local habitats. This