A Paradigm Shift from Green Buildings to Sustainable Cities: Concept and Future Direction

Green buildings and sustainability have been emerging as a mainstream in the built environment in view of increasing awareness of climate change and environmental impacts arising from construction activities. Literature suggests that most sustainable initiatives focus on greening buildings and spaces. There is a need to review existing green building development to take sustainability goals to the next level. This paper unveils the theoretical concepts and current practice of green buildings and put forward sustainable cities as the future direction of green buildings. With the transformation from green buildings to sustainable cities and communities, social sustainability which has been overlooked in the pursuit of sustainable development can be addressed in a wider context. More concerted effort should be put to advocate a balanced development of the triple bottom line of sustainability to create a more liveable, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable living environment for our future generations. It is envisaged that sustainable cities and communities can reduce the current barriers experienced by green buildings in improving social sustainability and offer more strategic solutions for implementing and realising local and international sustainability goals.