A Case Study of Sustainable Design Utilizing Appropriate Technology

(Background and Purpose) Although advancement of technology has brought rapid economic growth and prosperity, 90 % of the underprivileged people are not allowed for even the universal right to life. The appropriate technology has taken on an added importance for poverty eradication and sustainable development in the Third World. It is important to promote sustainable development based on utilization of regional infrastructure in developing local communities and strengthening internal capabilities which can be underpinned by appropriate technology beyond simple economic aid, thereby laying groundwork for self-reliance of communities. Thus, this study presented direction for sustainable design of appropriate technology to provide basic data necessary for research and development of design applying the appropriate technology in the period ahead. (Method) This study examined the theoretical aspects of appropriate technology and sustainable design through literature study and presented direction and specific elements of sustainable design that would need to be considered in applying appropriate technology to design. For case study, data were collected on the basis of publications, domestic and overseas websites, etc., and classified concerned cases of sustainable design into 4 categories: architectural application, water resource application, health & safety application, and energy application. The sustainability was analyzed from the user, environmental, economic, and social aspects. From the analyses, the following conclusion was drawn: (Results) For the direction for sustainable design which applied appropriate technology, this study presented usability, eco-friendliness, economic efficiency, and locality from the user, environmental, economic, and social aspects. Moreover, the cases of design applying the appropriate technology were classified into the fields of architecture, water resource, health & safety, and energy, and then, the sustainability was analyzed from those 4 aspects. First, design cases for architectural application showed that it was important to develop technologies suitable for local situations so as to ensure the use of construction materials that can be produced locally and utilization of local manpower and technologies. Second, design cases for water resource application showed that it was very important to reflect the locality in developing sustainable appropriate technology through factors of failure in the localization of Play Pump and failure of Q Drum in making entry into the market. Third, design cases for health & safety application showed that sustainability was achieved based on semi-permanent characteristics although it would not be easy to manufacture independently with local resources and technologies. Fourth, design cases for energy application showed that sustainable natural energy was used such as solar photovoltaic energy. (Conclusions) Appropriate technology would need to be a driving force spurring sustainable growth with a focus on users based on understanding of communities and their cultures beyond technology. For that, constant research and development would be needed to ultimately improve the quality of life through utilization of local infrastructure so as to ensure continuous production and consumption by concerned regions on the basis of human-centered design thinking.