Current Research into Sustainable Architectural Design: A Structured Critical Literature Review

Abstract

The aim of this study is to systematize contemporary scientific approaches to sustainable architecture, identify its principal directions of development, and reveal current research trends and gaps in environmentally oriented architectural design. The study employs a structured critical literature review supported by comparative and qualitative thematic analysis. The review includes seminal monographs and recent peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The selected literature was classified into the major domains of sustainable architecture, including bioclimatic design, energy- efficient buildings, sustainable urban development, adaptive reuse, vernacular architecture, digital design technologies, and artificial intelligence. The findings demonstrate that sustainable architecture has evolved from a set of isolated environmental strategies into an interdisciplinary framework integrating ecological, technological, economic, and social dimensions. The most rapidly developing research areas include circular economy principles, nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB), Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence and machine learning, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and the integration of vernacular architectural principles into contemporary design. The review also identifies several research gaps, particularly the limited integration of life cycle assessment, BIM, artificial intelligence, and human-centered design within a unified methodological framework. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the comprehensive systematization of contemporary approaches to sustainable architecture and the development of an integrated conceptual framework that synthesizes ecological design principles, digital technologies, and current sustainability trends. The findings provide a valuable foundation for architectural practice, educational programs, and the further development of regulatory frameworks and sustainable urban development strategies.