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Overview

The issue of the role of culture in a sustainable built environment is becoming more important due to the growing impact of the built environment in achieving society’s sustainable development. Society faces environmental challenges, including climate change and urban population growth and responding to these interconnected challenges is at the centre of society’s concerns for its future. This chapter aims to examine literature to advance this emerging area of research by mapping the linkages between the concept of culture, sustainable development and the built environment. A review of a wide-range of relevant literature relating to culture, sustainability and the built environment is presented. This review focused on relevant publications in academic literature that provide evidence of the role of culture in a sustainable built environment. The review of literature highlights the increasing recognition of culture as powerful and important aspect in fostering economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. Culture is a key element in the concept of sustainable development as it frames people’s relationships and attitudes towards the built and the natural environment. Sustainable development is an integral part of the society and culture; affecting all aspects of operations in the built environment. This Chapter provides an in-depth insight into the contribution of culture and places culture as the possible fourth dimension of sustainability and an integral part of environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development