Architecture of a sustainable future: Smart building as a synthesis of technology and nature

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of smart building technologies and their integration into sustainable, energy-efficient, and intelligent urban environments. Smart buildings were considered as systems that combined automated solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, shading, security, and engineering infrastructure management, coordinated through building management systems and implemented using Internet of Things technologies, sensors, and actuators. Such systems collected real-time data to enable predictive analytics, adaptive control, and energy optimisation. It was analysed machine learning methods, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, fuzzy logic, and stochastic optimisation, for energy consumption forecasting, renewable energy management, intelligent control, and fault diagnostics. Occupant-centric control systems were investigated, as it accounted for human presence, preferences, and comfort, enabling dynamic adjustment of building operation modes and energy use. The integration of smart buildings with smart grids based on advanced building energy management systems was analysed, allowing participation in demand response programmes, voltage regulation, and distributed renewable energy management. The study also examined smart building-integrated photovoltaic and data-driven approaches for real-time forecasting of energy generation and consumption. Digital technologies, including building information modelling, digital twins, robotics, drones, edge computing, and cloud platforms, enhanced the efficiency of design, construction, monitoring, operation, and maintenance processes. Despite the evident advantages, challenges remained, including high implementation costs, cybersecurity risks, system interoperability issues, and the need for advanced data management infrastructure. The practical value of this study lies in applying the results in various stages of architectural practice, including the design of new buildings, the renovation and retrofitting of existing structures, and the ongoing management and optimisation of building operations