I have not read all of the linked articles, but the first article, “Building Bigger Cities Means Digging Deeper Everywhere Else,” is excellent. That said, the article does imply that switching from unsustainable resources to renewable resources will be enough, which is not true. Endless growth must stop, both in population and consumption.
What can architects do during this period of necessary change? Our role is not just understanding the changes, but embracing them. Stopping the greenfield mentality, thinking there’s a pristine site needing our touch over every horizon. Ceasing the praise of silly architectural bonbons, those glitzy energy- and material-hogging leftovers of lazy 20th century thinking. Embracing renovation and adaptive re-use projects. Making the Living Building Challenge or equivalent standard the standard on every project, not just a select few.
Here is the ArchDaily article: link