Buildings that inform patterns of behavior

 To me, one of the things that really sets Ecological Urbanism apart from other sustainable ideologies is the understanding that sustainability doesn't just stem from the built project. It is more than integrated systems, net-zero, or water management. It is more than a responsible use of materials or doing a life-cycle analysis. Ecological Urbanism moves a step beyond this and insists on informing new patterns of behavior and pushes for a new aesthetic. 

I see this as the only way to move forward with real success. A few "sustainable" buildings, among the sea of perfectly manicured and conditioned spaces will never make the impact that is needed to slow climate change. For long-term change humans patterns of occupying need to change and I believe that it is the role of the architect to influence this behavior. Buildings have the power to slowly inform, educate, and eventually change how we occupy this world. 

Some examples of how a building, or set of buildings, can move the individual towards a more balanced lifestyle would be optimizing the pedestrian experience, laying out the buildings programs with the cycle of the sun (bedrooms to the east/living and dining to the west), utilizing operable windows, exposed systems, including space for recycling and composting, community gardens, etc. These may seem simple, but have the ability to change or form habits that the individual will carry through life.