What's it Mean to be Green?
I was reading Aesthetics and Sustainability, and I couldn't help but recall a topic from my Designing Green course in undergrad. The whole class was about what exactly "green" architecture was. The idea of green and sustainability often go hand in hand, but we often don't get too far into the weeds of what these terms mean. Sure, as architects, we try to design with things like cross-ventilation and southern exposure in mind, but are we really making enough of a difference in these types of decisions? I remember reading William McDonough's Cradle to Cradle, and he gives a ton of examples of how the products we design need to be conceived throughout their lifecycle to actually be green. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where things are designed to be discarded after so many years. So what exactly does this mean for architects?
We get to make decisions as architects that actually make a difference, but these decisions have to be made early in the design process. They also can't just be tacked on ideals. They have to be thoughtfully considered and implemented to actually be effective. We are in a unique opportunity to push for research in these areas of design that are often expensive upfront because the money hasn't been put into making the technology more affordable. If we can prove that our sustainable strategies are actually beneficial and cost-effective, then we become the spark for a new movement. But we have to believe in the strategies that we are trying to sell.
A lot to unpack in you post, I've also read cradle to cradle and it really made me realize how much trash we produce and how much can't be reused. Even with our best intentions it's not enough because we've opened the proverbial can of worms, it's difficult for society to go back to JUST utilizing products that come from nature. There are also large companies who make these unsustainable products who lobby and pay for the continued use of these harmful designs.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the real benefit of sustainability is still a long we need to think and practice. I remember I have read a book that I can not figure out the name of, but I still remember the content. Almost all people know the word - sustainability. Still, nobody can define it because The term is broad and vague, making it difficult to define precisely. We are supposed to be confident to step out to explore this field.
Taylor, I remember being introduced to Cradle to Cradle my first semester in school and how it has weighed heavy in the back of my mind. Sure, I feel as if we say "yes, sustainability in architecture," but I still feel as if the research and understanding of its implications have not been met far enough. In consequence, what we learn in the classroom can be a generic, cover the bases situation, and not, as you put it, "in the weeds" grasp of what a single building's impact can have long-term.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteI think one way we can start to be better about the practice of sustainable architecture is not only including the objectives early into the design process, but to strategize before the process has even begun. Firms, small and large alike, need to invest in sustainable research alongside their practice. If it is too much of a financial risk for small firms, then they should ban together to create research collaboratives that influence the planning decisions of their local communities. Inclusion in pre-design is not enough, sustainability should be included before the client even walks through the door.