The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture

The Green House

Princeton Architectural Press New York

The National Building Museum Washington, D.C.

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Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne

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New Directions in Sustainable Architecture

ACQUISITIONSEDITOR-ARK,AMSTER PROJECTEDITOR.ANCY%KLUND,ATER DESIGNTYPOGRAPHY0URE!PPLIED .9#

0UBLISHEDBY 0RINCETON!RCHITECTURAL0RESS %AST3EVENTH3TREET .EW9ORK .EW9ORK &ORAFREECATALOGOFBOOKS CALL 6ISITOURWEBSITEATWWWPAPRESSCOM ˆ0RINCETON!RCHITECTURAL0RESS !LLRIGHTSRESERVED 0RINTEDANDBOUNDIN#HINA &IRSTEDITION .OPARTOFTHISBOOKMAYBEUSEDOR REPRODUCEDINANYMANNERWITHOUT WRITTENPERMISSIONFROMTHEPUBLISHER EXCEPTINTHECONTEXTOFREVIEWS %VERYREASONABLEATTEMPTHASBEEN MADETOIDENTIFYOWNERSOFCOPYRIGHT %RRORSOROMISSIONSWILLBECORRECTEDIN SUBSEQUENTEDITIONS 4HISBOOKWASMADEPOSSIBLEBYA GENEROUSGRANTFROMTHE'RAHAM &OUNDATION

4

Copyright

SPECIALTHANKSTO.ETTIE!LJIAN .ICOLA "EDNAREK *ANET"EHNING -EGAN#AREY 0ENNY9UEN0IK #HU 2USSELL&ERNANDEZ *AN(AUX #LARE*ACOBSON *OHN+ING ,INDA,EE +ATHARINE-YERS ,AUREN .ELSON *ANE3HEINMAN 3COTT4ENNENT *ENNIFER4HOMPSON *OSEPH7ESTON AND$EB7OODOF0RINCETON!RCHITECTURAL 0RESS°+EVIN#,IPPERT PUBLISHER

,IBRARYOF#ONGRESS #ATALOGING IN 0UBLICATION$ATA 3TANG !LANNA ¯ 4HEGREENHOUSENEWDIRECTIONSIN SUSTAINABLEARCHITECTURE!LANNA3TANG AND#HRISTOPHER(AWTHORNE°STED PCM !CCOMPANIESANEXHIBITIONHELDATTHE .ATIONAL"UILDING-USEUMIN 7ASHINGTON $# )3".   ALKPAPER 3USTAINABLEARCHITECTURE° %XHIBITIONS%COLOGICALHOUSES° %XHIBITIONS )(AWTHORNE #HRISTOPHER))4ITLE .!3 ´´°DC 

For András, Rachel, and Willa; and for architects, writers, and environmentalists to come

Dedication

5

contents

18

9 FOREWORD





10 INTRODUCTION

#HASE2YND %XECUTIVE$IRECTOR .ATIONAL"UILDING-USEUM Camera-Ready Green Design

City

20 P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Project



2OTTERDAM 4HE.ETHERLANDS 26 156 Reade Street



3TUDIO0ETRARCA

.EW9ORK .EW9ORK 30 Colorado Court



0UGH3CARPA!RCHITECTURE

3ANTA-ONICA #ALIFORNIA 34 Viikki



6ARIOUSARCHITECTS

(ELSINKI &INLAND 38 1310 East Union Street



4HE-ILLER(ULL0ARTNERSHIP

3EATTLE 7ASHINGTON 42 Sea Train House



/F½CEOF-OBILE$ESIGN

,OS!NGELES #ALIFORNIA 48 The Solaire



52

Suburb

54 Solar Tube



62 Charlotte Residence



74 Little Tesseract



House -ARIN#OUNTY #ALIFORNIA 84 Naked House



6

!22!+!RKKITEDHIT 3TEVEN(OLL!RCHITECTS

+AWAGOE *APAN

Contents

!RKIN4ILT!RCHITECTS 3HIGERU"AN!RCHITECTS

+ENGO+UMA!SSOCIATES

3HUIGUAN "ADALING #HINA

106 R128



3CHWARZ!RCHITEKTUR

%BNET +APPEL 3WITZERLAND

100 Great (Bamboo) Wall



!CHENBACH!RCHITECTEN$ESIGNER

*EBENHAUSEN 'ERMANY 96 SolarHaus III



2HINEBECK .EW9ORK 80 Mill Valley Straw-Bale



7ILLIAM-C$ONOUGH0ARTNERS

0ORI &INLAND

Mountainside

92 House with Shades



#HARLOTTE .ORTH#AROLINA 68 Villa Sari



'EORG$RIENDL!RCHITECTS

#ESAR0ELLI!SSOCIATES !RCHITECTS

.EW9ORK .EW9ORK

90

6IENNA !USTRIA

+ORTEKNIE3TUHLMACHER !RCHITECTEN

3TUTTGART 'ERMANY

7ERNER3OBEK)NGENIEURE

112

Waterside

114 Howard House



#OCKS#ARMICHAEL

-ERCER)SLAND 7ASHINGTON

,AKE&LATO!RCHITECTS

3AN!NTONIO 4EXAS

154 Loloma 5 Lofts



2ICK*OY!RCHITECTS

4UCSON !RIZONA

148 Giles Loft/Studio

/LSON3UNDBERG+UNDIG !LLEN!RCHITECTS

Desert

142 Tucson Mountain House



-ELBOURNE !USTRALIA

126 Lake Washington House



"RIAN-AC+AY ,YONS!RCHITECTS

7EST0ENNANT .OVA3COTIA

120 Swart Residence



140

7ILL"RUDER!RCHITECTS

3COTTSDALE !RIZONA

130 Walla WombaGuest House !RCHITECTURE



4ASMANIA

134 McKinley House



6ENICE #ALIFORNIA

160

Tropics

162 Casuarina Beach House



,AHZ.IMMO!RCHITECTS

Anywhere

182 Glide House

-ICHELLE+AUFMANN$ESIGNS

&RANK(ARMONAND!SSOCIATES

3COTLAND#AY "AHAMAS

174 Casa de Carmen



180

+INGSCLIFF .EW3OUTH7ALES

168 Taylor House



$AVID(ERTZ!RCHITECTS 3YNDESIS

,EDDY-AYTUM3TACY!SSOCIATES

"AJA#ALIFORNIA -EXICO

188 FEATURED ARCHITECTS 190 RESOURCES

Contents

7

acknowledgments

7EAREDEEPLYGRATEFULTOTHE'RAHAM&OUNDATION FOR!DVANCED3TUDIESINTHE&INE!RTSFORITSEARLY ½NANCIALSUPPORTOFTHISPROJECT7ETHANK-ARK ,AMSTERFORSIGNINGONWHENTHEIDEASWEREJUST HALF BAKEDAND.ANCY%KLUND,ATERFORSMART CLEAR EYEDEDITS ASWELLASTHEIRCOLLEAGUESAT0RINCETON !RCHITECTURAL0RESS7E´REMOSTAPPRECIATIVEOF 0AUL#ARLOSAND5RSHULA"ARBOUROF0URE!PPLIED FORGIVINGTHEPROJECTSUCHA½TTINGFORM4HEIR GENEROUSTALENT KEENINSIGHT ANDTIRELESSPATIENCE MADETHEPROCESSASREWARDINGASTHEENDPRODUCT 7E´REALSOINDEBTEDTOOUREDITORIALASSISTANTS ONEITHERCOAST -ICHELLE-AISTOAND*ESSICA&INE +LEINMAN FORTHEIR½NERESEARCHANDGOODHUMOR TO%VE-+AHNAND0AUL'OLDBERGERFORTHEIR HEARTYENDORSEMENTSTO*EANNE7IKLER 2OBERT +LOOS *OHANNA,EMOLA AND*ARI3INKARIFORHELPING BRIDGETHEGAPTOARCHITECTSABROADASWELLASTO !NN!LTERAND(ARRISON&RAKER&INALLY WETHANK EACHOFTHEARCHITECTSANDPHOTOGRAPHERSWHOSE INSPIRINGWORKISFEATUREDHERE ALONGWITH THEIRSTAFFS !LANNA3TANGAND#HRISTOPHER(AWTHORNE

8

Acknowledgments

foreword

4HISBOOK ANDTHEEXHIBITIONOFTHESAMENAME ORGANIZEDBYTHE.ATIONAL"UILDING-USEUM ADVANCEANOBLEIFSLIGHTLYIRONICCAUSE°THATOF MAKING±GREEN²ARCHITECTUREUTTERLYUNREMARKABLE 4HEYDOSOBYPRESENTINGEXEMPLARYPROJECTS THATAREREMARKABLEASARCHITECTURE INWHICH ENVIRONMENTALRESPONSIBILITYISANINTEGRAL IFNOT ALWAYSOBVIOUS ASPECTOFTHEIRDESIGN !GENERATIONAGO THEPOPULARIMAGERYOF SUSTAINABLEHOUSINGINCLUDEDSTEEPLYSLANTED ROOFSBLANKETEDBYSOLARPANELS RUSTICWALLS PEEKINGOUTABOVEGIANTEARTHENBERMS ANDTHE OCCASIONALARCHITECTURALFOLLYCONSTRUCTEDOFA MOTLEYCOLLECTIONOFFOUNDITEMSRECYCLEDINTO VERNACULARBUILDINGMATERIALS-ANYSUCHOVERTLY ±%ARTH FRIENDLY²STRUCTURESWEREEASILYMOCKED BYARCHITECTURALPURISTS WHODECRIEDWHATTHEY SAWASTHETRIUMPHOFMUNDANEPROBLEM SOLVING OVERHIGH MINDEDAESTHETICS.ONETHELESS THESE PROTOTYPICALGREENHOUSESPLAYEDANIMPORTANT ROLEINRAISINGPUBLICAWARENESSTHATTHEBUILT ENVIRONMENTWASASIGNI½CANTCONTRIBUTORTOTHE PROFOUNDDEGRADATIONANDDIMINISHMENTOF LIMITEDNATURALRESOURCES !SWITHMANYSOCIOPOLITICALMOVEMENTS THISEARLYPERIODOFRADICALISM INWHICHEXPLICIT DISPLAYPLAYEDADECISIVEROLE WASFOLLOWEDBY ONEINWHICHBITSANDPIECESOFTHEPHILOSOPHY WEREASSIMILATEDINTOTHEMAINSTREAM ALBEIT OFTENINATOKENMANNER3OMEARCHITECTS APPROPRIATEDTHE±LOOK²OFENVIRONMENTALISM PERHAPSBYTOSSINGASUNSCREENONABUILDING BUT DIDSOWITHLITTLEREGARDFORITSSOLARORIENTATION /THERSACTIVELYREACTEDAGAINSTTHEMOVEMENT ESPECIALLYASHISTORICISMONCEAGAINGAINEDFAVOR AMONGARCHITECTSANDTHEGENERALPUBLICANDAS DEVELOPERS ATLEASTINTHE5NITED3TATES PROVIDED EAGERCUSTOMERSWITHINCREASINGLYGIGANTIC DETACHEDHOUSES

4HECONTENTSOFTHISBOOKANDEXHIBITION SUGGESTTHATTHESUSTAINABILITYMOVEMENT TOUSE ANOWPREVALENTTERM ISREACHINGMATURITY-ANY ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS PLANNERS DEVELOPERS AND CLIENTSHAVECOMETOTHINKMORESTRATEGICALLY ABOUTTHEENVIRONMENTALIMPLICATIONSOFBUILDING ESPECIALLYINTHEDOMESTICREALM-OVINGWELL BEYONDTHESIMPLISTICINCLUSIONOFAFEWGREEN MATERIALSORFEATURES THEYAREINCREASINGLY CONCEIVINGOFHOUSESASCOHERENT HOLISTICSYSTEMS WITHEXTENDEDLIFECYCLESTHATMUSTBECONSIDERED THROUGHOUTTHEDESIGNPROCESS%NVIRONMENTAL CONCERNSINFORMTHEARCHITECTURE OFCOURSE BUT THERESULTSCANBEASAESTHETICALLYRICHASEVEN THEMOSTABSTRACTORTHEORETICALOFPROJECTS 3USTAINABILITYTHUSASSUMESANOTHERDIMENSION BEYONDITSMEREPRAGMATICANDETHICALDIMENSIONS !TTHE.ATIONAL"UILDING-USEUM 4HE'REEN (OUSE.EW$IRECTIONSIN3USTAINABLE!RCHITECTURE ISPARTOFASERIESOFEXHIBITIONSABOUTSUSTAINABLE DESIGN4HE½RSTOFTHESE "IG'REEN4OWARD 3USTAINABLE!RCHITECTUREINTHEST#ENTURY WHICH WASPRESENTEDIN EXAMINEDSKYSCRAPERS ANDOTHERLARGE SCALESTRUCTURESTHATSUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSENVIRONMENTALCONCERNS4HEMUSEUM PLANSTOCONTINUETOORGANIZEEXHIBITIONSAND PUBLICPROGRAMSEXPLORINGTHISVITALTOPIC ANDTHEREBYTOADVOCATEAFUTUREINWHICHENVIRON MENTALSENSITIVITYMAYBESAFELYASSUMEDINALL WORKSOFARCHITECTURE #HASE72YND %XECUTIVE$IRECTOR .ATIONAL"UILDING-USEUM

Foreword

9

camera-ready green design ONE AFTERNOON SEVERAL MONTHS AGO,

we found ourselves waiting in the quiet, impossibly picturesque Swiss town of Domat/Ems to meet an architect named Dietrich Schwarz. Though still in his thirties, Schwarz has already earned a reputation as one of Switzerland’s leading practitioners of the environmentally friendly approach to architecture known as sustainable, or “green,” design. Using a combination of new, high-tech materials—some of his own invention— and old-fashioned architectural wisdom, he creates houses and other buildings that are snugly energy-efficient and sit lightly on the land. 7EHADARRIVEDABITEARLYFOROURAPPOINTMENTAT 3CHWARZ´SOF½CE WHICHTAKESUPONEHALFOFAPAIROF SHIMMERYSTEEL AND GLASSPAVILIONSHEDESIGNEDIN THEMID S NOTLONGAFTER½NISHINGARCHITECTURE SCHOOL!LTHOUGHITWASA3UNDAY ANDBEAUTIFUL OUT AFEWOF3CHWARZ´STWENTY SOMETHINGSTAFFERS WEREHARDATWORKINTHECOOL DARKINTERIOR THEIR FACESLITBYGLOWINGCOMPUTERMONITORS/NEOF THEMLEDUSOUTSIDETOASUNNYCOURTYARDBETWEEN THEBUILDINGS WHEREAMODESTFOUNTAINSPLASHED ANDWITHINACOUPLEOFMINUTES3CHWARZHIMSELF APPEARED4HOUGHHEHADDRIVENASHORTDISTANCE FROMHISNEARBYHOME HELOOKEDASTHOUGHHE´D COMESTRAIGHTFROM-ILAN(ISDARKHAIRWASARTFULLY MESSY0RECISELYEDGEDSIDEBURNSCURLEDACROSSEACH CHEEK(EWASWEARINGANIMPECCABLYTAILOREDDRESS SHIRT PERFECTLYFADEDJEANS ANDBLACKLEATHERSHOES WITHTHEALMOSTVIOLENTLYPOINTEDTOESTHATWERE JUSTTHENBECOMINGFASHIONABLE 3TANDINGINFRONTOFHISELEGANT NEO MODERNIST OF½CE 3CHWARZWASAPICTUREOFTHEUP TO DATE READYTOPOSEFORASPREADIN7ALLPAPEROR%LLE$ECOR !TTHESAMETIME ITBECAMECLEARONCEHEBEGAN TALKINGTHATHEWASN´TEMBARRASSEDBYTHEIDEA OFPASSIONATEENVIRONMENTALISM UNLIKEMANY ARCHITECTSWHOTHINKOFTHEMSELVESASOPERATING CLOSETOTHECUTTINGEDGEANDFASHIONTHEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY /NTHECONTRARYHISCHILDHOODIN

10

Introduction

THISIDYLLICPARTOFTHEWORLDHASMADEHIM COMMITTEDTOANARCHITECTURETHATDOESITSBESTTO PROTECTBOTHTHELOCALANDTHEGLOBALLANDSCAPE !NDBYHISOWNADMISSIONHEISAZEALOTWHENIT COMESTO½NDINGANDTESTINGTHELATESTSUSTAINABLE BUILDINGMATERIALS )TWASONTHATAFTERNOON°PROBABLYATTHE MOMENT3CHWARZLAUNCHEDINTOANENERGETIC DESCRIPTIONOF0OWER'LASS ATYPEOFSUPER EF½CIENTSOLARPANELINGFORWHICHHEHASRECEIVED APATENT°THATWEREALIZEDJUSTHOWQUICKLYTHE WALLSBETWEENGREENARCHITECTUREANDHIGHDESIGN WERECRUMBLING OPENINGUPNEWOPPORTUNITIESFOR CROSSOVERBETWEENTHETWOREALMS4HATNEWTRAF½C ISPARTICULARLYNOTABLEAMONGRESIDENTIALARCHITECTS 7HILEGREENDESIGNISALSOGROWINGQUICKLYINTHE PUBLICANDCOMMERCIALSPHERES HOUSESOFFERAN IDEALTESTINGGROUNDFORTHELATESTINSUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE2ELATIVELYSMALLANDSELF CONTAINED ANDOFTENFUNDEDBYPROGRESSIVEPRIVATECLIENTS ASOPPOSEDTOBOTTOM LINE¯ORIENTEDCOMMERCIAL ONES THEYALLOWFORAUNIQUEKINDOFARCHITECTURAL EXPERIMENTATION)NDEED MANYARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENTSANDBREAKTHROUGHSHAVEFOUNDTHEIR EARLIESTEXPRESSIONINRESIDENTIALWORKGREEN ARCHITECTUREISONLYTHELATEST 7HATWESOONDISCOVEREDISTHATALLOVERTHE WORLD°BUTPARTICULARLYINNORTHERN%UROPE

2 BY7ERNER3OBEK

#ANADA THE5NITED3TATES *APAN AND!USTRALIA° RESIDENTIALARCHITECTSARECOMBININGEYE CATCHING CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTUREWITHSUSTAINABILITY&ORA BOOKTHATWEBELIEVEISTHE½RSTOFITSKIND WESETOUT TOSELECTTHE½NESTEXAMPLESOFTHISNEWCON¾UENCE ANDEXPLAINHOWEACHOFTHEMCAMEINTOBEINGWHO COMMISSIONEDTHESEHOUSESANDAPARTMENTBLOCKS HOWTHEIRDESIGNSEVOLVED ANDHOWTHEIRARCHITECTS ANDBUILDERSMANAGEDTOBALANCEENVIRONMENTAL ANDAESTHETICCONCERNSSOEFFECTIVELY 4HEMOREWEBEGANTOSEARCHFORSUCHPROJECTS THEMOREWEREALIZEDNOTJUSTHOWMANYAREOUT THEREINDEED WEENDEDUPWITHMOREQUALI½ED PROJECTSTHANWEHADPAGESTOSHOWTHEMON BUT THEREMARKABLEREGIONALANDARCHITECTURALVARIETY THEYREPRESENT'REENHOUSESNOWRISEFROMTIGHTLY PACKEDCITYSTREETSASWELLASFROMLUSHHILLSIDESAND ROCKYSEASHORES4HEYARESINGLE FAMILYDWELLINGS ANDSUBSIDIZEDAPARTMENTS PRIMARYRESIDENCES ANDWEEKENDGETAWAYS4HEYARESHEATHEDIN GLASS INBAMBOO INSYNTHETICPANELSMADEFROM RECYCLEDNEWSPAPER4HEYTAKETHEIRAESTHETICCUES FROMPRIMITIVEDWELLINGS FROMORGANICFORMS AND SIGNI½CANTLY FROMARCHITECTURALPREDECESSORS WHOINCLUDETHEFOUNDERSOFTHE"AUHAUSASSURELY AS0AOLO3OLERIOR&RANK,LOYD7RIGHT)NFACT ITIS BECOMINGIMPOSSIBLETOIGNOREHOWMANYGREEN HOUSESARENOWBEINGDESIGNEDINTHESLEEK ORNAMENT FREESTYLETHATHASONCEAGAINBECOMETHE PREVAILINGARCHITECTURALAPPROACHAMONGHIGH END ARCHITECTS PARTICULARLYYOUNGERONESIN!MERICA AND%UROPE&ORTHE½RSTTIMEINTHEHISTORYOFTHE GREENDESIGNMOVEMENT SUSTAINABILITYISBEING EMBRACEDBYTHEVERYSAMEARCHITECTSWHOSETTHE ½ELD´SSTYLISTICANDTHEORETICALAGENDAS )NADDITIONTO$IETRICH3CHWARZ´SCORNEROF 3WITZERLAND OURSEARCHFORTHEHOUSESTHAT½LLTHE FOLLOWINGPAGESTOOKUSTOLOCATIONSALLAROUND THEWORLD/NTHEEDGEOF,AKE7ASHINGTON NEAR 3EATTLE WEDISCOVEREDANEWHOUSEBYTHEWELL KNOWN0ACI½C.ORTHWEST½RM/LSON3UNDBERG +UNDIG!LLEN)TSDESIGNISANCHOREDBYACURVING U SHAPEDWALLTHATISANENGAGINGSCULPTURAL ELEMENTAND°BECAUSEITBOTHCONDUCTSCOOLAIR INTHESUMMERANDBOUNCESSUNLIGHTBACKINTO THEINTERIORINWINTER°THEKEYTOITSREMARKABLE ENERGY EF½CIENCY$OWNTHECOASTIN-ARIN#OUNTY #ALIFORNIA WEMET-ICHELLE+AUFMANN WHOHAD RECENTLYLEFTAJOBIN&RANK'EHRY´SOF½CETOSTART HEROWN½RM+AUFMANNHASDESIGNEDTHEMODULAR 'LIDE(OUSE THE½RSTMASS PRODUCEDGREENHOME )TCANBECUSTOM ORDEREDANDTHENTRUCKEDDIRECTLY

TOABUILDINGSITETOBECONSTRUCTEDINAMATTEROF WEEKSITISALREADYONTHEMARKETFORROUGHLY PERSQUAREFOOT ABARGAINGIVENTHEHIGHQUALITY OFITSMATERIALSANDDESIGN !LITTLEFURTHERSOUTH WEWENTTOSEE#OLORADO #OURT AFORTY FOUR UNITLOW INCOMEAPARTMENT COMPLEXIN3ANTA-ONICADESIGNEDBYTHEWELL REGARDED½RM0UGH3CARPA/NTHEOPPOSITE COAST WEFOLLOWEDTHEPROGRESSOF2AFAEL0ELLI´S GREENAPARTMENTTOWERIN-ANHATTAN4HE3OLAIRE ISTHE½RSTSUSTAINABLERESIDENTIALPROJECTOFITS SIZEORAMBITIONINAN!MERICANCITY!NDACOUPLE HOURSNORTHOF.EW9ORK#ITY WEDISCOVEREDTHAT 3TEVEN(OLL AMUCH LAUDEDARCHITECTWHOSENAME HASRARELY IFEVER BEENMENTIONEDINCONNECTION WITHGREENDESIGN HADDESIGNEDANADDITIONTO HISOWNWEEKENDHOMETHATINCLUDESALONGLIST OFSUSTAINABLEELEMENTS FROMSOLARPANELSTOAN INVENTIVENATURAL VENTILATIONSYSTEM )N%UROPE WEFOUNDSUSTAINABLEDWELLINGS WITHALEVELOFARCHITECTURALANDENVIRONMENTAL SOPHISTICATIONTHATPUTSMOSTGREENBUILDINGSIN THE5NITED3TATESTOSHAME)TISWELLKNOWNTHAT MANY%UROPEANCOUNTRIESHAVEBUILDINGCODES THATPAYSIGNI½CANTLYMOREATTENTIONTOISSUES OFSUSTAINABILITYTHANTHOSEINTHE5NITED3TATES ,ESSREMARKEDUPON ATLEASTINTHE!MERICAN PRESS HASBEEN%UROPE´SSUBSTANTIALINVESTMENTIN NEWHOUSINGTHATMEETSSTRINGENTSUSTAINABILITY BENCHMARKS#ITIESLIKE(ELSINKIAND3TOCKHOLM HAVEDEDICATEDHUGEANDVALUABLESWATHSOFLANDTO GREENDEVELOPMENTS SOMEOFWHICHCONTAINSEVERAL THOUSANDUNITSOFHOUSING .OTALLTHE%UROPEANPROJECTSTHAT½LLTHESE PAGESAREPUBLICLYSUBSIDIZED TOBESURE/NA STEEPHILLSIDEOVERLOOKING3TUTTGART WETOUREDTHE JAW DROPPING2 ASTEEL AND GLASSBOXDESIGNED BYTHE'ERMANENGINEER7ERNER3OBEKASHIS FAMILYRESIDENCE3INCETHEDAYSOF-IESVANDER 2OHE´S&ARNSWORTH(OUSEIN0LANO )LLINOIS ANDITS SEE THROUGHSIBLINGIN.EW#ANAAN #ONNECTICUT BY0HILIP*OHNSONBOTH½NISHEDAROUND THEGLASSHOUSEHASSTOODASTHEEPITOMEOFTHE MODERNISTAESTHETICUNFORTUNATELY SUCHDWELLINGS HAVEOFTENBEENBOTHUNCOMFORTABLETOLIVEINTOO HOTINSUMMER TOOCOLDINWINTER AND WITHTHEIR HIGHHEATINGANDCOOLINGBILLSANDINSENSITIVITYTO SITE HARDLYKINDTOTHEENVIRONMENTEITHER3OBEK SETHIMSELFTHESTIFFCHALLENGEOFSTARTINGWITH THEFAMOUSTYPOLOGYOFTHEGLASSHOUSEANDTHEN MAKINGITSUPREMELYENERGY EF½CIENT(ISDESIGN HASCERTAINLYBEENASUCCESSINTHATREGARDDURING Camera-Ready Green Design

11

MUCHOFTHEYEAR THESOLARPANELSONTHEROOF PROVIDEMOREELECTRICITYTHANHEANDHISFAMILYNEED TOOPERATETHEHOUSE4HEYSELLTHEEXCESSBACKTO THELOCALPOWERCOMPANY 3OBEKISNOTTHE½RST ARCHITECTTODESIGNAHOUSETHATCREATESMOREPOWER THANITUSES"UTTOCOMBINETHATEF½CIENCYWITH EXQUISITELYPROPORTIONED GLASS SHEATHEDMODERNISM MAKES3OBEK´SDESIGNALANDMARKINTHEHISTORYOF GREENARCHITECTURE &INALLY IN!SIAAND!USTRALIAWEUNEARTHED DESIGNSTHATOFFERARANGEOFINVENTIVERESPONSES TOLOCALANDREGIONALCONDITIONS)NTHESHADOW OFTHE'REAT7ALL ABOUTMILESNORTHOF"EIJING *APANESEARCHITECT+ENGO+UMATURNEDAHILLYSITE INTOASTUNNINGESSAYONTHESCULPTURALPOSSIBILITIES OFBAMBOO AHIGHLYSUSTAINABLEMATERIALGIVENHOW QUICKLYANDCHEAPLYITCANBEGROWN)N4ASMANIA A WEEKENDHOUSEBYTHE½RM!RCHITECTURETOUCHES DOWNINITSBUSHLANDSETTINGWITHREMARKABLELIGHT NESSANDGRACE)N*APAN 3HIGERU"ANTOOKAN UNUSUALREQUESTFORAFAMILYRESIDENCEWITHASLITTLE PRIVACYASPOSSIBLEANDPRODUCEDTHE.AKED(OUSE ANINEXPENSIVEANDIN½NITELY¾EXIBLEDESIGNWITHA FORMTHATECHOESTHEGREENHOUSESTHATSTANDNEARBY %VERYONEOFTHESEDESIGNSEASILYSATIS½EDOUR PRIMARYGOALTO½NDHOUSESTHATAREASAMBITIOUS ARCHITECTURALLYASTHEYAREINTERMSOFSUSTAINABILITY 7HILESOMEAREFUTURISTICANDOTHERSCHARMINGLYLOW TECH THEMAJORITYMIXNEWECO FRIENDLYSTRATEGIES WITHVERNACULARONES4AKENASAGROUP THESEHOMES SUGGESTTHATWHILETHEREISNOPARTICULARTEMPLATE THATGREENHOUSESMUSTADHERETO THEREISALSONORULE STATINGTHATTHEYCAN´THAVEPLENTYOFSTYLEORAIMFOR THEHIGHESTAESTHETICPLANE )NOTHERWORDS GREENARCHITECTUREIS½NALLYREADY FORITSCLOSE UP Standards and Practices 3OWHATDOESITMEAN EXACTLY TOSAYTHATAHOUSE IS±GREEN²)TISDIF½CULTTODE½NETHETERMWITH COMPLETEPRECISION&ORSTARTERS WELIKETHE STRAIGHTFORWARDSUGGESTIONFROMTHE$AVIDAND ,UCILE0ACKARD&OUNDATIONTHAT±ANYBUILDINGTHAT HASSIGNI½CANTLYLOWERNEGATIVEENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSTHANTRADITIONALBUILDINGS²QUALI½ESAS GREEN-OREBROADLY THEKEY MOSTEXPERTSAGREE ISA ¾EXIBLEANDHOLISTICAPPROACHTHATINVOLVESMAKING CAREFUL ECOLOGICALLYCONSCIOUSDECISIONSATEVERY POINTINTHEPLANNING DESIGN ANDCONSTRUCTION PROCESSESWHILEKEEPINGINMINDTHATTHEIDEAL SOLUTIONMAYNOTALWAYSBEEVIDENT!NARCHITECT ORWOULD BEHOMEOWNERDECIDING FORINSTANCE

12

Introduction

BETWEENAKINDOFROO½NGMATERIALCREATEDINAN ENVIRONMENTALLYWASTEFULMANNERBUTAVAILABLE LOCALLYANDANECO FRIENDLYVARIETYTHATHASTO BETRUCKEDINFROM MILESAWAYWILLNOTBE HELPEDMUCHBYAUNIVERSALGREENDESIGNCHECKLIST )NGENERAL THOUGH THEREARESTEADYGUIDELINES TOBEFOLLOWEDANDPRIORITIESTOBEKEPTINMIND 2ESIDENTIALDESIGNSTHATAIMFORAUTHENTICGREENNESS SHOULD ATTHEVERYLEAST BE „ASSMALLASPOSSIBLE FORAHOUSETHATUSESEVERY SUSTAINABLETECHNIQUEUNDERTHESUNWILLNOT BEASKINDTOTHE%ARTHASPRACTICALLYANYHOUSE HALFITSSIZE „POSITIONEDTOTAKEADVANTAGEOFWINTERSUNAND SUMMERSHADE ANDTOMINIMIZEDAMAGETOTHE PLANTS ANIMALS SOIL ETCALREADYTHERE „LOCATEDASCLOSETOPUBLICTRANSPORTATION WORKPLACES SCHOOLS ANDORSHOPPINGAS REALISTICALLYPOSSIBLE 4HOSEARETHEBASICSIMPORTANTLY NONEOFTHEMNEED ADDANYCOSTTOTHECONSTRUCTIONOFANEWHOMESAVE FORTHEPOTENTIALLYHIGHERPRICESOFLANDINORNEARA CITY )NDEED FOLLOWINGTHE½RSTRULEWILLNECESSARILY LEADTOLOWERBUILDINGCOSTS "EYONDTHAT GREENNESSISGENERALLYAQUESTION OFTWOISSUES°ENERGYEF½CIENCYANDTHEECO FRIENDLINESSOFABUILDING´SMATERIALS°ALONGWITH ABROADERSENSEOFHOWANEWHOUSEORAPARTMENT BUILDINGTIESINTOITSLOCAL REGIONAL ANDGLOBAL CONTEXT/FTEN THESECONCERNSAREINTERTWINED BUTIN GENERALARCHITECTSCOMMITTEDTOSUSTAINABILITYWILL EMPLOYMANYANDINRARECASESALL OFTHEFOLLOWING „RECYCLEDMATERIALSANDEVENEXISTING FOUNDATIONSORBUILDINGSHELLS „WOODFROMSTOCKSTHATARESUSTAINABLYMANAGED „MATERIALSTHATARELOWINEMBODIEDENERGY° THATIS THEENERGYREQUIREDTOEXTRACTAND PRODUCETHEMASWELLASTODELIVERTHEMTOA BUILDINGSITE „NATURALMATERIALS SUCHASBAMBOO THATCANBE EASILYREPLENISHED „EF½CIENTLIGHTINGSYSTEMSTHATTAKEADVANTAGE OFDAYLIGHTTOREDUCEELECTRICITYNEEDSOR INCLUDESENSORSANDTIMERSTHATSHUTOFFLIGHTS WHENTHEYARENOTINUSE „WATERSYSTEMSTHATCOLLECTRAINWATERORTREAT SO CALLEDGRAYWATERFROMSINKSANDSHOWERS SOTHATITCANBEREUSEDFORGARDENSORTOILETS „STRATEGIESTOENSURETHATAHOUSEWILLHAVEA LONGLIFEBECAUSEITISCOMFORTABLETOSPENDTIME IN ARCHITECTURALLYSIGNI½CANT ORADAPTABLETO FUTUREUSES

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 .ATIONAL!SSOCIATIONOF(OME "UILDERS ±-ONTHLY(OUSING3TARTS ¯CURRENT ²ATWWWNAHBORG  +EVIN0RATT ±#ONSERVING(ABITATS ² !RTFORUM &EBRUARY 

„INSULATION GLASS ANDFACADESTHATAREENERGY EF½CIENTANDTHATPROMOTECOOLINGBYNATURAL VENTILATIONINSTEADOFBYAIR CONDITIONING „FEATURESTHATTAKEADVANTAGEOFTHESUN´SRAYS EITHERPASSIVELY USINGTHERMALMASSINGAND HIGH EF½CIENCYGLASS ORACTIVELYTHROUGH PHOTOVOLTAICPANELS TOTURNSUNLIGHTINTO ELECTRICITY „INTERIORMATERIALSAND½NISHES FROMCARPETSTO PAINTS THATMINIMIZECHEMICALEMISSIONSAND PROMOTEGOODAIRQUALITY !FTERMUCHTHOUGHTANDDISCUSSIONWITHVARIOUS LEADERSINTHE½ELD WEDECIDEDTOUSEANADMITTEDLY ¾EXIBLEDE½NITIONOFSUSTAINABILITYINTHISBOOK 4RUESUSTAINABILITY OFCOURSE MEANSAHOUSE THATPRODUCESASMUCHENERGYASITCONSUMES -ORETHANAFEWOFTHEHOUSESHEREWOULDFAILTO QUALIFYASGREENBYTHATSTANDARD&ORARCHITECTS ANDCLIENTSALIKE ITISNOTALWAYSREALISTICTO EXPECTPERFECTION4HEPOINTISTOMAKECAREFUL INFORMEDCHOICESFROMSELECTINGASITETOPICKING OUTTHECABINETRY!LONGWITHTHEIDEATHATGREEN HOUSESARENOWBEINGPRODUCEDBYMANYOFTHE WORLD´SMOSTTALENTEDARCHITECTS WHATWEARE INTERESTEDINCOMMUNICATINGHEREISTHENOTION THATSUSTAINABILITYISNOTEXOTICORBETTERLEFTTO SPECIALISTS BUTBASEDINTHEKINDOFCOMMONSENSE THATISCOMPREHENSIBLEFORANYPOTENTIALHOME BUILDER°ORHOME BUYER FORTHATMATTER )TISTRUETHATBUILDINGANEWHOUSEOFANYKIND WILLRARELYBEAPOSITIVEENVIRONMENTALGESTURE "UTNOMATTERHOWECOLOGICALLYPROGRESSIVEOUR SOCIETYBECOMES DEMANDFORNEWHOUSINGISNOT GOINGTODRYUPANYTIMESOON!BOUTMILLION SINGLE FAMILYHOMESWENTUPINTHE5NITED3TATES INALONE ACCORDINGTOTHE.ATIONAL!SSOCIATION OF(OME"UILDERS°THEVASTMAJORITYOFTHEM SADLY FOLLOWINGNOTASINGLEGREENDESIGNPRINCIPLE "UTMOREANDMORE ARCHITECTSARE½NDINGWAYSTO REDUCETHEMARGINBETWEENTHEAMOUNTOFRESOURCES CONSUMEDINTHECONSTRUCTIONANDOPERATIONOF AHOUSEANDTHOSESAVEDORREPLENISHED)NDEED BYCOMBININGANCIENTTECHNIQUESWITHTHE LATESTINSUPER EF½CIENTMECHANICALSYSTEMS ANDMATERIALS THEDESIGNERSOFTHEHOUSESWE´VE DOCUMENTEDHEREAREMANAGINGTOMAKETHAT MARGINASTONISHINGLYSMALL A Very Short History 0ERHAPSTHEMOSTIMPORTANTTHINGTOSAYABOUTTHE ORIGINSOFSUSTAINABLERESIDENTIALDESIGNSISTHAT THEYLIEINAGELESSVERNACULARARCHITECTURE THE

KINDOFCONSTRUCTIONTHATWASPRACTICEDFORMOST OFHUMANHISTORYANDCONTINUESTOBEPRACTICED INWHATWEINTHE7ESTCALLTHE4HIRD7ORLD 4HISAPPROACHRELIESONSIMPLE RENEWABLE AND NATURALLYINSULATINGMATERIALSSUCHASADOBE ANDPASSIVESTRATEGIESLIKESITING THICKWALLS AND NATURALVENTILATIONTOKEEPHOUSESCOOLINSUMMER ANDRETAINHEATINWINTER2OUGHLYONE THIRDOF THEWORLD´SPOPULATIONCONTINUESTOLIVEINSUCH ARCHITECTURE4HELESSONSITOFFERSFORBUILDING ENVIRONMENTALLYRESPONSIBLEANDENERGY EF½CIENT HOUSINGREMAINASVALUABLEANDEASYTOCOPYASEVER )NASTYLISTICSENSE TOOVERSIMPLIFYATLEASTA LITTLE 7ESTERNARCHITECTUREHASBEENDRIFTINGAWAY FROMTHOSETRADITIONSSINCETHE'REEKS3TILL THE DIVORCEBETWEENARCHITECTUREANDTHEENVIRONMENT WASNOTREALLY½NALIZEDUNTILTHEBEGINNINGOF THETWENTIETHCENTURY WHENTHEMODERNISTS´LOVE AFFAIRWITHNEWINDUSTRIALTECHNOLOGIES FROMTHE ELEVATORTOSTEEL FRAMECONSTRUCTION PRODUCEDAN ARCHITECTURETHATDIDITSBESTTOEXISTAPARTFROM NATURE)NDEED BYTHEEARLYDECADESOFTHETWENTIETH CENTURYTHEIDEALPIECEOFRESIDENTIALARCHITECTURE HADBECOMEARECTILINEAR PURE WHITEBOXSETOFFIN A½ELD4HEMODERNISTMASTER,E#ORBUSIERCALLED HISVERSION±AMACHINEFORLIVING ²ABUILDINGTHAT GAINEDITSUNDENIABLECHARISMAPRECISELYFROMTHE WAYITWASEVERYTHINGTHATTHE½ELDWASNOTHARD WHERETHE½ELDWASSOFT MONOCHROMATICINSTEADOF MULTIHUED CLOSEDINSTEADOFOPEN ITSEDGESFACTORY CUTINSTEADOFWEATHER SOFTENED 4HECRITIQUEOFMODERNISTARCHITECTUREASANTI GREENISBYNOWAFAMILIARONE ANDWETHINKITHAS SOMETIMESBEENOVERSTATED)TISWORTHPOINTING OUT FOREXAMPLE THATMODERNISMBEGANWITHTHE SAMEKINDOFREFORM MINDEDETHOSTHATNOWDRIVES GREENARCHITECTURE°ANDTHATSOMEOFTHE½GURES WHOHELPEDINSPIRETHESUSTAINABILITYMOVEMENT "UCKMINSTER&ULLERPROMINENTLYAMONGTHEM WEREBELIEVERSINMODERNISMWHOHOPEDTOHARNESS TECHNOLOGYTOIMPROVETHELIVESOFTHEAVERAGE FAMILY!S+EVIN0RATT ANARCHITECTANDCRITICBASED IN,ONDON HASPOINTEDOUT ±'REENDESIGNSPEAKS TOAYEARNINGFORTHEKINDOFTOTALIZINGAESTHETIC ANDIDEOLOGICALPROGRAMTHEMODERNISTSEMBRACED ;)T=ALSOSHARESWITHTHEMODERNISTPROJECTTHE RIGHTEOUSNESSOFACAUSEIMPROVINGTHEWORLD THROUGHREFORMOFITSMATERIALCULTURE²)NADDITION ASIGNI½CANTNUMBEROFGREENLANDMARKSOVERTHE LASTTWODECADESHAVEBEENDESIGNEDBYARCHITECTS LIKE"RITAIN´S(IGH4ECH'ROUP WHOSEAPPROACH ANDMETHODOLOGYGREWDIRECTLYFROMMODERNISM Camera-Ready Green Design

13

0RATTANDOTHERCRITICSHAVEGONESOFARASTOPREDICT THATSUSTAINABILITYWILLBETOTHETWENTY ½RST CENTURYWHATMODERNISMWASTOTHETWENTIETH°ITS DOMINANTARCHITECTURALMOVEMENT 9ETEVENWEFANSOFMODERNARCHITECTUREHAVE TOADMITTHEWISDOM°ANDTHEFORESIGHT°OFTHE WRITERSANDARCHITECTSWHOLINEDUPTOCOMPLAIN ABOUTITSSOMETIMESBLINDLYUNIVERSALAPPROACH AS WELLAS MOREGENERALLY THEDEHUMANIZINGEFFECTS OFRAPIDINDUSTRIALIZATION4HESECRITICSINCLUDED 7ILLIAM-ORRISAND*OHN2USKININ%NGLAND AND LATER &RANK,LOYD7RIGHTAND*ANE*ACOBSIN THE5NITED3TATES¯¯ADIVERSEGROUP TOBESURE WRITINGACROSSNEARLYACENTURY"UTWHATTHEYALL EXPRESSEDWASADEEPANXIETYABOUTTHEWAYSIN WHICHARCHITECTUREWASTURNINGAWAYFROMTHE SAMEBASICLESSONSOFTHEPROFESSION PASSEDDOWN FROMARCHITECTTOARCHITECTANDAMATEURBUILDERTO AMATEURBUILDER THATMAKEUPTHEFUNDAMENTALSOF GREENDESIGN°LESSONSABOUTHUMANSCALEANDHOW BUILDINGSRELATETOTHEIRNATURALSURROUNDINGSAND TOORGANICFORMSTHATCANBEAPPRECIATEDDAYTODAY SEASONTOSEASON ANDYEARTOYEAR4HEIRCRITIQUES BECAMEPARTICULARLYPERSUASIVEINTHES AS MODERNISMCAMETOSEDUCEURBANPLANNERSANDBIG CITYMAYORSASPOWERFULLYASITHADPRIVATECLIENTS 7HAT½NALLYALLOWEDSUCHMISGIVINGSTO COALESCEINTOAPROPERMOVEMENTWASTHE REALIZATIONDURINGTHESECONDHALFOFTHETWENTIETH CENTURYTHATHUMANACTIVITYWASBEGINNINGTO PUTTHEPLANETITSELFINPERIL4HISREALIZATION PROMPTED°ANDWASPROMPTEDBY°MANYSCIENTI½C ANDPOLITICALMILESTONES FROM2ACHEL#ARSON´S SEMINALBOOK3ILENT3PRINGINTOTHEINAUGURAL %ARTH$AYINTOASSESSMENTSLIKETHE#LUB OF2OME´SBOOK4HE,IMITSTO'ROWTH WHICH PREDICTED ALLTOOACCURATELY THATHUMANSWOULD SOONBEGINUSINGTHE%ARTH´SRESOURCESMOREQUICKLY THANTHEYCOULDBEREPLENISHED)TWASTHEOIL CRISISOFTHEMID S THOUGH THATPRODUCEDREAL ENVIRONMENTALURGENCYIN7ESTERNSOCIETIESFOR THE½RSTTIME!LLOFASUDDEN EVERYHUMANACTIVITY THATUSEDUPMORENATURALRESOURCESTHANCOULDBE REPLACEDBECAMESUSPECT7HATTHISCRISISMEANTFOR ARCHITECTUREWASTHATTHEDISMAYWITHHARD EDGED MECHANISTICDESIGNSEXPRESSEDBY2USKIN 7RIGHT ANDTHEIRHEIRSCOULDBEREGARDEDASMORETHANMERE AESTHETICDISSATISFACTION)TWASNOLONGERASIMPLE ARCHITECTURALARGUMENTABOUTWHETHERONE PREFERREDABUILDINGDRIPPINGWITHORNAMENTOR ABLANKFACADE4HEQUESTIONBECAMEWHETHER THOSERESPONSIBLEFORPUTTINGUPBUILDINGSWOULD

14

Introduction

HELPADDRESSTHEINCREASINGLYUNSTABLE UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPBETWEENHUMANCIVILIZATIONANDTHE NATURALWORLD "YTHES THEMOVEMENT½NALLYHADANAME FORITSGOALSUSTAINABILITY4HETERMWASBROUGHT INTOPOPULARUSEBYTHE"RUNDTLAND2EPORT A 5NITED.ATIONSDOCUMENTTHATDE½NEDSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTASMEETING±THENEEDSOFTHEPRESENT WITHOUTCOMPROMISINGTHEABILITYOFFUTURE GENERATIONSTOMEETTHEIROWN²4HECONCEPT PROVIDEDARCHITECTSWITHASENSEOFMEMBERSHIP INANIMPORTANTLARGEREFFORT AWAYOFDE½NING PRECISELYWHATTHEYHOPEDTOACCOMPLISHWITHTHEIR SOLARPANELSANDWALLSMADEFROMRECYCLEDTIRES %VENSO ITTOOKAWHILEBEFORETHECONCEPTOF SUSTAINABILITYMERGEDVERNACULARELEMENTSWITH ENERGY EF½CIENTBUILDINGPRACTICESTOCREATEWHAT WENOWCALLGREENARCHITECTURE!SAFORMALEFFORT THEMOVEMENTISYOUNGERTHANYOUMIGHTGUESS !SEARLYASTHEREWEREBOOKSLIKE2OBERT"ROWN "UTLER´S4HE%COLOGICAL(OUSEANDPROTO GREEN DEVELOPMENTSLIKE$AVIS #ALIFORNIA´S6ILLAGE (OMES BUTTHEYWEREISOLATEDEFFORTSTHATPREDATED ANYBROADSENSEOFECO FRIENDLYARCHITECTURE )NDEED 4HE'REEN2EADER ACOLLECTIONOFESSAYS PUBLISHEDINTHATADDRESSEDSUSTAINABILITY INAWIDEVARIETYOF½ELDS DIDNOTMENTION ARCHITECTUREATALL"UTCERTAINLYBYTHATYEARAND SOONAFTERTHEREWERENETWORKSOFARCHITECTSWHO HADBEGUNTOORGANIZETHEIRPRACTICESAROUNDAN ECOLOGICALLYSENSITIVEAPPROACHTOCONSTRUCTION 4HE!MERICAN)NSTITUTEOF!RCHITECTSCREATEDITS #OMMITTEEONTHE%NVIRONMENTIN4HE53 'REEN"UILDING#OUNCIL ANONPRO½TASSOCIATION WHOSEMEMBERSINCLUDEARCHITECTS DEVELOPERS ANDBUILDERS WASFOUNDEDIN4HE½RST COMPREHENSIVEBOOKSONTHESUBJECT SUCHAS -ICHAEL*#ROSBIE´S'REEN!RCHITECTURE!'UIDETO 3USTAINABLE$ESIGN BEGANAPPEARINGINBOOKSTORES OVERTHEFOLLOWINGFEWYEARS ANDBYTHEENDOF THEMILLENNIUMTHETERM±GREENARCHITECTURE²HAD SEEPEDINTOTHEPOPULARDISCOURSE A Movement’s Priorities !SGREENARCHITECTUREDEVELOPEDTHROUGHOUTTHE SANDS ITSLEADERSTENDEDTOPAYLITTLE IFANY ATTENTIONTOTHEHIGH DESIGNORACADEMIC CORNERSOFTHEARCHITECTUREWORLD)NSTEAD THEY RATHERSTUBBORNLYSAWGREENDESIGN´SPRIORITIESAS HIGHER MINDEDORSIMPLYMOREPRESSINGTHANSTYLE ORTHEORY4HEYWEREDETERMINEDTOPAYMOSTOF THEIRATTENTIONANDPERHAPSQUITERIGHTLY GIVEN

7ALLA7OMBA'UEST(OUSE BY!RCHITECTURE

 4HABO-BEKI ETAL ±7E#AN$O4HIS 7ORK4OGETHER ²)NTERNATIONAL(ERALD 4RIBUNE !UGUST

 !NDREW"LUM ±'EORGE7"USH "UILDSHIS$REAM(OUSE ²4HE.EW 9ORKER *ULY   "ARNABY*&EDER ±%NVIRONMENTALLY #ONSCIOUS$EVELOPERS4RYTO4URN 'REENINTO0LATINUM ²4HE.EW9ORK 4IMES !UGUST  )BID  "ARNABY*&EDER ±!$IFFERENT%RA FOR!LTERNATIVE%NERGY ²4HE.EW9ORK 4IMES -AY  %LIZA"ARCLAY ±06 46! -ULTIFUNCTIONAL %CO &RIENDLY "UILDING-ATERIAL ²-ETROPOLIS *ULY ONLINEEDITION AT WWWMETROPOLISMAGCOM  3USANNAH(AGAN ±&IVE2EASONS TO!DOPT%NVIRONMENTAL$ESIGN ² (ARVARD$ESIGN-AGAZINE 3PRING 3UMMER   1UOTEDIN#HRISTOPHER(AWTHORNE ±4HE#ASEFORA'REEN!ESTHETIC ² -ETROPOLIS /CTOBER 

WHOMAKESTHEDECISIONSABOUTHOWANDWHERETO BUILD ESPECIALLYINTHE5NITED3TATES TOCONVINCING CORPORATE!MERICATHATGREENDESIGNSHOULDBEA MAINSTREAMRATHERTHANAMARGINALORECCENTRIC PURSUIT )NTHATBATTLETHEYHAVEMADETREMENDOUSAND UNDENIABLEPROGRESS3USTAINABILITYADVOCATESCAN ½NALLYSAYWITHCON½DENCETHATTHEGOALSOFGREEN DESIGNHAVEBEENEMBRACEDBYAWIDEPUBLIC4HAT PUBLICMAYBEEVENWIDERTHANWESUSPECTTHOUGH THEYDONOTADVERTISETHISFACT EVEN'EORGE7"USH ANDHISWIFE,AURAHAVEBECOMEPATRONSOFGREEN ARCHITECTURE4HEIRRANCHHOUSEIN#RAWFORD 4EXAS DESIGNEDBY!USTINARCHITECT$AVID(EYMANNAND ½NISHEDTHESAMEYEAR"USHBECAME0RESIDENT HASA NUMBEROFSUSTAINABLEFEATURES INCLUDINGASYSTEM FORRECYCLINGHOUSEHOLDWATER 4HE'REEN"UILDING#OUNCIL´SSUSTAINABLE RATINGSYSTEMFORNEWBUILDINGS°KNOWNBY ITSACRONYM,%%$ FOR,EADERSHIPIN%NERGYAND %NVIRONMENTAL$ESIGN°HASACHIEVEDWIDECULTURAL CURRENCYSINCEITSFORMALINTRODUCTIONIN )TISNOTUNUSUALNOWEVENFORLARGECORPORATE CLIENTSTOPUSHTHEIRARCHITECTSTOACHIEVEA,%%$ RATINGBECAUSETHEYKNOWTHEPUBLICEQUATESTHOSE STANDARDSWITHENVIRONMENTALRESPONSIBILITY-ORE THAN BUILDINGSINTHE53HAVEEARNED,%%$ CERTI½CATIONORARESEEKINGIT°ROUGHLYPERCENT OFALLCOMMERCIALCONSTRUCTIONINTHISCOUNTRY WITHTHATPROPORTIONSURELYBOUNDTOINCREASEEACH YEAR!LREADY ROUGHLYONEIN½VEINSTITUTIONAL ANDGOVERNMENTBUILDINGSAREBEINGBUILTTO ,%%$STANDARDS !,%%$PROGRAMFORCOMMERCIAL INTERIORSWASLAUNCHEDIN ANDONEFOR RESIDENTIALARCHITECTUREIN /NEOFTHEBIGGESTDETERRENTSTOSUSTAINABLE BUILDINGHASBEENTHEPERCEPTIONOFADDEDEXPENSE !CCORDINGTOASTUDYCOMMISSIONEDBYTHESTATE OF#ALIFORNIA ,%%$BUILDINGSCOSTANAVERAGEOF MOREPERSQUAREFOOTTHANTYPICALCONSTRUCTION "UTOVERTWENTYYEARS THESTUDYSUGGESTS ±THEY WOULDGENERATESAVINGSOFASQUAREFOOT INCURRENTDOLLARS FORSTANDARD ANDSILVER CERTI½ED BUILDINGS ANDFORGOLD ANDPLATINUM CERTI½EDBUILDINGS²4OBEFAIR THEREISSOME GUESSWORKINVOLVEDINTHESEPROJECTIONSTHEYRELY ONASSUMPTIONSTHATGREENBUILDINGSWILLNOTONLY HAVELOWEROPERATINGCOSTSTHANTRADITIONALONESBUT ALSOTHATTHEYWILLBEMORECOMFORTABLETOWORKIN THEREBYINCREASINGEMPLOYEEPRODUCTIVITY -EANWHILE TECHNOLOGICALANDMANUFACTURING ADVANCESHAVEMADEMANYGREENDESIGNFEATURES

CHEAPERANDEASIERTOOBTAINTHANTHEYHADBEEN 3OLARPANELSDESIGNEDTOGENERATEELECTRICITY FOR EXAMPLE COSTABOUTPERWATTINTHEMID S THEYNOWSELLFORLESSTHANPERWATT ANDTHE PRICEISCONTINUINGTOFALL!NDNEWECO FRIENDLY BUILDINGMATERIALSAPPEARONWHATSEEMSADAILY BASIS#ONSIDER06 46 ANINVENTIVEVERSIONOFTHE SOLARPANELDEVELOPEDIN*APAN)TCANBEUSEDONTHE FACADEOFABUILDINGINTHREEWAYSATONCEASASOLAR COLLECTORTOGENERATEELECTRICITY ASATRANSPARENT PANETOALLOWSUNLIGHTINTOTHEINTERIOR ANDASA SCREENTODISPLAYVIDEOIMAGES !SGREENARCHITECTUREWASGAININGSUPPORTERS INTHEPOLITICALANDCOMMERCIALSPHERES HOWEVER ITWASUTTERLYFAILINGTOWINTHEMINTHEAESTHETIC REALM3USTAINABLEBUILDINGBECAMEASSOCIATEDIN THEPUBLICIMAGINATIONWITHEARNEST UNINSPIRED DESIGNSTHATPUTENVIRONMENTALCONCERNSFARAHEAD OFARTISTICONES CREATINGWHATSOMECRITICSDUBBED THECURSEOF±ECO BANALITY²)FINRECENTYEARSYOU ASKEDTHEAVERAGEREADEROFANARCHITECTUREOR HOME DESIGNMAGAZINE SAY TOCLOSEHEREYESAND DESCRIBEWHATCAMETOMINDATTHEMENTIONOF ±GREENDESIGN²OR±ECO ARCHITECTURE ²SHEPROBABLY WOULDHAVEMENTIONEDASAGGINGSODROOFORA CORPORATEOF½CEBUILDINGWITHSOMEENERGY EF½CIENT FEATURESBUTLITTLETORECOMMENDITARCHITECTURALLY 4HOSEARCHITECTSMOSTOFTENCOVEREDINTHE DESIGNANDPOPULARPRESS ESPECIALLYACADEMICSAND SELF STYLEDMEMBERSOFTHEAVANT GARDE WASTED FEWOPPORTUNITIESTODENIGRATESUSTAINABLEDESIGN &ORTHEM ASONEWRITERPUTIT GREENARCHITECTURE HAD±NOEDGE NOBUZZ NOSTYLE²)TWASNOTONLY ±POPULATEDBYTHESELF RIGHTEOUSANDTHEBADLY DRESSED²BUT±AHAVENFORTHEUNTALENTED WHERE ETHICSREPLACEAESTHETICSANDGETAWAYWITHIT² 4HEARCHITECT0ETER%ISENMAN LONGAMEMBER OFTHEARCHITECTURALVANGUARD HADTHISTOSAYON THESUBJECTASLATEAS±4OTALKTOMEABOUT SUSTAINABILITYISLIKETALKINGTOMEABOUTGIVING BIRTH!M)AGAINSTGIVINGBIRTH.O"UTWOULD) LIKETOSPENDMYTIMEDOINGIT.OTREALLY)´DRATHER GOTOABASEBALLGAME² 4HEREHAVEBEENMANYEXPLANATIONSPUTFORTH ABOUTWHYSOMANYOFTHEMOSTFAMOUSARCHITECTS INTHEWORLDSPENTTHELASTSEVERALYEARS¾EEING SUSTAINABILITYASQUICKLYASTHEIR0RADA CLADFEET COULDCARRYTHEM(ARRISON&RAKER DEANOFTHE #OLLEGEOF%NVIRONMENTAL$ESIGNATTHE5NIVERSITY OF#ALIFORNIAAT"ERKELEY SUGGESTSTHATTHEYHAVE FEAREDALLOWINGANYONETOPULLBACKTHECURTAIN ONTHEMYSTIQUETHATMAINTAINSANYKINDOF Camera-Ready Green Design

15

CELEBRITY%VENTHOSEFAMOUSARCHITECTSWHODESIGN ENVIRONMENTALLYCONSCIOUSBUILDINGS°&RAKER CITESTHEHIGHLYREGARDED3WISSDUO(ERZOG DE-EURONASANEXAMPLE°AREWEARYOFTHE±GREEN DESIGNER²LABEL±4HEYWORRYTHATTALKINGABOUTGREEN DESIGNWILLMAKEENVIRONMENTALISMTHECENTEROF THEIRPUBLICREPUTATION ² HEARGUES!NDTHAT IN TURN MIGHTDIMINISHTHEIRAPPEAL !DIFFERENTASSESSMENTCOMESFROM3USANNAH (AGAN WHORUNSAMASTER´SPROGRAMINSUSTAINABILITY ATTHE5NIVERSITYOF%AST,ONDONANDHASWRITTEN EXTENSIVELYONTHESUBJECT&ORHER THETRADITIONAL DISTANCEBETWEENTHEAVANT GARDEANDGREENDESIGN HASHADMORETODOWITHTHEFORMER´SPREOCCUPATION WITHTHEORYOVERMATERIAL4HOUGHTHESUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENTRESTSONAPHILOSOPHICALFOUNDATIONMADE UPOF½GURESASDIVERSEAS*OHN-UIR (ENRY$AVID 4HOREAU %DWARD!BBEY AND2ACHEL#ARSON ONA DAY TO DAYLEVELTHEPRACTICEOFGREENARCHITECTUREHAS MORETODOWITHHANDS ON PRACTICALCONSIDERATIONS THANITDOESWITHDEEPTHINKINGORDAZZLINGTHEORY)N THETHEORETICALWINGOFTHEARCHITECTUREPROFESSION (AGANSENSESWHATSHECALLS±ASOMETIMESEXPLICIT SOMETIMESSUBLIMINALRESISTANCETOARCHITECTURE AS MATTER²!NDFORSTARARCHITECTS THEIRCELEBRITY KEPTALOFTBYBUZZANDMYSTERY MATTERCANSEEM DANGEROUSLYCLOSETOMUNDANE The Damage Done 4HOSEARCHITECTS´COMPLAINTSABOUTGREENDESIGN´S LACKOFSTYLE OFCOURSE WERETHEDESIGN WORLD EQUIVALENTOF½DDLINGWHILE2OMEBURNED)NDEED FORANYONEWHOHASN´THEARDTHEMBEFORE THE STATISTICSONTHEAMOUNTOFDAMAGETHATTHEBUILDING INDUSTRIESDOTOTHEENVIRONMENTCANBESTAGGERING "YONERECENTMEASURE BUILDINGSUSEPERCENTOF ALLTHEENERGYCONSUMEDINTHE5NITED3TATESEACH YEARANDARERESPONSIBLEFORABOUTHALFOF!MERICAN GREENHOUSEGASEMISSIONS WHICHDRIVEGLOBAL WARMING-ORETHANONETHIRDOFTHEMATERIAL CLOGGING53LAND½LLSISPRODUCEDBYTHECONSTRUCTION ANDDEMOLITIONOFBUILDINGS7ORLDWIDE THE NUMBERSARENOTQUITESOBADBUTSTILLDRASTICALLY WORSETHANTHEYOUGHTTOBE ANDSOARINGPOPULATION GROWTHANDRAPIDINDUSTRIALIZATIONANDURBANIZATION IN#HINA )NDIA ANDELSEWHEREPROMISESTOWIPEOUT THEENVIRONMENTALPROGRESSBEINGMADEINBOTHTHE DEVELOPEDANDDEVELOPINGWORLD)NDEED #HINA NOWRANKSSECONDINTHEWORLD BEHINDONLYTHE 5NITED3TATES ASANEMITTEROFGREENHOUSEGASES ANDISLIKELYTOTAKEOVERTHETOPSPOTONTHATDUBIOUS LISTWITHINTHENEXTDECADE!NDWITHOUTADRASTIC

16

Introduction

GLOBALCOMMITMENTTOGREENARCHITECTURE THE SITUATIONPROMISESTOGETMUCHWORSE!CCORDING TO7ILLIAM#LARK APROFESSORAT(ARVARD´S+ENNEDY 3CHOOLOF'OVERNMENT ±/VERTHENEXTTWENTYTO FORTYYEARS BYANYOFTHEPREVAILINGDEMOGRAPHIC CALCULATIONS THEREWILLBEMOREURBANBUILT ENVIRONMENTCREATEDTHANINALLPRIORHISTORY² -UCHOFTHEENVIRONMENTALDAMAGEISTHE INDIRECTRESULT MANYGREENDESIGNADVOCATESSAY OFANARCHITECTURETHATHASINCREASINGLYALIENATED ITSUSERSFROMTHENATURALWORLD±/URCULTUREHAS ADOPTEDADESIGNSTRATAGEMTHATESSENTIALLYSAYS THATIFBRUTEFORCEORMASSIVEAMOUNTSOFENERGY DON´TWORK YOU´RENOTUSINGENOUGHOFIT ²SAYSTHE ARCHITECT7ILLIAM-C$ONOUGH AMONGTHEBEST KNOWNPRACTITIONERSOFSUSTAINABLEARCHITECTURE 7EMADEGLASSBUILDINGSTHATAREMOREABOUT BUILDINGSTHANTHEYAREABOUTPEOPLE 4HEHOPETHATGLASSWOULDCONNECTUSTOTHE OUTDOORSWASCOMPLETELYSTULTI½EDBYMAKING THEBUILDINGSSEALED7EHAVECREATEDSTRESSIN PEOPLEBECAUSEWEAREMEANTTOBECONNECTED WITHTHEOUTDOORS BUTINSTEADWEARE TRAPPED0EOPLEARESENSINGHOWHORRIFYING ITCANBETOBETRAPPEDINDOORS ESPECIALLYWITH THETHOUSANDSUPONTHOUSANDSOFCHEMICALS THATAREBEINGUSEDTOMAKETHINGSTODAY 'REENDESIGNEXPERTSHAVEPOINTEDOUTTHAT MOSTCONTEMPORARYARCHITECTUREISCONNECTED TOGLOBALIZATIONOFTHEMOSTDESTRUCTIVEORDER ±0HILLIPINEFORESTSARECLEAR CUTFORPLYWOODUSEDTO BUILDOF½CESIN*APAN ²NOTESTHE2OCKY-OUNTAIN )NSTITUTE´S0RIMERON3USTAINABLE"UILDING (OMESIN3OUTHERN#ALIFORNIAAREFRAMED WITHOLD GROWTHLUMBERFROM7ASHINGTON ANDPOWEREDBYBURNINGCOALSTRIP MINED FROM.AVAJOSACREDLANDSIN!RIZONA 5LTIMATELY THECOSTSOFPOORDESIGNARE BORNENOTSOLELYBYABUILDING´SOWNER ANDTHOSEWHOWORKANDLIVETHERE BUT BYEVERYONE )NTHEFACEOFSUCHSTATISTICS ITISEASYTODESPAIR ABOUTTHEPOSSIBILITYOFATURNAROUND ESPECIALLY ONELEDBYARCHITECTURE°AND MORESPECI½CALLY BYRESIDENTIALARCHITECTURE!FTERALL THENUMBER OFPRIVATEHOMESDESIGNEDBYARCHITECTSEACHYEAR AROUNDTHEWORLDISTINYCOMPAREDTOTHEMANY BUILDINGS FROMHOUSINGDEVELOPMENTSTOOF½CE PARKS THATARECONSTRUCTEDWITHOUTTHEBENE½TOF ADESIGNPROFESSIONAL7HAT´SMORE THOSE DESIGNEDBYTHEARCHITECTSONTHECUTTINGEDGEOF THEPROFESSIONWOULDSEEMTOHAVELITTLEDIRECT

  )BID   (AGAN ±&IVE2EASONS ²  #HRISTOPHER(AWTHORNE ±4URNING $OWNTHE'LOBAL4HERMOSTAT ² -ETROPOLIS /CTOBER   (AWTHORNE ±4HE#ASEFORA'REEN !ESTHETIC ²  ±#LIMATE#HANGE4HE"IG%MITTERS ² ""#.EWS *ULY ONLINE EDITION ATHTTPNEWSBBCCOUK  7ILLIAM#LARK ±7HAT#AN7E$O² (ARVARD$ESIGN-AGAZINE 3PRING 3UMMER   7ILLIAM-C$ONOUGH ±$ESIGN %COLOGY %THICS ANDTHE-AKINGOF 4HINGS ²%ARTH)SLAND*OURNAL 3PRING ONLINEEDITION AT WWWEARTHISLANDORGEIJOURNAL  $IANNA,OPEZ"ARNETT ETAL 0RIMER ON3USTAINABLE$ESIGN3NOWMASS #OLORADO2OCKY-OUNTAIN)NSTITUTE  

#HARLOTTE2ESIDENCE BY7ILLIAM -C$ONOUGH0ARTNERS

 1UOTEDIN#ALVIN4OMKINS ±4HE 0IANO0RINCIPLE ²4HE.EW9ORKER !UGUST   %LIZABETH7ILHIDE %CO!N%SSENTIAL 3OURCEBOOKFOR%NVIRONMENTALLY &RIENDLY$ESIGNAND$ECORATION .EW9ORK2IZZOLI    $ANNY(AKIM ±!3HADEOF'REEN 356´S4RYTO3OFTEN)MAGE ²4HE.EW 9ORK4IMES &EBRUARY  (AWTHORNE ±4URNING$OWNTHE 'LOBAL4HERMOSTAT ²  (AWTHORNE ±4HE#ASEFORA'REEN !ESTHETIC ²

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Camera-Ready Green Design

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city

Cities have been around for more than six thousand years, drawing successive waves of new residents with their blend of commerce, culture, energy, and opportunity. The first city to surpass a population of one million was Baghdad, thirteen centuries ago. London topped five million in 1825; New York exceeded ten million a hundred years later. The metropolitan area around Tokyo surpassed twenty million in 1965 and is now closing in on thirty. !TTHESTARTOFTHETWENTIETHCENTURY THEREWERESIXTEENCITIESWITHONEMILLION INHABITANTSBYTHEENDOFIT THEREWERENEARLYFOURHUNDRED4ODAY´S±MEGA ²OR ±HYPERCITIES²HAVEBECOMECHOKEDWITHPEOPLE"OMBAY 3jO0AULO -EXICO#ITY ,OS!NGELES 3HANGHAI AND"UENOS!IRESALLHAVEPOPULATIONSINEXCESSOFTENMILLION &ORTHE½RSTTIMEINHUMANHISTORY MOREPEOPLELIVEINCITIESTHANOUTSIDEOFTHEM &ORALONGTIME CITIESHADAHORRIBLEREPUTATIONWHENITCAMETOTHEENVI RONMENT4HEYWERETHOUGHTTOBECONCRETEJUNGLESWHERERESIDENTSWERECUT OFFFROMGRASS TREES ANDFRESHAIRANDLIVEDOUTOFECOLOGICALBALANCE3OMEOF THATREPUTATIONISDESERVEDCITIESTODAYCONSUMEMORETHANPERCENTOFTHE WORLD´SRESOURCES ALTHOUGHTHEYTAKEUPAMEREPERCENTOFITSLANDSURFACE"UT RECENTLYAMORECOMPLEXASSESSMENTOFTHERELATIONSHIPBETWEENURBANISMAND SUSTAINABILITYHASEMERGED&IRST CITIESHAVEBECOMEMORELIVABLE THANKSTO FALLINGCRIMERATESANDINCREASEDATTENTIONTOISSUESLIKEAIRQUALITY3ECOND CITIES AREINHERENTLYDENSE ANDDENSITYCANGREATLYREDUCEASOCIETY´SOVERALLDRAINON NATURALRESOURCES!NAPARTMENTDWELLERWHOOCCUPIESLESSTHAN SQUARE FEET HASNOLAWNTOWATER SHARESAHEATINGSYSTEMWITHHISFELLOWTENANTS AND USESPUBLICTRANSPORTATIONISFARKINDERTOTHEENVIRONMENTTHANHISCOUNTERPARTIN THESUBURBSWHODRIVESEVERYWHEREANDLIVESINASINGLE FAMILYHOUSEONITSOWN LANDSCAPEDPLOT 4HE MOST SUCCESSFUL GREEN PROJECTS IN CITIES ARE SMALL AND MODERATELY DENSE SUCHASAPARTMENTSCLUSTEREDINSTRUCTURESOFLESSTHANSIXSTORIES"UTLOW IMPACT

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City

MATERIALSANDTECHNOLOGIESAREALSOINCREASINGLYCOMMONINRESIDENTIALHIGH RISES WHICHTAKEADVANTAGEOFGREENCONSTRUCTIONMETHODSDEVELOPEDFORCOMMERCIAL BUILDINGS"UILDERSHAVEMADEGREATSTRIDESINREDUCINGENVIRONMENTALIMPACTBY USINGHARVESTEDLUMBERANDRECYCLEDMATERIALS THEINSTALLATIONOFNON TOXICAND ENERGY EF½CIENTINSULATIONSYSTEMS ANDTHESELECTIONOFBUILDINGSITESTHATTAKE MAXIMUMADVANTAGEOFSOLARANDWINDPOWERASWELLASACCESSTOPUBLICTRANS PORTATION)TISWORTHNOTINGTHATONEOFTHEMOSTPOPULARTYPESOFURBANCONSTRUC TION°CONVERTINGINDUSTRIALBUILDINGSINTORESIDENTIALPROPERTIES°ISINTRINSICALLY GREEN2ECYCLINGANDRENEWINGOLDSTRUCTURESAREAMONGTHEBESTWAYSTOMINI MIZEWASTEANDPRESERVERESOURCES #ITIESLARGEANDSMALLHAVEDEPLOYEDSUCCESSFULPROGRAMSTOHALTSPRAWLWITH THE HELP OF TAX BREAKS AND OTHER INCENTIVES FOR INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT 3OME HAVE BEGUN TO REDEVELOP THEIR WATERFRONT DISTRICTS INTO CULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES RENOVATINGTHEIREXISTINGSTOCKOFBUILDINGSINTHEPROCESS0LANNERSAREALSO NARROWINGCOMMUTINGDISTANCESBETWEENCOMMERCIALANDRESIDENTIALAREASAND DESIGNING EVER MORE SOPHISTICATED SYSTEMS OF TRANSPORTATION WITHIN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS-ANYARCHITECTSANDPLANNERSARETHINKINGMOREBROADLYABOUTTHE ENVIRONMENTALIMPACTOFTHEIRBUILDINGMETHODS FOREXAMPLE BYINCLUDINGTRANS PORTATIONCOSTSINTHEIRCALCULATIONSABOUTTHESUSTAINABILITYOFDIFFERENTMATERIALS 7ITHITSRECYCLABLERESOURCES EXISTINGINFRASTRUCTURE ANDDENSITYOFSUPPLIERS THE CITYTURNSOUTTOBEAPOTENTIALLYECO FRIENDLYSITEFORHOMECONSTRUCTION 5RBAN CONSTRUCTION OFFERS NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SECURING BUILDINGS AGAINSTENERGYLOSS-ANYSTRUCTURES ESPECIALLYINDENSEURBANCORES AREERECTED BETWEEN EXISTING BUILDINGS AND THEREFORE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS ON ONLY TWO SIDES!ND INCREASINGLY CITIESARETURNINGBUILDINGTOPSINTO±ECO ROOFS ²PLANTED WITHSODORNATIVEGRASSES WHICHHELPLOWERASTRUCTURE´SENERGYUSEBYPROMOTING NATURALEVAPORATIONINSUMMERANDPROVIDINGINSULATIONINWINTER'REENROOFS AREAPPEARINGATATIMEWHENWEAREREALIZINGTHATCITIESRESEMBLENATUREMORE CLOSELYTHANWEONCEADMITTED°ANDVICEVERSA!S*ANE*ACOBSWROTEINA ARTICLEFOR4HE.EW9ORK4IMES-AGAZINE ±)NITSNEEDFORVARIETYANDACCEPTANCE OF RANDOMNESS A ¾OURISHING NATURAL ECOSYSTEM IS MORE LIKE A CITY THAN LIKE A PLANTATION 0ERHAPS IT WILL BE THE CITY THAT REAWAKENS OUR UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATIONOFNATURE INALLITSTEEMING UNPREDICTABLECOMPLEXITY²

City Urban

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City

P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. project

LOCATION

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

ARCHITECTURALFIRM

DESIGNERS

YEAR

Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten

Rien Korteknie and Mechthild Stuhlmacher

2001

!T½RSTGLANCE IT´SHARDTOTELLWHATTHEANGULARBUILDING PAINTEDASHADEOFLIGHTGREENBORDERINGONCHARTREUSE IS DOINGATTACHEDTOTHEROOFOFAWAREHOUSENEARTHE-AAS 2IVERIN2OTTERDAM)TLOOKSASTHOUGHITCOULDBEASCULPTURE ORTEMPORARYARTWORK ORAPIECEOFARCHITECTUREPRODUCED ASALARK!CTUALLY THEBUILDINGISAPROTOTYPEFORANENTIRELY NEWKINDOFURBANHOUSING ONETHATMIXESPRAGMATISM ANDSUSTAINABILITYWITHADESIGNSENSIBILITYTHATISFARMORE SOPHISTICATEDTHANITINITIALLYAPPEARSTOBE

:4HE½RST0!2!3)4%PROJECT

APROTOTYPEFORASUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNISTICKINDOFURBAN HOUSING ISATTACHEDTOASTAIRWELL ATOPARENOVATEDWAREHOUSEIN THE$UTCHCITYOF2OTTERDAM

4HISISTHE0!2!3)4%PROJECT DESIGNEDBY APAIROF$UTCHARCHITECTSNAMED2IEN+ORTEKNIE AND-ECHTHILD3TUHLMACHER)TISTHE½RST REALIZEDPROJECTINASERIESOFEXPERIMENTALSMALL HOUSESDEVELOPEDTOCOINCIDEWITH2OTTERDAM´S DESIGNATIONASTHE%UROPEAN#ULTURAL#APITAL IN4HEIDEAWASTOENLISTYOUNGARCHITECTS TODESIGNPROTOTYPESFORHOUSINGTHATMAKE PARASITICUSEOFEXISTINGURBANINFRASTRUCTURE !STHEPROGRAM´SMATERIALSPUTIT THESITESFOR THESEPROJECTSAREMEANTTOBE±ALLKINDSOFURBAN LOCATIONSTHATAREUSUALLYREGARDEDASBEING UNSUITABLEFORPERMANENTINHABITATION SUCHAS FORMERINDUSTRIALSITES THE¾ATROOFSOFEXISTING BUILDINGS LOCATIONSONTHEWATER ²OROTHER ±DISUSED²SPOTSINTHECONTEMPORARYCITY4HE ACRONYM0!2!3)4%STANDSFOR0ROTOTYPEFOR !DVANCED2EADY MADE!MPHIBIOUS3MALL SCALE )NDIVIDUAL4EMPORARY%COLOGICALDWELLING 4HEBUILDINGSITEFOR+ORTEKNIEAND 3TUHLMACHER´S0!2!3)4%PROJECTISTHETOP OFAWAREHOUSEIN2OTTERDAMCALLED,AS0ALMAS WHICHHASBEENRENOVATEDANDNOWSERVESASAN EXHIBITIONSPACEFORARTSHOWS DESIGNEXHIBITIONS ANDOTHEREVENTS4HEIRPROTOTYPEISDESIGNEDTO EXPLORETHEPOTENTIALOFNEWARCHITECTURALSYSTEMS THATCOMBINESUSTAINABILITYANDPREFABRICATION )NTHISCASE THEARCHITECTSUSEDLARGE LAMINATED PANELSCALLED,ENO4ECTHATAREMADEOF%UROPEAN

WASTEWOODANDCANBEUSEDFORWALLS ¾OORS ANDEVENROOFS4HEPANELSARELOAD BEARINGAND INSULATINGATTHESAMETIME THOUGHINSOME CLIMATESADDITIONALINSULATIONMAYBENEEDED 4HEPROJECT´SMOSTSUSTAINABLEFEATUREISTHE WAYITRELATESTOTHECITY4HESTRUCTURESUGGESTS ATYPEOFHOUSINGTHATWOULDTAKEADVANTAGEOF EXISTINGANDOFTENUNDERUSED WATERANDHEATING SYSTEMSINOLDINDUSTRIALBUILDINGS)TWOULDALSO TIEDIRECTLYINTOURBANTRANSPORTATIONSYSTEMSAND ADDTOTHEDENSITYOF%UROPEANCITIES CUTTINGBACK THENEEDFORRESOURCE DRAININGSUBURBANSPRAWL )NDEED THEDESIGNOFTHIS2OTTERDAM0!2!3)4% OFFERSSOMETHINGOFACRITIQUE THEARCHITECTSSAY OFHOUSINGPOLICYINTHE.ETHERLANDS ACOUNTRY THATHASSTRUGGLEDTOCONTROLDEVELOPMENTINTHE SUBURBANAREASBETWEENITSBIGGESTCITIES7HAT THEYPROPOSEISASTYLISHNEWKINDOFURBANIN½LL ATYPEOFCITYAPARTMENTTHATDOESN´TREQUIREAN EMPTYLOTORTHEDEMOLITIONOFANEXISTINGBUILDING +ORTEKNIEAND3TUHLMACHERDESIGNEDTHEHOUSE WITHADVANCEDCOMPUTERMODELINGSOFTWARE 4HEYUSEDTHESAMEPROGRAMTORUNTHEMILLING MACHINESINTHE,ENO4ECFACTORYASTHEYUSEDTO DESIGNTHEPANELS4HEPANELSWERETRUCKEDTOTHE SITEANDBASICASSEMBLYWASCOMPLETEDINJUSTFOUR DAYS4HE0!2!3)4% JUSTUNDER SQUARE FEETINTOTAL WASBUILTFORABOUTPERSQUARE FOOT°LESSTHANHALFTHEAVERAGECOSTFORARCHITECT DESIGNEDHOMESINTHE5NITED3TATES WHICHRUN ROUGHLYPERSQUAREFOOTANDUP &ROMTHEOUTSIDE THEBUILDINGMAYLOOK TEMPORARYANDEVENFRAGILE BUTINSIDEITFEELS SURPRISINGLYPERMANENTAND½NISHED4HESPACES AREBEAUTIFULLYANDINTELLIGENTLYPROPORTIONED ANDOFFERDRAMATICVIEWSOF2OTTERDAM INCLUDING MOSTPROMINENTLY 5.3TUDIO´SHIGHLYACCLAIMED %RASMUS"RIDGE 4HISATTENTIONTODETAILISALSOPARTOFTHE ARCHITECTS´COMMENTARYONTYPICALRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTIONINTHE.ETHERLANDS PARTICULARLYIN THESUBURBSWHILESOMEOFTHECOUNTRY´SBEST KNOWNARCHITECTSHAVEBEENHIREDTOPRODUCE NEWSUBURBANDEVELOPMENTS THEYHAVETENDED

P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Project

21

TOLAVISHMORECAREONTHEEXTERIORARCHITECTURE THANONTHEINTERIORS MAKINGFORCOMPLEXESTHAT LOOKGREATINMAGAZINESPREADSBUTDON´TALWAYS PLEASETHEIRRESIDENTS4HE0!2!3)4%PROJECT ISDESIGNEDWITHDIFFERENTPRIORITIES4HOUGHTHE HOUSELOOKSAD HOCFROMTHEOUTSIDE MOSTVISITORS GIVENTHEOPPORTUNITYTOTOURTHEINTERIORMAKE EXACTLYTHESAMEPRONOUNCEMENTTHEYWOULDN´T MINDLIVINGHERETHEMSELVES

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City