Architecture is basking under the lights of the chimerical town of NY-LON. In New York, MoMA has taken on the task of exhibiting the re-birth of pre-fabricated construction with their show Home Delivery – Fabricating the Modern Dwelling meant to be both a historic survey of pre-fab and a life size playground of houses by a new set of pre-fab pioneers. Across the pond in good old blighty, London has just completed hosting the Festival of Architecture with its myriad of themes, events and boat tours.
Optimistically, the central theme at both locations has been the environment - not just a tabula rasa to build from but as a living breathing investment we must take care with. This seems timely with California’s adoption of a state wide Green Building Code aiming among other things to reduce water and energy use in all new construction. The foundation for this will be the standards set by LEED as a minimal objective for state buildings. Additionally China in line with the Beijing Olympics is taking drastic steps to improve their air quality and their environmental reputation.
I believe as architects we have perhaps the biggest opportunity, besides the policy makers, to the limit and potentially reverse the detrimental environmental effects. First as individuals reducing our personal impact, and importantly as professionals who must be steadfast in our ethical commitment to adopt greener principles in the way we practice.
So in this the first guest opinion editorial, I reach out to the members of archinect – practicing architect, student, planner, et al – to green your practice.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
