continued

Hahn's framework presents contemporary design approaches in terms of ecological sustainability, economy, experience, and ethics. One approach, "simulation," involves feigning or copying the appearance of nature. Buildings at this level might look more like a part of nature than the average building but do not function any differently or aspire to any greater environmental responsibility.

Designers implementing the "interpretation" approach better understand the interactions between the built and natural environments, and include users in the interaction. For example, after considering climate and geography, an architect might design a building cut into the earth, at once taking advantage of natural insulation and aesthetically engaging the building's occupants.

The "imitation" approach, according to Hahn, reduces a building's ecological footprint, but without a holistic approach to design. These buildings achieve high energy and resource efficiency purely through high-tech systems, materials, or products — such as photovoltaics, composite panels, or low-flow plumbing fixtures — but may fail to address real-world economics or user experience.

From imitation, there is a conceptual leap to the "replication" approach. This might also be termed "elementary biomimicry," because it employs examples from nature in the design and construction of buildings in the spirit of Janine Benyus's 1997 book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.

As Hahn pointed out, such replications often involve great transformations in scale — for example, modeling building features after butterfly wings or beaver dams. But it is questionable whether the efficiency of these adaptations is preserved at the larger scale when isolated from the original context and applied to different problems.

The final approach Hahn described, "emulation," is an "advanced biomimicry," based more on understanding and modeling natural processes than on copying specific solutions. Design at this level goes beyond maximizing resource efficiency to achieve holistic, integrated functionality.

Hahn sees the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Bruce Goff, Fay Jones, Santiago Calatrava, and particularly Ken Yeang as excellent examples of this approach. In his own practice, Hahn seeks to bring the emulative approach into the mainstream.

Flavors of Ecodesign

Todd Jersey, principal of Todd Jersey Architecture in Berkeley, California, takes the "interpretation" approach to ecological design. In the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, Jersey "collaborated with nature" to implement passive solar heating, maximize natural ventilation and daylight, avoid toxic finishes, and use recycled building materials. Churchgoers appreciate the natural look and feel of the building, as well as the minimal maintenance required.

In his Eco Wave presentation, Jersey pointed out that many clients aren't interested in environmentally friendly design, but everyone understands financial savings, durability, and beauty — goals he achieves through ecological awareness. "Sometimes I don't even tell them," he said, "I just do it." Jersey's approach has the benefit of appealing to a large number of clients and users.

In contrast, Eugene Tsui, AIA, president of Tsui Design and Research, Inc. in Emeryville, California, seems to run on the fuel of revolution. From his very presence on the stage — in a royal blue cape of his own design — Tsui made clear his disdain for convention and his passion for experimenting with nature-based design. While many of his designs resemble futuristic spacecraft, the structures and processes embodied therein represent largely a "replication" approach to ecological design.

For example, the basic form of the Tsui House mimics that of the tardigrade, or water bear, a tiny invertebrate known for its exceptional resilience in extreme conditions. Like the tardigrade, this earthquake-resistant house is all curves, from the oval floor plan to the dual parabolic and catenary arches of its profile. The roof truss is modeled after an albatross wing bone structure to maximize strength while minimizing bulk. Passive solar heating is provided by black, water-filled tubes on the roof that mimic dinosaur capillaries.

Application to the Urban Scale

Taking Hahn's concept of emulation to the ecosystem level, conference speaker Richard Register, president of the nonprofit Ecocity Builders in Oakland, broadened the scope of ecological design to the scale of city planning. Rather than simply increasing the efficiency of sprawling suburbs by installing solar panels and using recycled building materials, he advocates dense urban growth that renders cars unnecessary.

Register cautions against technology that only improves on current, unsustainable technologies but fails to change the patterns of human behavior that negatively affect the earth. For example, more efficient cars, such as gasoline-electric hybrids, encourage more automobile travel, potentially promoting greater sprawl.

His vision of a more environmentally friendly Berkeley redistributes development to increase population density in urban centers and decrease density in between. The concept of "transfer development rights" would allow developers to build taller buildings in city centers than would generally be allowed, while gradually funding the removal of structures in surrounding areas for parks and agriculture.

Register admitted that his ideas for building up and reclaiming open space meet with resistance, even in notoriously liberal Berkeley. Residents are wary of tall buildings taking over historic downtown areas. But through his eco-friendly designs, Register seeks to improve the urban experience for people. For example, with pedestrian accessibility a top priority, he applauds structures connected to each other by footbridges.

The Wave Rolls On

Other concepts discussed at the conference included preserving the identity of place, recreating commons, building for interactivity, and "living machines," as well as the practical aspects of straw-bale construction, recycled-content products, and rainwater collection systems.

Eco Wave 2003 showcased many different — and at times conflicting — approaches to ecological design. As in any field committed to changing the way we live, there is a tension between those who promote small, palatable steps toward more efficient and respectful resource use and those who believe that nothing short of revolution will suffice.

Despite disagreements, success in promoting ecological design could improve the relationships both between buildings and their natural environment and between humans and the buildings they inhabit. The dreams may be big, but it appears that growing numbers of architects and builders are working to achieve those dreams.

Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum...

Nancy Novitski writes about people and the environment from San Francisco, California.

Chapel interior of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, by Todd Jersey Architecture, a "collaboration with nature." Photo: Todd Jersey Architecture Electron micrograph of the almost indestructible tardigrade. Photo: Courtesy Eugene Tsui The Tsui House roof features black, water-filled tubes that mimic dinosaur capillaries. Photo: Tsui Design and Research The Tsui House in Berkeley mimics the shape of the tardigrade. Photo: Tsui Design and Research A portion of Berkeley, California, as it now exists. Image: Richard Register, Ecocity Builders A vision of Berkeley with higher-density urban centers interspersed with parkland. Image: Richard Register, Ecocity Builders In Register's view, small parcels should be reclaimed to make parks between taller buildings. Image: Richard Register, Ecocity Builders Tall buildings can become pedestrian friendly with the liberal use of footbridges. Image: Richard Register, Ecocity Builders   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.