POSTCARD FROM PORTLAND

Dear ArchitectureWeek,

Plentiful rainfall in Portland, Oregon is more than a nuisance for residents and a deterrent for visitors. It's also a public-works nightmare. The city's under-sized storm sewer system is frequently overwhelmed, causing combined rainwater and sewage to be dumped into the Willamette River, creating a serious biohazard, even after only moderate rainfall.

SPEC'ING GREEN

"Architects have the ability to change entire industries with the stroke of a pen. If we specify a material with low carbon dioxide emissions in its fabrication — say, floor tile, carpet, gypsum board — industry will respond. This is the American way. Architects are consumers; they're not always aware of the incredible power they have to change the way products are manufactured."

— Ed Mazria in Metropolis Magazine.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELDERCARE

The new Caritas House, an eldercare center in Moenchengladbach-Neuwerk, Germany, combines modern group-living with advanced environmental technology. Not only does the passively conditioned building require very little conventional heating energy, it provides unusually high air quality, which improves the quality of life for its residents.

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