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SUBURBAN RENEWAL
Two years ago I moved into a modest, 1950s-era, one-story house. From the beginning, my intention has been to make better use of on-site resources such as sun, rain, and soil while using the existing house and property as points of departure for my own local suburban renewal project. A primary strategy of "permaculture" central to this work is to develop what I call "chains of benefits," when single actions produce multiple positive outcomes. — Published 2002.0814
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EXPLAINING GREEN MATERIALS
Now, more than ever, homeowners and builders are getting serious about choosing sustainable building materials for their next remodel or construction project. Yet their interest may exceed the availability of information. A common question from people interested in "green" materials is: "Where can I find out about them?" — Published 2002.0717
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RESTORING THE GIANT FOREST
The notion that architecture should fit the vernacular of its surroundings did not begin in U.S. national parks, but few other architectural styles seem to sit as comfortably in the landscape as the "national park rustic" style. — Published 2002.0626
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SUSTAINABILITY PAYS OFF
Conventional wisdom holds that the best way to formally "green" a project is to integrate sustainable thinking into the design process from the beginning. Getting everyone on the team working together early toward this common goal is still the best approach. But it's not the only way to design a sustainable building. — Published 2002.0612
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HERETICAL TENT
In the south of France is a house whose tent-like form follows the contours of the land and mimics the curvature of a nearby ancient stone wall. It is an example of "architecture by stealth." Not only does its green fabric covering blend into the natural environment, but the structure is nearly invisible to building officials.
"Maison Barak" is also figuratively green, with a geothermal heat source and a relatively light footprint in its grove of olive trees. — Published 2002.0529
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SUSTAINABLE IN SEATTLE
The sixth annual EnvironDesign conference brought 1200 people to Seattle, a fitting venue for a conversation on sustainability. The city now has over $1 billion of new construction in progress expected to receive a "green building" certification. Regional neighbors Vancouver, British Columbia and Portland, Oregon also stand out as leading cities in this movement. — Published 2002.0515
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WINDOWS FOR LIGHT
No one can deny the historical importance of daylight in determining the form of buildings since, together with the effects of climate and location, daylight availability was fundamental to their design. However, with the introduction of modern sources of electric light, and particularly because of their increasing efficiency since the Second World War, by the 1960s the need to introduce daylight into buildings had appeared to diminish. — Published 2002.0501
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NEW HOME FOR OLD PHOTOS
Last year, the American Academy in Rome moved its valuable photographic archive to a newly renovated villa built in the early 1920s. The challenge for Studio Abbate & Vigevano, the architects designing the villa's renovation, was to create a delightful, daylit interior while protecting the delicate negatives from heat and humidity. They call the result a "minimalist model of sustainable architecture." — Published 2002.0417
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COOL AND GREEN
"Green" buildings can be built in any climate. They can be kept within a reasonable budget, and they don't have to sacrifice architectural grace in favor of functional, environmental, and sustainable factors.
Proving these claims is the recently completed Computer Science Building on the suburban campus of York University, Toronto. It is believed to be the most comprehensively green building in Ontario. — Published 2002.0403
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MULTIFAMILY SOLAR
CEPHEUS (Cost-Efficient Passive Houses as EUropean Standards) is a demonstration project that is examining the viability of solar and low-energy construction in Europe. Fourteen inexpensive buildings with a total of 221 residential units have been built and are being evaluated through a standardized measurement program. The results of the Austrian projects have been published in a book that proposes to demonstrate that reducing the consumption of conventional fuels is both possible and recommended in this climate. This is the story of Wolfurt, Vorarlberg, low-cost, compact multifamily terraced housing on the slopes of the Bregenz Forest. Architect Gerhard Zweier has provided eight families with dividable floor plans, ample daylight, and large gardens. Although the energy conservation results are not perfect, the example is instructive. — Editor — Published 2002.0313
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