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BEAUTY AND THE BEST
More than just resource-efficient buildings, projects from Venezuela, Germany, Italy, and Canada recently chosen as recipients of the first global Holcim Awards demonstrate "sustainability" as integration with their larger urban, social, and technological context. They were recently selected from 15 finalists after a series of regional competitions with more than 3,000 submissions from 118 countries. — Published 2006.0607
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TWO GREEN HOUSES
Fifty-one-year-old Kengo Kuma, among the best-known Japanese architects of his generation, tends to use each of his residential commissions to explore a single building material. In a dense Tokyo neighborhood, for example, he designed the so-called Plastic House. — Published 2006.0517
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BAN TALKS TO STUDENTS
As a noted architectural experimenter, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban was a natural choice as keynote speaker to open the student-run HOPES (Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability) conference for 2006 in April. Now in its 12th year, the conference weaves together a mix of architectural scholars, practitioners, and students to promote a deeper understanding of sustainable design issues. — Published 2006.0510
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ENERGY CONCERNS MAINSTREAM
In March 2006, architect and planner Bob Berkebile, FAIA addressed an overflow audience at the Building Energy '06 conference in Boston. He gave a stirring call to arms, saying that this was a powerful moment in human history. — Published 2006.0419
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BOISE LEED-NC
In a state better known for its green forests than its "green" building practices, a newly renovated warehouse sets a precedent for sustainability. Front 5 Building in downtown Boise, Idaho has just been received the state's first LEED-NC (New Construction and Major Renovations) certification for its energy- and resource-efficiency. — Published 2006.0412
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AIA AWARDS 2006
In the "Granite State" of New Hampshire, the annual AIA awards program has recognized a series of projects that reflect the character of New England: muscular architecture to withstand a harsh climate and to protect the warm and inviting environments within. — Published 2006.0405
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SUSTAINABLE PHILOSOPHY
As the concept of sustainable design moves into the mainstream of architectural practice, it will evolve in how it is perceived and understood. Already the idea has moved in from the fringes of practice and has shed most of its original, inappropriate reputation as a fad. In light of its growing acceptance, sustainable design is now worthwhile fodder for philosophical speculation. — Editor — Published 2006.0208
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DESIGN TO SURVIVE
In December, 2005, the American Institute of Architects Board of Directors adopted a position statement they hope will "transform the profession to emphasize sustainability." In the absence of federal leadership on this issue, the AIA recognizes the need for design professionals to find solutions to serious global problems. In the following letter to the construction industry, a veteran environmental activist/ architect discusses what this means to practitioners. — Editor — Published 2006.0104
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URBAN ARTS
The new home for Artists for Humanity in Boston is a creative combination of hard-working architecture, sustainable design and construction, and a reflection of the youth who work and learn in the building. The facility, known as the "EpiCenter," designed by Arrowstreet Architects of Somerville, Massachusetts, is on an infill site in South Boston. — Published 2005.1207
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PRESENTING SYSTEMS
Potentially, photorealistic architectural presentations may confuse an audience more than clarify. By implicitly claiming to look "real", they could actually hinder some creative conversation between architect, client, and the general public. — Published 2005.1130
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