Comments on: GREENING THE IVORY TOWER http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:48:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: doug coleman http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-187305 doug coleman Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:03:09 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-187305 Jill, Discovered your blog when I began following Michael Reynolds on Twitter...saw that he is following you and so I followed the link and here I am. I am interested in the earthship concept and think Michael deserves much more recognition for 30 years of refining sustainable energy/eco-friendly homes. An architect friend replied to me when I asked her about earthships, "Looks alot like Paolo Saleri's ARcosanti", and dismissed the subject. Here's he troubling question: are architects dismissing earthships because they offer no income opportunity? I mean, they have been built all over the world and they work! Why not more rrecognition? Thanks, Doug Jill,
Discovered your blog when I began following Michael Reynolds on Twitter…saw that he is following you and so I followed the link and here I am.

I am interested in the earthship concept and think Michael deserves much more recognition for 30 years of refining sustainable energy/eco-friendly homes. An architect friend replied to me when I asked her about earthships, “Looks alot like Paolo Saleri’s ARcosanti”, and dismissed the subject. Here’s he troubling question: are architects dismissing earthships because they offer no income opportunity? I mean, they have been built all over the world and they work! Why not more rrecognition?

Thanks,

Doug

]]> By: eco_tom http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-37100 eco_tom Sat, 27 Jan 2007 03:19:22 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-37100 Eisenman is incapable of designing green- it would require intelligence. As for painful, just review his architorture over the years. He's the textbook example of how the arrogant and talentless windbag can generate "controversy" and get attention from the pseudo-intellects who think they know what Design is about. The only way they can behave is in a sneering, condescending manner because there is no way of validating opinion except to trash everything else. Eisenman will jump on the bandwagon in a few years and claim he has "always" been green. Eisenman is incapable of designing green- it would require intelligence. As for painful, just review his architorture over the years. He’s the textbook example of how the arrogant and talentless windbag can generate “controversy” and get attention from the pseudo-intellects who think they know what Design is about. The only way they can behave is in a sneering, condescending manner because there is no way of validating opinion except to trash everything else. Eisenman will jump on the bandwagon in a few years and claim he has “always” been green.

]]> By: James K http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-31929 James K Tue, 09 Jan 2007 06:26:28 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-31929 Higher education is an industry, a very big business indeed. Universities compete vigorously for student customers to fill their classes and pay their tuitions and fees. Most businesses figure that if their money machine isn't broken then it doesn't need fixing. As long as the big schools continue to have plenty of customers for the same old crippling products then it's not likely their product offerings will change much. As Sandra Earley's newly revised edition of "Ecological Design And Building Schools" reveals, there are only a handful of universities in North America that offer architecture professional degree programs that are truly focused on ecological design. Carnegie Mellon University, U. of Oregon and U. of British Columbia being perhaps the most prominent. None of the Ivy League schools do. Most schools are content to continue to make students pay to learn the unsustainable architectural principles and practices of the past. For principles and practices tailered to a sustainable future you have to go elsewhere. I'm reminded of something the longshoreman philosopher Eric Hofer said..."In a time of change, it is the learners who inherit the future, the learned find themselves equipped to live only in a world that no longer exists." Higher education is an industry, a very big business indeed. Universities compete vigorously for student customers to fill their classes and pay their tuitions and fees. Most businesses figure that if their money machine isn’t broken then it doesn’t need fixing. As long as the big schools continue to have plenty of customers for the same old crippling products then it’s not likely their product offerings will change much.
As Sandra Earley’s newly revised edition of “Ecological Design And Building Schools” reveals, there are only a handful of universities in North America that offer architecture professional degree programs that are truly focused on ecological design. Carnegie Mellon University, U. of Oregon and U. of British Columbia being perhaps the most prominent. None of the Ivy League schools do. Most schools are content to continue to make students pay to learn the unsustainable architectural principles and practices of the past. For principles and practices tailered to a sustainable future you have to go elsewhere.
I’m reminded of something the longshoreman philosopher Eric Hofer said…”In a time of change, it is the learners who inherit the future, the learned find themselves equipped to live only in a world that no longer exists.”

]]> By: mike http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-28747 mike Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:20:36 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-28747 look people- you are obviously in the 'elite' schools because you possess talent and a drive for 'sucess'... but architecture is a creative discipline and 'elites' didn't become 'elites' by being creative. rather than complain that stodgy institutions are stodgy, why not take your talent and money and walk. go to schools that seek so inspire and teach rather than deflate and indoctrinate. i know... if you don't go to the 'elite' school you won't be able to pay your loans back. sad. but -is the answer to suffer and stifle in backwards mediocrity? i say no. there are now many schools (some even 'elite') that really get it. Check out Oregon, U British Columbia, etc..or find a mentor. There is a whole generation of talent now retired, or slowing down that would love to pass on thier lifetime of knowledge and experience before its too late. That generation actually remembers some really crutial stuff that has been nearly blasted away by the jetwash of modernism. things are changing quick. and if you trade a useful education in sustainable design for an 'elite' degree in dismissiveness. that sounds like a bad deal. And as the need for green design keeps accelerating...it seems poised to become a worse deal every day. good luck. here are the first three protections in the student bill of rights at San Francisco Institute of Architecture: shouldn't every school be seeking this? see the full doc. at http://www.sfia.net/StudBill.asp 1) Every student has the right to freely explore his or her creative potential without academic barriers or the distraction of capricious judgments of others. 2) Every student has the right to experience a comprehensive, real-world education, one that gives full attention to philosophy and practice; aesthetics and construction; visionary creativity and basic engineering; history and futurism; media, CADD, and business management ... all that's required to become a fully competent architect. 3) Every student has the right to an education that is delivered respectfully, efficiently, and at reasonable cost. look people- you are obviously in the ‘elite’ schools because you possess talent and a drive for ‘sucess’… but architecture is a creative discipline and ‘elites’ didn’t become ‘elites’ by being creative.

rather than complain that stodgy institutions are stodgy, why not take your talent and money and walk. go to schools that seek so inspire and teach rather than deflate and indoctrinate. i know… if you don’t go to the ‘elite’ school you won’t be able to pay your loans back. sad. but -is the answer to suffer and stifle in backwards mediocrity?

i say no. there are now many schools (some even ‘elite’) that really get it. Check out Oregon, U British Columbia, etc..or find a mentor. There is a whole generation of talent now retired, or slowing down that would love to pass on thier lifetime of knowledge and experience before its too late. That generation actually remembers some really crutial stuff that has been nearly blasted away by the jetwash of modernism.

things are changing quick. and if you trade a useful education in sustainable design for an ‘elite’ degree in dismissiveness. that sounds like a bad deal. And as the need for green design keeps accelerating…it seems poised to become a worse deal every day. good luck.

here are the first three protections in the student bill of rights at San Francisco Institute of Architecture: shouldn’t every school be seeking this? see the full doc. at http://www.sfia.net/StudBill.asp
1) Every student has the right to freely explore his or her creative potential without academic barriers or the distraction of capricious judgments of others.

2) Every student has the right to experience a comprehensive, real-world education, one that gives full attention to philosophy and practice; aesthetics and construction; visionary creativity and basic engineering; history and futurism; media, CADD, and business management … all that’s required to become a fully competent architect.

3) Every student has the right to an education that is delivered respectfully, efficiently, and at reasonable cost.

]]> By: karline http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-28469 karline Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:42:26 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-28469 I agree with Simon. It is only a matter of time. All the pioneers involved in creating and fighting for sustainable design, blogs, internet magazines, architecture, apparrel, materials, energy, cars, whatever are just the ones that are awake at the moment. There will be a wide and rude awakening. It is inevitable and the work that is being done now and has been done in the past will lay the foundation. A group of Danish/Chinese architects just won an architectural award I think in Venice for a project creating an eco city in China to help trouble shoot and solve the major potential environmental crisis that they will have as the city grows in the near future by the millions. Called Co-evolution. There will be from now on a need for green design. No way is it just a trend. I do worry that it is not going fast enough. I agree with Simon. It is only a matter of time. All the pioneers involved in creating and fighting for sustainable design, blogs, internet magazines, architecture, apparrel, materials, energy, cars, whatever are just the ones that are awake at the moment. There will be a wide and rude awakening. It is inevitable and the work that is being done now and has been done in the past will lay the foundation. A group of Danish/Chinese architects just won an architectural award I think in Venice for a project creating an eco city in China to help trouble shoot and solve the major potential environmental crisis that they will have as the city grows in the near future by the millions. Called Co-evolution. There will be from now on a need for green design. No way is it just a trend. I do worry that it is not going fast enough.

]]> By: Simon http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-28421 Simon Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:58:18 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-28421 For those of us who study architecture at schools that actually do consider principles of sustainability to be integral to good design, it is not hard to feel isolated from the mainstream. Although I study on the relative island that is Eugene, Oregon, my impression is that, even at the "elite" architecture schools, the issue of environmental responsibility in design is gaining support, but I wonder if the impetus behind that is genuine or if it is simply a current acceptable style. The culture of sustainable design at the University of Oregon (among others) has been ingrained in the program for decades. It is certainly about time that the big-name schools start to take these principles seriously, and it is also worth noting that some of our ivory towers already do. For those of us who study architecture at schools that actually do consider principles of sustainability to be integral to good design, it is not hard to feel isolated from the mainstream. Although I study on the relative island that is Eugene, Oregon, my impression is that, even at the “elite” architecture schools, the issue of environmental responsibility in design is gaining support, but I wonder if the impetus behind that is genuine or if it is simply a current acceptable style. The culture of sustainable design at the University of Oregon (among others) has been ingrained in the program for decades. It is certainly about time that the big-name schools start to take these principles seriously, and it is also worth noting that some of our ivory towers already do.

]]> By: Joe O'blivion http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27915 Joe O'blivion Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:17:33 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27915 What is written here is not a manifesto. A manifesto is in the form of a series of imperatives or prescriptions. Look at "Programs and Manifestoes of Modern Architecture," edited by Conrad Ulrichs. However, I agree with your general sentiment. While many colleges and universities are actively engaged in issues of sustainability (Harvard, the New School), many share Eisenman's distaste. There is a pre-occupation with form to the exclusion of all else (including human inhabitation). Don't get me wrong, I am a form lover. What a dull art this would be without it. But there are ways to bridge both worlds. And it is imperative that students have not only appearance but performance as significant elements of their education. Simply put, unless we educate people about the problem and what can be done to resolve it, the problem will persist. What is written here is not a manifesto. A manifesto is in the form of a series of imperatives or prescriptions. Look at “Programs and Manifestoes of Modern Architecture,” edited by Conrad Ulrichs.

However, I agree with your general sentiment. While many colleges and universities are actively engaged in issues of sustainability (Harvard, the New School), many share Eisenman’s distaste. There is a pre-occupation with form to the exclusion of all else (including human inhabitation). Don’t get me wrong, I am a form lover. What a dull art this would be without it. But there are ways to bridge both worlds. And it is imperative that students have not only appearance but performance as significant elements of their education. Simply put, unless we educate people about the problem and what can be done to resolve it, the problem will persist.

]]> By: Jill http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27415 Jill Sun, 31 Dec 2006 08:01:13 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27415 Hey Mike- I appreciate your comments, and I don't have any ill will towards earthships. I've seen pictures of many lovely ones, and despite the fact that we may all have different tastes, no one can argue that earthships are the epitome of creative, resourceful, DIY spirit. "Ill-fated" was definitely a bad choice of words here and I apologize... I admit that I was simply trying to figure why academia has such a negative stereotype of green building, and was picking on earthships as an example of the "crunchy" stereotype that I think puts many academics and architects off from green building. While I see nothing wrong with earthships, I think that the fact that green design has long been associated with a hippy aesthetic has been something that has prevented the green movement from saturating mainstream American culture, and this is unfortunate, as sustainability is ultimately not about style or aesthetics, but about thoughtful, functional design. Finally we are starting to see a wider range of styles and markets going "green", and I believe this is the sign of a positive turning point in American culture. So, please forgive me for picking on Earthships -- I was simply using them as an example to make my point. With any luck, this point will be moot in the future, and green building will be about functionality rather than style, and will come in enough different styles to suit any taste. -Jill Hey Mike-

I appreciate your comments, and I don’t have any ill will towards earthships. I’ve seen pictures of many lovely ones, and despite the fact that we may all have different tastes, no one can argue that earthships are the epitome of creative, resourceful, DIY spirit. “Ill-fated” was definitely a bad choice of words here and I apologize…

I admit that I was simply trying to figure why academia has such a negative stereotype of green building, and was picking on earthships as an example of the “crunchy” stereotype that I think puts many academics and architects off from green building. While I see nothing wrong with earthships, I think that the fact that green design has long been associated with a hippy aesthetic has been something that has prevented the green movement from saturating mainstream American culture, and this is unfortunate, as sustainability is ultimately not about style or aesthetics, but about thoughtful, functional design. Finally we are starting to see a wider range of styles and markets going “green”, and I believe this is the sign of a positive turning point in American culture. So, please forgive me for picking on Earthships — I was simply using them as an example to make my point. With any luck, this point will be moot in the future, and green building will be about functionality rather than style, and will come in enough different styles to suit any taste.

-Jill

]]> By: Piper Kujac http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27413 Piper Kujac Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:58:50 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27413 Great article Jill!! I am appalled, if not offended, that the 'upper echelon' ivy league schools seem especially reluctant to address global issues in not just architecture, but ALL fields of study. I believe we are at a turning point however, and definitely students need to demand that professors stay up to date and keep educating themselves on the quickly evolving fields (and our quickly deteriorating planet). A few schools are adopting electives in sustainable design- that's a start, but honestly I don't see why there are separate classes for being responsible for the environment we live in. Each class should cover this as an underlying, if not top priority. In architecture, I understand that students should study spatial concepts and design history and theory before thinking about energy efficiency, etc.- but then again, this is exactly why so many buildings, even some by starchitects, have 'tacked on' mechanical rooms, like hideously apparent afterthoughts... I would hope that core classes would come full circle to where we are today and where we are headed. After all, Kevin Lynch's 'paths, edges, nodes, boundaries, districts, and landmarks' will be more difficult to appreciate when they are under water. Great article Jill!! I am appalled, if not offended, that the ‘upper echelon’ ivy league schools seem especially reluctant to address global issues in not just architecture, but ALL fields of study. I believe we are at a turning point however, and definitely students need to demand that professors stay up to date and keep educating themselves on the quickly evolving fields (and our quickly deteriorating planet). A few schools are adopting electives in sustainable design- that’s a start, but honestly I don’t see why there are separate classes for being responsible for the environment we live in. Each class should cover this as an underlying, if not top priority. In architecture, I understand that students should study spatial concepts and design history and theory before thinking about energy efficiency, etc.- but then again, this is exactly why so many buildings, even some by starchitects, have ‘tacked on’ mechanical rooms, like hideously apparent afterthoughts… I would hope that core classes would come full circle to where we are today and where we are headed. After all, Kevin Lynch’s ‘paths, edges, nodes, boundaries, districts, and landmarks’ will be more difficult to appreciate when they are under water.

]]> By: Bob Funk http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27146 Bob Funk Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:45:11 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27146 In response to Andrew's comment - Starting with trades' people would seem like the logical way to go. However having been in the construction trade all my life I found that the average good tradesman has not been getting enough credit for their efforts over the last 25 or more years and have never really been listened to by anyone. It has not been until recently that they have received much attention in light of the latest building boom and trade shortage. They are end users much like the consumer that is stuck with all the packaging created and designed by manufacturers who's motives are to entice people to buy thier products and profit with glitzy displays. We need people like Al Gore who wrote an Inconvenient Truth or Morgan Spurlock (Supersize me) or perhaps Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) to take advantage of their successful access to media. Perhaps we could all get these icons of truth together and explain to the public what is going on out there. We have an incredible network of Television, Internet, Radio and Public School systems to use as vehicles that can reveal the issues we are faced with. Why not let the public decide ? Hollywood has been known to control, manipulate and influence the public in positive (and unfortunately in some negative ways as well) We can focus on following the positive. Sustainability is a choice, so is happiness! Why not start there ? America (and Canada) are free countries, lets take advantage of this ! Bob Funk British Columbia, CANADA In response to Andrew’s comment – Starting with trades’ people would seem like the logical way to go. However having been in the construction trade all my life I found that the average good tradesman has not been getting enough credit for their efforts over the last 25 or more years and have never really been listened to by anyone. It has not been until recently that they have received much attention in light of the latest building boom and trade shortage. They are end users much like the consumer that is stuck with all the packaging created and designed by manufacturers who’s motives are to entice people to buy thier products and profit with glitzy displays.

We need people like Al Gore who wrote an Inconvenient Truth or Morgan Spurlock (Supersize me) or perhaps Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) to take advantage of their successful access to media. Perhaps we could all get these icons of truth together and explain to the public what is going on out there. We have an incredible network of Television, Internet, Radio and Public School systems to use as vehicles that can reveal the issues we are faced with. Why not let the public decide ? Hollywood has been known to control, manipulate and influence the public in positive (and unfortunately in some negative ways as well) We can focus on following the positive. Sustainability is a choice, so is happiness! Why not start there ? America (and Canada) are free countries, lets take advantage of this !

Bob Funk
British Columbia,
CANADA

]]> By: mike http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27132 mike Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:19:26 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27132 While I generally agree with you ...and deeply resonate with your statement: "Green architecture is thoughtful architecture, and thoughtfulness is crucial to good architecture. Good architecture is born out of vision, passion and social conscience" Why then, do you take issue with "Earthships"? You deride this thoughtful, passionate socially conscious architecture as 'crunchy' and 'ill-fated'. 'Crunchy' i will grant you. (personally, i prefer to describe them as 'organic' or 'biophillic'...but i guess i can't argue with crunchy. i mean, it is an earthship). I have lived in one of these delightful recycled houses for more than five years. And while not perfect, 'ill-fated' it most certainly is not. I thrive in my earthship with its great natural light and elegant, yet simple and affordable design. i have no bills yet i have ample electricity, heat, water, greenhouse foods, hot water and effective natural systems to recycle the 'waste' (while building the aquafer and topsoil). Through my earthship, i also feel a strong connection to nature and her cycles: the changing seasons, the sun's path across the sky, the wind, the rain, the snow...it's all connected. this is ill fated? bah. humbug. take a drive around the asteroid belts of mc mansions sprouting 30, 40 50 miles from our urban cores....or take a walk through the celebrated lifeless 'modern' street scape completely deviod of anything natural or human scale... ...and then come up to my earthship where i will pick you a banana ripining on the tree in my kitchen (i have a good crop this winter (considering im growing a tropical fruit 8500 ft up in the rockies without help of any electricity chemicals or groundwater.). There are many ill-fated things in our culture. But, earthships, my dear Jill, are not one of them. p.s. ...no, i don't work for the earthship folks. just sticking up for my 'crunchy ill-fated' way of life. think of me next time you pay your utility bills. I'll think of you next time I don't. While I generally agree with you …and deeply resonate with your statement: “Green architecture is thoughtful architecture, and thoughtfulness is crucial to good architecture. Good architecture is born out of vision, passion and social conscience”

Why then, do you take issue with “Earthships”? You deride this thoughtful, passionate socially conscious architecture as ‘crunchy’ and ‘ill-fated’.

‘Crunchy’ i will grant you. (personally, i prefer to describe them as ‘organic’ or ‘biophillic’…but i guess i can’t argue with crunchy. i mean, it is an earthship).

I have lived in one of these delightful recycled houses for more than five years. And while not perfect, ‘ill-fated’ it most certainly is not. I thrive in my earthship with its great natural light and elegant, yet simple and affordable design. i have no bills yet i have ample electricity, heat, water, greenhouse foods, hot water and effective natural systems to recycle the ‘waste’ (while building the aquafer and topsoil). Through my earthship, i also feel a strong connection to nature and her cycles: the changing seasons, the sun’s path across the sky, the wind, the rain, the snow…it’s all connected.
this is ill fated? bah. humbug.

take a drive around the asteroid belts of mc mansions sprouting 30, 40 50 miles from our urban cores….or take a walk through the celebrated lifeless ‘modern’ street scape completely deviod of anything natural or human scale…

…and then come up to my earthship where i will pick you a banana ripining on the tree in my kitchen (i have a good crop this winter (considering im growing a tropical fruit 8500 ft up in the rockies without help of any electricity chemicals or groundwater.). There are many ill-fated things in our culture. But, earthships, my dear Jill, are not one of them.

p.s. …no, i don’t work for the earthship folks. just sticking up for my ‘crunchy ill-fated’ way of life. think of me next time you pay your utility bills. I’ll think of you next time I don’t.

]]> By: Meredith http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27104 Meredith Sat, 30 Dec 2006 20:37:49 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27104 I definitely think we have to start bringing green design out of lofty intellectual spheres onto the Main St. I just opened a green design store in NH where I am trying to show people green design looks like good design- nothing weird - that simple decisions about what you would buy anyways, can make a difference. I think the author is right that so many people associate sustainablity with earth ships and other more "crunchy" design aethetics. It is not always easy to help people understand the importance of living the sustainable lifestyle, but I believe we all have to make the effort to do this, whether you are an architect, shop keeper or consumer. just looking at how common organic food has become in the last 10 years gives me hope that green architecture and interior design can, and is becoming more a part of the norm. I definitely think we have to start bringing green design out of lofty intellectual spheres onto the Main St. I just opened a green design store in NH where I am trying to show people green design looks like good design- nothing weird – that simple decisions about what you would buy anyways, can make a difference. I think the author is right that so many people associate sustainablity with earth ships and other more “crunchy” design aethetics. It is not always easy to help people understand the importance of living the sustainable lifestyle, but I believe we all have to make the effort to do this, whether you are an architect, shop keeper or consumer. just looking at how common organic food has become in the last 10 years gives me hope that green architecture and interior design can, and is becoming more a part of the norm.

]]> By: barry lehrman http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27101 barry lehrman Sat, 30 Dec 2006 20:13:25 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27101 more discussion of Jill's post here on archinect: http://www.archinect.com/schoolblog/entry.php?id=49735_0_39_0_C more discussion of Jill’s post here on archinect:
http://www.archinect.com/schoolblog/entry.php?id=49735_0_39_0_C

]]> By: Amy K http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27097 Amy K Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:58:00 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27097 Thanks for this article, Jill. As a RISD student, I'm continuously baffled that sustainability is not a consideration in every design class. Any field that involves energy and materials consumption should be addressing sustainability in a big way. Thanks for this article, Jill. As a RISD student, I’m continuously baffled that sustainability is not a consideration in every design class. Any field that involves energy and materials consumption should be addressing sustainability in a big way.

]]> By: Daniella http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-27090 Daniella Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:15:13 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-27090 Hah, I just stumbled upon your blog a couple days ago and went back to discover that the dominant image was of Avery. I'm an undergraduate architecture major at CU, and I think it's about time that professors force their students to consider sustainability in-studio (moreso at GSAPP than in CC, since a B.A. in architecture doesn't exactly give anyone much leverage in the architecture community). Anyway, wonderful blog -- I'll be checking in regularly. Daniella Hah, I just stumbled upon your blog a couple days ago and went back to discover that the dominant image was of Avery. I’m an undergraduate architecture major at CU, and I think it’s about time that professors force their students to consider sustainability in-studio (moreso at GSAPP than in CC, since a B.A. in architecture doesn’t exactly give anyone much leverage in the architecture community). Anyway, wonderful blog — I’ll be checking in regularly.

Daniella

]]> By: Andrew Netherton http://inhabitat.com/greening-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-26758 Andrew Netherton Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:14:21 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2006/12/29/greening-the-ivory-tower/#comment-26758 Where is the proper place to "teach" sustainability? Is it really with the architects of the world, or should we start with tradespeople, or consumers? Tough call. It's probably a combination of teaching everyone, and then working to have each person's sustainability measures mesh nicely with the next person's. After all, have a green architect give you super-insulated walls if the HVAC contractor just goes ahead an installs a standard air conditioner because a smaller one properly sized for the house would be too expensive. Similarily, it does no good to put all showers on levels above the lowest level to permit drainwater heat recovery if the plumber roughs in the drains in such a way as to preclude that option. Promoting sustainability is what I am trying to focus my career on. Coming from product design engineering, it's not going to be easy, but hopefully I'll make inroads with LEED-accreditation. Where is the proper place to “teach” sustainability? Is it really with the architects of the world, or should we start with tradespeople, or consumers? Tough call. It’s probably a combination of teaching everyone, and then working to have each person’s sustainability measures mesh nicely with the next person’s. After all, have a green architect give you super-insulated walls if the HVAC contractor just goes ahead an installs a standard air conditioner because a smaller one properly sized for the house would be too expensive. Similarily, it does no good to put all showers on levels above the lowest level to permit drainwater heat recovery if the plumber roughs in the drains in such a way as to preclude that option.

Promoting sustainability is what I am trying to focus my career on. Coming from product design engineering, it’s not going to be easy, but hopefully I’ll make inroads with LEED-accreditation.

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