What is Sustainable Architecture?by Fred Harris Special to the Green Pages Sustainable architecture. Two words which, when you put them together, say a very great deal. It is unfortunate that what is usually brought to mind is at best only partially accurate and at worst completely off the mark. I say unfortunate because both words have a tremendous impact on all of our daily lives and on the lives of all those who come after us. Why do I say this? Well, let's break the words apart. Sustainability has been defined in many ways, but there is general agreement that the concept refers to living our lives today in such a manner that the choices of future generations are not diminished. When applied to buildings, sustainability generally refers to the use of materials that are recycled and recyclable, materials that use resources efficiently, materials that are non-toxic, and materials that are made from renewable resources. It also refers to the process of designing and building in such a way that construction waste is minimized, and the waste that is produced is immediately recycled. Or it can refer to the process of designing and building in such a way that the component parts can be removed without destroying them. This leaves them in good condition for reuse. Smaller buildings reduce the amount of materials needed, and spaces used for multiple purposes can help to reduce the building size. Building with a steeply pitched roof allows walls to be shorter (since the roof can serve as the upper part of the wall), which also reduces the amount of materials needed. Another consideration that must be addressed when choosing materials to build with is their "ecological footprint". We pay attention to the energy that will be used in heating or cooling our buildings - in fact the codes now require it - but the energy consumed in getting our buildings built is a greater concern. Consider the energy required obtaining the material through harvesting, logging or mining. What energy was consumed in converting the raw material to a form usable in the building? Was the material transported to additional manufacturing steps and then transported to the building site? Did the manufacturing process produce byproducts which later required toxic cleanup or which destroyed or degraded the environment? All of these things, and more, constitute the entire amount of energy that is consumed by a building, and sustainability means reducing this energy consumption to the lowest level practicable. The second word, architecture, is building which, by its very nature and by the feelings and emotions it evokes, is elevated to the realm of art. Without this extension to the higher levels of human consciousness, building is merely building. In this context, sustainability extends itself beyond the use of materials and techniques to provide a sense of well-being, joy, pleasure, satisfaction, awe or other cosmic connection. Good architecture has a timeless sense of balance and proportion and is therefore a pleasure to look at, be around and spend time in. It is a place which draws you in, not because of what it contains, but because the place itself makes you feel good or creates some other feeling in you which appeals to your higher self. When the two words are put back together (Sustainable Architecture), the meaning may be a little different than when you first saw it. In the context described above, sustainable architecture is a presence in our built environment that stands as a work of art for many generations to enjoy and is created in a way which does not diminish the choices of future generations. To me, this feels really good, but it also feels absolutely essential for the well-being of our neighborhoods, communities, and bioregions. How does one recognize being in the presence of sustainable architecture? It's really not that difficult if we stay in tune with our feelings and pay attention to the way we interact with the world around us. In the presence of Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids, the great cities of the Incans, Mayans and Aztecs, the Greek and Roman temples, Gothic cathedrals, and other such places, one is awed by the effort expended and the skill displayed in the structures created. One is also humbled by the knowledge that these great places have stood through all manner of disaster, both natural and man made, for thousands of years. The technology of their time was pushed to the absolute limit with a success that is only too apparent, as demonstrated by the number of people who travel great distances just to be around them. But sustainable architecture is not restricted to the very large. Beautiful homes still stand today in Wales and England that were built 500 years ago from a mixture of dirt, straw, dung and water (called cob). When walking or cycling around your own community, have you noticed a home that made you look more than twice and then say "What a darling house"? Would you rather walk around one of the new suburban developments popping up all over with their rubber stamp throwaway houses, or around one of the historic inner city neighborhoods where the quality of the construction is apparent and the charm is everywhere? Have you walked into someone's home to discover a space that just made you feel good to be there because it was a warm, friendly space? You know good architecture when you see or experience it. Creating good architecture in a sustainable way is what sustainable architecture is all about. I want it in my community. Don't you? Fred A. Harris is the president of Harris Originals, Inc., P.S., an Olympia firm specializing in sustainable architecture.
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