Sustainable Design – ARCH 515

Week 4 (Jan. 24) Class Notes

I’ve included a summary of our class discussion based on our assigned reading (Chapter 3 - Emerging Precepts of Biological Design by Todd et al.)

Sustainable design defined:

  • A revolution in design where everything is rethought. Not just a change in materials being used, but also a change in the overall approach taken.

Gaia Theory

James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory can be considered as a model for sustainable design. The Gaia Theory suggests that there is overarching connectivity between everything on Earth. It states that we should consider the Earth as a single organism where everything functions together and is interdependent: plants, animals and environmental processes such as the carbon cycle and the hydrological cycle all function together as a system.

  • An interesting concept is how to make a building reflect this holistic approach to the environment?
  • Do the concepts outlined in the Gaia Theory limit our free will? Two arguments were talked about:
  • Yes, because Earth will self-regulate despite any activity by a single species, such as humans.
  • No, because this theory indicates that humans can drastically affect the Earth’s natural cycles and reap irreversible damage (i.e. global warming).

Spiritual dimension of the article

  • The spiritual dimension of the Todd reading came as a surprise to some of us.
  • Some felt it was too “new agy” / flaky to be practical.

Science fiction and the Gaia theory

  • Richard Adams’ book, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, was mentioned as an example of when Earth was seen as a single organism. According to Wikipedia "the Earth is in reality the greatest supercomputer of all time, designed by the second greatest supercomputer of all time, Deep Thought, to calculate the Great Question of Life, The Universe and Everything." Scientists, morphed as mice, were sent to Earth to study this question.
  • Logan’s Run, a novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, was also mentioned in class. According to Wikipedia the book “depicts a dystopian future society in which population and the consumption of resources is managed and maintained in equilibrium by the simple expediency of killing everyone upon reaching a particular age, thus neatly avoiding the issue of overpopulation which was of growing concern at the time. The story follows the actions of Logan, a Deep Sleep Operative or "Sandman", as he "runs" away from society's lethal demands.

Limitations on Todd et al.’s environmental perspective.

  • Some felt the extent of the New Alchemy project was very local and small-scale, and therefore would have a limited impact. The authors didn’t address “mass production” of their concepts for society. Instead it was niche, counterculture work.
  • The fish farming practice off Cape Cod was critiqued because in other areas it had proven to be an ecological disaster
  • Vancouver Island: fish farming was detrimental to native species and also the farmed fish had higher levels of heavy metals.
  • Fishing by wooden sailboats was critiqued for having a strong element of nostalgia. While the idea of using local materials for boat construction and the wind as a fuel was well received by the class, some people questioned the applicability of wooden boats for modern purposes.

Does this article adequately address aesthetics?

  • One person thought the desert structure described in the reading was beautiful
  • However, part of the problem with the design of the structure was that it is fringe / counterculture. Because it’s not mainstream it has a bizarre and interesting aesthetic. But if it became mainstream would it still hold the same appeal?
  • Aesthetics in sustainable design depends on the social/cultural context
  • If people understand the (environmental) rationale behind the structure then it means more to people and makes the building more special.

Urban/rural

  • The article was critiqued for not addressing the urban context. The project generally focused on rural projects. This approach left out implementation of green and sustainable practices for the average urban person. Many of the ideas discussed required a rural setting with plenty of land and a privileged financial situation.