DWELL magazine's cover series on the sustainable building movement getting more and more mainstream contains some thought provoking article. One of the most interesting is the one by Robert Sullivan.
The first of a four part series it looks at the question of how our transportation patterns, the location of public transit or the interstate affect where and how we live. He uses history and observation to make us think about getting from here to there and what is in between in ways we usually do not consider.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Small is Beautiful
Have been looking for small houses lately for a couple of clients who want simple, functional living space that are conveniently located. This has led me to a couple of wonderful finds in the downtown area and reminded me again of how functional a small space can be. There is a renovation project going on in the old high school. They are doing a good job of green renovation there but the result is high end loft apartments for sale. In the surronding area, however, there are lots of old (50+) small homes less than 1400 square feet that are well built but run down. With a little imagination, some of these homes will become wondeful living spaces again.
Storage space is an issu in many but there are many creative storage solutions available now and, of course, the best solution is to own less stuff anyway.
An ongoing issue in housing is how to upgrade the housing in an area without gentrifying the neighborhood. While the high school renovation is an admirable reuse of space, it prices many people out of the neighborhood. I hope we can maintain a conciuosness that allows us to seek the highest and best goals for everyone, not just the most money for developers and real estate investors.
Storage space is an issu in many but there are many creative storage solutions available now and, of course, the best solution is to own less stuff anyway.
An ongoing issue in housing is how to upgrade the housing in an area without gentrifying the neighborhood. While the high school renovation is an admirable reuse of space, it prices many people out of the neighborhood. I hope we can maintain a conciuosness that allows us to seek the highest and best goals for everyone, not just the most money for developers and real estate investors.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Challenge 2030
I wanted to share this information with everyone who is interested. Please pass it on to everyone you know.
"2030 Challenge" Resolution Adopted Cities across America have just taken an historic step in addressing the issue of global warming. The US Conference of Mayors has made a commitment to reduce global warming pollution from buildings in order to protect the world for future generations. On Monday, June 5, 2006, the US Conference of Mayors adopted the "2030 Challenge" (Resolution #50) for ALL buildings. The resolution was put forward by the mayors' of cities from the 4 corners of the continental U.S. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. As buildings are responsible for emitting half of the green house gas emissions that cause global warming, cities are committing to implement an immediate 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction standard for all new and renovated buildings (50% below the national average for each building type) and setting benchmarks and timelines to increase the reduction standard for new buildings to carbon-neutral by 2030 - meaning they will use no fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy to operate. Last week on May 31, 2006 the City of Santa Fe became the first city in the US to formally adopt the "2030 Challenge". This means that all new city buildings, starting immediately, will be built to use 50% less fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy. By year 2030 all new city buildings in Santa Fe will be built to operate without emitting any greenhouse gases. Additionally, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued his first executive order this year requiring that all new state buildings and major renovations meet the 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions reduction standard called for by Architecture 2030. This is another important step in the "2030" initiative to address major greenhouse gas reductions in the Building Sector. The 78,000 member American Institute of Architects formally adopted the "2030 Challenge" in January 2006. As this initiative spreads across the country and around the globe, it will be the most significant movement to influence "
"2030 Challenge" Resolution Adopted Cities across America have just taken an historic step in addressing the issue of global warming. The US Conference of Mayors has made a commitment to reduce global warming pollution from buildings in order to protect the world for future generations. On Monday, June 5, 2006, the US Conference of Mayors adopted the "2030 Challenge" (Resolution #50) for ALL buildings. The resolution was put forward by the mayors' of cities from the 4 corners of the continental U.S. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. As buildings are responsible for emitting half of the green house gas emissions that cause global warming, cities are committing to implement an immediate 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction standard for all new and renovated buildings (50% below the national average for each building type) and setting benchmarks and timelines to increase the reduction standard for new buildings to carbon-neutral by 2030 - meaning they will use no fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy to operate. Last week on May 31, 2006 the City of Santa Fe became the first city in the US to formally adopt the "2030 Challenge". This means that all new city buildings, starting immediately, will be built to use 50% less fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy. By year 2030 all new city buildings in Santa Fe will be built to operate without emitting any greenhouse gases. Additionally, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued his first executive order this year requiring that all new state buildings and major renovations meet the 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions reduction standard called for by Architecture 2030. This is another important step in the "2030" initiative to address major greenhouse gas reductions in the Building Sector. The 78,000 member American Institute of Architects formally adopted the "2030 Challenge" in January 2006. As this initiative spreads across the country and around the globe, it will be the most significant movement to influence "
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Wish Lists and Reality Lists
As I have written elsewhere, I have been browsing THE NOT SO BIG HOUSE again and am struck by a lot of the practical approaches taken in this way of thinking and building. In order to get a big enough house that feel appropriate without turning it into a "McMansion" there are some easy things we can do.
A wish list has all the things that you would love to have in your dream house. Be it a commercial kitchen with sub zero appliances and a master suite with a hot tub on the redwood deck outside the french doors and a 600 square foot studio and workshop your dreams can be unlimited.
A reality list identifies the things that you must have--the things you can't live without. The 600 square foot workshop may not be a practical or affordable reality but a workbench and tool storage or a skylight in the garage might be an affordable way to accomodate the wish in a practical way.A commercial kitchen may not be possible but the best quality energy efficient appliances you can afford and creative design that gives you lots of storage and counter space to work on those (healthy, organic)gourmet meals might be something you caqn accomplish.
A wish list has all the things that you would love to have in your dream house. Be it a commercial kitchen with sub zero appliances and a master suite with a hot tub on the redwood deck outside the french doors and a 600 square foot studio and workshop your dreams can be unlimited.
A reality list identifies the things that you must have--the things you can't live without. The 600 square foot workshop may not be a practical or affordable reality but a workbench and tool storage or a skylight in the garage might be an affordable way to accomodate the wish in a practical way.A commercial kitchen may not be possible but the best quality energy efficient appliances you can afford and creative design that gives you lots of storage and counter space to work on those (healthy, organic)gourmet meals might be something you caqn accomplish.
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