1. What are your thoughts about sustainability today? How would you define it?
My own definition continues to evolve, it seems. Today I feel sustainability is another word for good design.
Perhaps I have just lost my patience with the rest of the building community, but it seems you cannot separate one from the other. I don’t care how “pretty” a building is – unless it has included green building practices then it can never achieve true beauty. Frank Lloyd Wright said that “form and function are one.”
This is more true today as the need and functions of sustainability are woven into the form of the building.
2. What will it take to create a shift in values and behaviors in our society in regards to sustainability?
Winston Churchill said (paraphrasing), “I have great faith in the American people to do the right thing, but only after they have exhausted every possible option.”
We WILL reach a sustainable economy. This is inevitable. The real question is how much longer will we allow the corporate interest of oil, gas and coal companies control our progress?
We have already seen a huge shift in values and behavior. But I don’t necessarily think it should come from the consumer up. It’s embarrassing that demand had to grow so great that consumers were forced to request healthy alternatives. Do companies really want to push the issue until people ask, “Can I get my paints without cancer causing chemicals?” “Can I have wood that did not permanently destroy our forests?” It seems crazy that we would let things get to such a state, but we have.
3. What are you most passionate about (as it relates to moving forward ideas)?
You mean aside from green building?! Currently I am very excited about CNC computer milling. I think it will usher in a new era of mass customization (that’s a great term, isn’t it?!). I have long been a fan of green prefab and am closely involved with what is going on there. The amazing work of Michelle Kaufmann and Steve Glenn will soon invite opportunities for all architects to get involved. I would love to see them license their branded technology the same way that Toyota is now licensing their hybrid technology to other automakers.
4. What are you inspirations? Who do you admire most?
Well, there is no shortage of brilliant, passionate and inspiration people.
I have now been fortunate enough to meet many of my role models and can now call them friends. A short list just off the top of my head:
David Orr, Oberlin College
Paul Hawken, Natural Capital Instutute
Ray Anderson, Interface
Jeff Mendelsohn, New Leaf Paper
Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity Anita Roddick, Body Shop Judy Wicks, BALLE David Gottfried, USGBC Allison Arrief, IDEO the list goes on and on.
5. How has Re:Vision inspired you?
I have to admit how surprised I was in the quality and caliber of the past entries. They far exceeded my expectations. But even more surprising, was that in most cases, it wasn’t the slick, polished presentation that won. It was the brilliant idea roughly presented that would often grab the judges attention. That really stands as a credit to the strength of the ideas.
6. How would you characterize or sum up the current state of architecture and building today?
Disappointing. The divide in the quality of Architecture has grown as much as the divide in between the upper and lower class. It seems there is no longer room for the solid middle class of architecture: strong, well performed ideas created at an affordable budget. Everything is either super high end or built as cheaply as possible. In both cases, design is seen as something added (like a chef would add paprika) rather than part of the process from the start.
In truth, we have an entire generation of architects that have forgotten how to design appropriate buildings. They have forgotten where the Sun is and how to formulate a strong idea.
The few that still can do this do it really, really well. Bart Prince, Norman Foster and Thom Mayne all know how to build a gorgeous, innovative and appropriate building.
7. What are some of the more exciting trends in architecture and building today?
Contour crafting will enable use to “print” our buildings in three-dimensions directly onto the site. Inexpensive solar panels will enable new streams of solar materials. We will just make everything to generate electricity.
But government regulations are a critical part of this process. Imagine if your local city government had laws to protect you such as:
* no high-VOC, toxic paints are permitted to be sold
* builders must recycle 100% of their construction waste
* no building may consume more energy than a baseline 3000 square foot building.
This gives you an idea of what we are attempting to do in San Francisco.
You’ll see this around the world as communities begin to realize they deserve to have a say on what happens in their hometown.
8. As you look to the future, what are your personal dreams for how architecture and building uses will affect the way we live in our urban communities?
I cannot only dream it; I can already see it happening.
I see building materials that grow and heal, like plants.
I see buildings that track the path of the sun, the same way a flower does.
I see inventive combinations of uses and functions within our buildings to create exciting possibilities for community.
I see every building as a 24-hour building: a place where we learn to maximize materials and energy to harness the full potential of every building in terms of energy, water and activity.
9. What are the challenges that lay ahead as it relates to architecture and building in an urban community? And are there any interesting opportunities?
The biggest challenge comes from apathy and complacency. People hate the current wave of buildings and development around them, yet they fight like crazy when the opportunity to change it comes along. What are they holding onto? Do you really like your strip mall that much?!
Sometimes I’ll have a neighbor complain about seeing the solar panels on the roof of one of our buildings. But their roof is made of toxic asphalt shingles. Now, which roof is ugly? At least mine produces clean energy.
10. If you had one question to ask everyone reading this interview, what would it be?
How can you be the change you wish to see in the world?
