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| ONE LIFE, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ACCESSIBLE IN-BETWEEN |
“A good community exists when its elders plant trees to shade the next generations”
~ Chinese Proverb
Currently, Environmental Sustainability is the “in vogue” trend for architectural schools and the
profession in general. This has caused a concentration of time and effort to find architectural
solutions to the climate effects. I think that neighborhoods in which to be active can be
developed with the use of environmental elements. I consider water, wind, sun light and earth
the environmental elements that can create the active neighborhood. As I mentioned before,
these are the bases for any sustainable community.
~ Chinese Proverb
Currently, Environmental Sustainability is the “in vogue” trend for architectural schools and the
profession in general. This has caused a concentration of time and effort to find architectural
solutions to the climate effects. I think that neighborhoods in which to be active can be
developed with the use of environmental elements. I consider water, wind, sun light and earth
the environmental elements that can create the active neighborhood. As I mentioned before,
these are the bases for any sustainable community.
GREEN AND ACTIVE
Presently, the use of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design “LEED” rating
system has been the center of many lectures and symposiums. LEED is a measurement
system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional and residential buildings.
It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a balance between
known established practices and emerging concepts. (USGBR, New Construction 2006, 14).
LEED is divided into different categories accordingly to the buildings use. One of those
categories is LEED Homes. LEED Homes is a pilot program that “promotes a whole-building
approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and
environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials
selection, and indoor environmental quality” (USBGC 2007). They expected to start using it
officially in the fall of 2007. The pilot is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and
construction of high performance "green" homes. A green home uses less energy, water, and
natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants.
Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas
emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning
a LEED Home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home (USGBR Home 2007, 5).
Global Green USA is a national environmental organization that merges innovative research,
cutting-edge community based projects and targeted advocacy to create a sustainable future.
They are working in conjunction with Brad Pitt in a project to develop New Orleans. The Holy
Cross Project consists of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a
community center/sustainable design and climate action center. The goal of the project is to
achieve LEED Platinum standards (LEED for Home for the single family homes and LEED NC
for the other buildings), net zero energy and carbon neutral building. By using solar panels,
high performance building design, HVAC systems, energy and resource monitoring systems,
and energy efficient appliances, the buildings in the Holy Cross Project will use at least 75%
less energy than typical buildings (Holy Cross 2007). I was able to analyze the site and its
relationship with the commercial areas, green areas, lots and main roads. This project is
sustainable and affordable, but also takes into consideration durability. The project should be
able to sustain a person starting with its own sustainability and its effects to the complete
community.
One problem I had identified with the LEED Homes checklist is the small relation with the house
footprint. I consider the amount of space a house occupies and its effects to the environment
an important component of sustainable design. The City Hood Home project was a proposal
presented by Fung + Blatt Architects for the Small lots, Smart design competition in Los
Angeles, California. Their design presented the use of 6 units at seven degrees to increase
density. Their structure reduces the impact in the ground level, relying mostly in the other two
stories to combine most of the living spaces. They used a passive heating and cooling
system. They have community share spaces to increase interaction between the residents.
Also, the solar panels on the units’ roofs will generate enough power for the continuous three
units. They add green elements with the garden roofs and integration of greenery around the
buildings. The project is also affordable, with only $125 per square feet.
Other environmental guidelines are use in many countries and even here in the United States.
For example, the state of Colorado created “Sustainable Future Societies”. This is a program
in which they educated and created consciousness about environmental issues. Currently,
they have a re-development project called “Holiday Neighborhood”. Holiday is one of the most
important programs for the city of Boulder. I considered it important to review their traffic and
pedestrian patterns and how they are interrelated to the lots configuration. They are
increasing density in order to create more opportunities to use elements like solar power more
efficiently. Also, mixed used buildings are part of their development. Those have solar panels
in the roof, apartments on the tops floor and shop at ground level that allows people to walk
and get supplies and creates and extra source of employment.
We need to look at all these efforts and use them for our designs the elements that best
accommodate our clients’ needs and the relationship with the environment. I consider that
every option available at this time lacks social interaction because the community participation
is limited to the very first stages of the design process. Community participation is not only
needed to create guidelines; it is needed to put the guidelines to work. Establishing a rule to
place trees as shading devises in front of the houses will not automatically make people to use
their porches. The inhabitants need to be educated in the advantages created with the
implementation of environmental elements, so they can take the best advantage.
system has been the center of many lectures and symposiums. LEED is a measurement
system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional and residential buildings.
It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a balance between
known established practices and emerging concepts. (USGBR, New Construction 2006, 14).
LEED is divided into different categories accordingly to the buildings use. One of those
categories is LEED Homes. LEED Homes is a pilot program that “promotes a whole-building
approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and
environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials
selection, and indoor environmental quality” (USBGC 2007). They expected to start using it
officially in the fall of 2007. The pilot is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and
construction of high performance "green" homes. A green home uses less energy, water, and
natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants.
Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas
emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning
a LEED Home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home (USGBR Home 2007, 5).
Global Green USA is a national environmental organization that merges innovative research,
cutting-edge community based projects and targeted advocacy to create a sustainable future.
They are working in conjunction with Brad Pitt in a project to develop New Orleans. The Holy
Cross Project consists of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a
community center/sustainable design and climate action center. The goal of the project is to
achieve LEED Platinum standards (LEED for Home for the single family homes and LEED NC
for the other buildings), net zero energy and carbon neutral building. By using solar panels,
high performance building design, HVAC systems, energy and resource monitoring systems,
and energy efficient appliances, the buildings in the Holy Cross Project will use at least 75%
less energy than typical buildings (Holy Cross 2007). I was able to analyze the site and its
relationship with the commercial areas, green areas, lots and main roads. This project is
sustainable and affordable, but also takes into consideration durability. The project should be
able to sustain a person starting with its own sustainability and its effects to the complete
community.
One problem I had identified with the LEED Homes checklist is the small relation with the house
footprint. I consider the amount of space a house occupies and its effects to the environment
an important component of sustainable design. The City Hood Home project was a proposal
presented by Fung + Blatt Architects for the Small lots, Smart design competition in Los
Angeles, California. Their design presented the use of 6 units at seven degrees to increase
density. Their structure reduces the impact in the ground level, relying mostly in the other two
stories to combine most of the living spaces. They used a passive heating and cooling
system. They have community share spaces to increase interaction between the residents.
Also, the solar panels on the units’ roofs will generate enough power for the continuous three
units. They add green elements with the garden roofs and integration of greenery around the
buildings. The project is also affordable, with only $125 per square feet.
Other environmental guidelines are use in many countries and even here in the United States.
For example, the state of Colorado created “Sustainable Future Societies”. This is a program
in which they educated and created consciousness about environmental issues. Currently,
they have a re-development project called “Holiday Neighborhood”. Holiday is one of the most
important programs for the city of Boulder. I considered it important to review their traffic and
pedestrian patterns and how they are interrelated to the lots configuration. They are
increasing density in order to create more opportunities to use elements like solar power more
efficiently. Also, mixed used buildings are part of their development. Those have solar panels
in the roof, apartments on the tops floor and shop at ground level that allows people to walk
and get supplies and creates and extra source of employment.
We need to look at all these efforts and use them for our designs the elements that best
accommodate our clients’ needs and the relationship with the environment. I consider that
every option available at this time lacks social interaction because the community participation
is limited to the very first stages of the design process. Community participation is not only
needed to create guidelines; it is needed to put the guidelines to work. Establishing a rule to
place trees as shading devises in front of the houses will not automatically make people to use
their porches. The inhabitants need to be educated in the advantages created with the
implementation of environmental elements, so they can take the best advantage.
| Figure 6 Environmental Elements |