StepUp2Green?

The hype is here, it has been for the last few years. All we talk about is sustainable building, green architecture, green cleaning, green, green, green. But was is really green? What is really sustainable? How do we get to it? This can be a touchy subject, and I don't have all the answers, but I sure think about this all the time.

Having worked at one of the leading architecture firms in San Francisco, I was in the middle of this discussion on a daily basis. Architects, engineers, project managers, developers and clients alike wanted to push the envelope, research and implement all the possible strategies to get low energy, high performing designs that respected the environment and the users.

Something that I have a hard time with is when I see architecture firms that have a separate section or tab to show their "sustainable design". To me all design should take into consideration low energy use, high performance, water reuse, site and stormwater management, low chemical emitting materials, renewable resources and a whole myriad of issues that makes good buildings. ALL buildings should take these issues into consideration. "Sustainability" shouldn't be a "special" label that gets attached to "special" buildings. I know there are a lot of "unsustainable" buildings out there, built in the boom of the developing era, that are far from using little energy and from being pleasant to be in. But what I would like to see is that all new construction takes these principles (and some of them are plain good architectural practice, like daylighting) and uses them as part of good design. That we all strive to make good buildings that don't have to be checked by a list that tells me they are sustainable so they can get a sign on the door and then forget about it. I want to see more than the desire to get this sign for marketing purposes. I want to see people interested in good design because that s what we need, good design, good architecture and a good environment to live in that stays this way for future generations.

Recently a colegue of mine was telling me about a project in the US that was being presented at a conference. It consisted of a renovation of street medians in an East Bay neighborhood in California. Then, next up were two large scale projects, one in India and another in Saudi Arabia. Those were large buildings that treated their own water, used a desalination plant for providing water for the buildings among other more all emcompasing strategies. Then, someone in the audience asked "Why is it that in the US we do street median projects while in other countries the interventions are in a much larger scale, with more innovation and acceptance of building authorities?"

Well, I don't really know the answer either but that made me think, again. Are we stuck with old building codes? Are policy makers not keeping up? Is there too much conflicting interest? We can do better than street medians...

Don't get me wrong, I support all initiatives that take one step further. But I feel that it is time to push harder. I would like to see designers, architects and engineers be able to go ahead with their projects and innovations without having to struggle to get something approved because the codes and legislation fall short on what is being proposed. I would like to see all new construction go beyond the checklists and push the envelope. I would like to see collaboration so that we can all face this together.

Water Tower

This project, in the Netherlands, got my attention because of the transformation of an old piece of water infrastructure into a house. This historical water tower was renovated into a 9 story house that takes the existing volume and creates a different room in each floor. The floors are connected by a metal spiral staircase. The existing brick structure was cut on one side to give way to a large multi-story window that spans 5 stories. For more images click here.

Ghost

In june of 2006 I was part of a two week design-build workshop in Nova Scotia, Canada.
One week design, one week construction. This was a great relief after 7 years of academic work. Yes, 7. I studied 4 years of architecture in Brasil and then 3 in the US. Being out on site, tools in hand, was a great way of putting to practice some of the theory I've learned. This year, the Ghost Lab is putting together a conference instead of a building workshop. I guess they need a break too. But this sounds very interesting. Take a look at their invite link below for more information. Click on my personal link for more images on the year I was there. Ghost 8



http://www.cvent.com/events/ghost-13-international-architecture-conference-ideas-in-things/event-summary-0ed913f123d84e5da3ff7596ab1ddcb3.aspx

House on the Beach?

CASA NA AREIA

Literally! This is a project that takes existing wood/masonry buildings and transforms them into a beach reatreat. Take a look at the link below for more images and details.


http://www.archdaily.com/119742/casa-na-areia-aires-mateus/

Show your face

"Inside-out is a large scale participatory art project that transforms messages of personal identities into pieces of artistic work. Upload a portrait. Receive a poster. Paste it for the world to see. "

insideoutproject.net

Sanctuary Currents - Ripple Effects: The Far-Reaching Impacts of Local Ocean Research

One of my main interests other than architecture is oceanography. I was lucky to work on a project remodel for the Monterey Bay Aquarium in my past architecture firm. The place is magnificent. EHDD designed it and its doors opened in 1984. I was fortunate to work with Chuck Davis, the man behind the design. This experience only exacerbated my interest in ocean science and conservation so I try to read as much as I can and when one of these events turns up, I try to go. There is always something happening in Monterey that is related to these issues. There are a great number of ocean minded institutions: CSU Monterey Bay, Hopkins Marine Station, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Naval Postgraduate School, Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute!
So, if you are interested and are in the area, check this event out...I'll try to keep up with them and post what I come up with.

http://montereybay.noaa.gov/research/currsymp2011/welcome.html

Monobloco

"Minha jangada vai sair pro mar
Vou trabalhar
Meu bem querer..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l230Ab9yxX8

Back Again

I set up this blog 5 years ago but never really used it...a lot has happened since then. Now, 5 years later, I'm not sure who would be interested in what I have to share but I think this is an exercise of getting everything that is in my head out, clearing space for more and keeping it fresh.
I have been in a phase where all the books and music I read are in Portuguese. It may be that I am homesick, it may be that I want to stay tunned with my roots, or it may just be that I want to understand where I come from and what makes me who I am.
I just finished reading Joao Ubaldo Ribeiro's "Viva o Povo Brasileiro". There is an English version called "An Invincible Memory" translated by the author himself. It is an amazing read. An epic novel that spans 300 years in Brazilian history. Even though the characters are fictional, the historic background is true. Very true.
I feel like it gave me many clues in understanding why we (as in the Brazilian people) are like we are. I am far from an expert or a historian but this book gave me insights that were precious.
Brazilians are a very passionate people, but you dont need to read this to know that. It is everywhere, on everything we do. We go for it. Good or bad. We are also talented, musical and welcoming. But, we are also corrupt, self-deprecating and do try to take advantage of anything and anybody. Joao Ubaldo Ribeiro is very candid about this and regardless of the what anybody say, I am proud to be Brazilian. With all the good things and bad things that come with it. With the corruption and the musicality. I dont live in Brasil anymore and many would say that this is why I'm so in love with my country. I disagree. I lived there most of my life and still live there, at least through my books and music.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Ubaldo_Ribeiro