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Permalink Reply by Michael McKenzie on December 2, 2009 at 6:27pm

Hi Neville...BARC, sounds like a great learning experience and a most worthy objective. My response here is not without considerable contemplation on what is for me a vital subject, but it is nonetheles a 'knee jerk' without time for edit /review...when time permits I intend to blog this with a little more care.

GREEN relative to built form has until now been a marketing tool used by savvy developers and an ego bolstering opportunity for the architectural class to demonstrate their consummate creative skills in a new light. However, what we deliver more often than not, is the grandiose project.
'MAD Architects Unveil Urban Forest Skyscraper For China http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/01/mad-architects-unveil-urban-for... is a good example. Beautiful it may be; but how efficient is this form...does the form empower function, is it an efficient use of material, an efficient use of air-space, is it dangerous for people on it and below, what impact does its form have on energy performance and returns, is the form, by and of itself the most efficient shape, what impact will snow, ice, water runoff have on streets below, does form make maintenance a more difficult/expensive task, do we plant curvaceous conifers... or herbs, spices, food crops, plants to attract birds and propagate the city honey bee, does the building perpetuate our failed social order, how does the street level plan improve/empower the neighborhood...when its finished will we celebrate in our new street level Sushi restaurant devouring sea bass and blue fin tuna or feast on the bounty of crops grown on the terraces above ??????????????
GREEN must embrace and adopt a belief system that extends far beyond the nuts and bolts of buildings. What good are zero carbon forms that ignore plundered oceans? What good does the most creative architect achieve with forms that meet the standards of a 'thin GREEN line' whose narrow focus isolates from everything else?
GREEN begins a successful path when it is defined by an all encompassing belief 'that everything is connected to everything' and we pursue this mantra with a relentless, religious fervor. The architect and his science, tech, engineering fellows are 'men of the cloth' in this new religion, collaborating in an intimate integrative process with work that demonstrates its value to everyman.
Nothing less than the salvation of mankind is the objective of the new GREEN religion. As its leading practitioner, Architecture finally has opportunity and mandate to create shrines and monuments to its own doctrine...and with that finally has a chance to be truly relevant to the human condition

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Permalink Reply by ® irgeorgellanespecore on December 6, 2009 at 9:57pm

GREEN CONSTRUCTION CODES Can Lead to Sustainable and Safe Communities.As jurisdictions around the world, pursue the goal of creating greener, more sustainable communities, the enforcement of a consistent, regulatory framework such as the International Codes will ensure safety of the Global environment...

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IRGEORGE PECORE

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