What’s it all about?

Well, the way we talk about it is a great place to start; language can be a challenge because each of us might think a term has a different meaning. Three terms commonly used interchangeably in reference to the building and construction industry are Green Design (GreenBuilding), Sustainable Design (Sustainability) and High Performance Buildings. Definitions of these vary by who is defining them, for instance:

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines “GreenBuilding” as:

“The practice of maximizing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use resources – energy, water, and materials – while minimizing building impacts on human health and the environment, through the complete life cycle – from siting, design, and construction to operation, renovation and reuse.”

The US Green Building Council defines “Green Design” as:

“Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and its occupants. This includes site planning, safeguarding water and the efficient use of water, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, conserving materials and resources, promoting indoor air quality for the benefit of current and future generations.”

The United Nation’s 1987 “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development” (The Brundtland Principles) defined “Sustainable Development” as:

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

In the book Cannibals with Forks, author John Elkington defines “Sustainable Development” as:

“The simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity. Companies aiming for sustainability need to perform not against a single financial bottom line, but against this triple bottom line.”

The General Services Administration (GSA), in their publication The New Sustainable Frontier, takes a more global look at “Sustainability”:

“We must be aware of how our everyday decisions affect sustainability. Sustainable development isn’t just about good business and doing well by doing good, or even about personal virtue, it is about survival on this planet. Developing effective tools and strategies for survival requires an understanding of sustainability, and how we affect it through our everyday decisions.” 

Another common term is High Performance Green Building Design. It includes the integration of planning, site orientation, energy saving techniques, on-site renewable energy production, light reflective materials, natural daylight and ventilation, downsizing of building systems natural landscaping, water savings equipment, low maintenance materials or recycled construction materials, and smart building controls.

Whether the term is “Green”, “Sustainable”, or “High Performance”, the basic core values are the constant: tread lightly, be a good neighbor and don’t be a pig.

Each is about being a steward and a leader in the protection of the environment-at-large, energy conservation, and the quality of the indoor environment.

Photo credits:

• R0010602 by snapmatic

Values

“Maintaining strong values is the key to success in any field, chief among them is a solid work ethic.” – Cal Ripken Jr.

“Self-Discipline – Having purity of thought, being true to your values” – Source unknown

“Doing the right thing pays off.” – Source unknown

“The success of an organization is best measured by the quality of the people and organizations which it serves.” – Source Unknown

Passion

“In a game, nothing should be given away. The winner must be better and stronger and smarter. But most of all, he must be passionate. He must bleed love and spit fire.” – Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Bucs

“Only you have the power within you – Just believe in yourself and the sea will part before you…” – Starlight Express (the musical)

“If only you use the power within you, needn’t beg the world to turn around and help you. If you draw on what you have within you, somewhere deep inside…” – Starlight Express (the musical)

“I am the Starlight. I can achieve – anything!” – Starlight Express (the musical)

“To be a winner, all you have to give is all that you have!” – Successories

“It’s my job, to be better than the best and that makes the day for me. Without it, I would be less – than what I expect of me.” – Mac McAnally, Jimmy Buffett

Dedication and Focus

“You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.” – Successories

“Regrets are a waste of time. They are the past crippling you in the present.” – Under the Tuscan Sun (the movie)

“This is a dream world, a dream life. But it only happens if you have the backbone and strength to do it.” – Andre Agassi

“Why have a vision?
Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision just passes time.
Vision with action can change the world.” – Joel Barker

“Preparation makes you consistent. Consistency increases your value and makes you irreplaceable.” – Cal Ripkin Jr.

“Plan to fail, if you fail to plan.” – Mike Ditka

“Don’t just do what you have to – Do more than you need to.” – Source Unknown

“People can be divided into 3 groups:
Those who make things happen.
Those who watch things happen.
Those who wonder what happened.
Congratulations on being the captain of the first group!” – Source Unknown

“Climb above the noise and chaos to do the work that really matters.” – Source Unknown

“Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” – Source Unknown

Commitment

“You always want to end on a high note, but I want to end knowing that I gave everything I had, and hopefully that the game was better because I was a part of it!” – Mia Hamm

(This is phrase that I use as my moral compass)

When I lecture on architectural theory, I often use the following quotes. It’s amazing the answers that I get when I ask who gave the quote. Generally, the most common answer is Frank Lloyd Wright. Who do you think said these quotes?

“Be still…My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a world of creative alternatives.”

“Be still…My mind is aglow with whirling transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.”

Give up? How about Hedley Lamarr, played by Harvey Korman, in the movie Blazing Saddles? I never thought of Harvey Korman as an architectural theorist!

Photo/video credits:

• Compass by Irina Patrascu

He and his daughter have hit the road to New Orleans. This is their second trip to help rebuild the Lower 9th Ward which was inundated with 12 feet of water after the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. He helped rebuild 2 homes three years ago and this year they are working to complete a church in time for Easter this spring.

Believe it or not, after 6+ years there is still a great deal of work to do down there.  When he was last in the area, there was literally nothing left except foundations and a few homes that had been constructed by Brad Pitt. It will be interesting to see how much progress has been made in the last three years.

For those interested, there will be daily progress updates posted on the website www.restoretrinity.org  and the log for the mission trip he’s on is at http://www.restoretrinity.org/january-2012-mission-trips/jan-8-14-daily-log/.

When he returns, he’ll update the DLA Architects team on an overview of where things stand to date in NOLA and what progress has been made since he was last there.

From the article in the Joliet Herald News:

“Our focus is on increased independence,” Barb Luoma, the transition house’s supervisor, said. “We need them to be as independent as possible.”
And what better place to learn than in a real-life setting. Otherwise, it would be like “teaching mechanics without a car,” Luoma said.

Read more:

Lincoln-Way Transition House helps give special-needs students a brighter future – Joilet Herald News.

So thinking about how both architecture and wine have a character, my tasting notes look at the varietal and compare them to an architecturally significant house design.

Like wine tasting in general, this is very subjective, so I’d love to hear your take on these wines, too.

Wine 1: 2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough.

My tasting notes are clean, crisp, citrus and refreshing.

To me this wine is all about the fruits, all about nature, much the same way Frank Lloyd Wright’s falling water house  is all about nature. Wright felt so passionately about the context of a building that he focused on integrating it into the landscape. He made it one with nature and certainly the crisp, refreshing characteristic of this wine is illustrated by the waterfall.

Wine Stats:  “92 points by Wine Spectator. Tangerine, mango and citrus flavors are pure and focused, smooth, round and wonderfully refreshing, with peach, Key lime pie, mineral and floral elements that really take off on the finish. Drink now.” via description at http://www.klwines.com/

Architecture stats:  Located in Mill Run Pennsylvania, built in 1935

Wine 2: La Crema Sonoma Coast 2009 Pinot Noir

My tasting notes are simple, spicy, smooth, sleek and sexy.

I love pinot noir; it has been my favorite wine for quite awhile.. incidentally, long before the movie Sideways. Anyway, pinot noir is a very hard grape to grow, but unlike many wines this is not a blend of grapes. It is all simply pinot noir, which is why I chose to pair it with the Farnsworth house by Mies Van der Rohe. 

It was an exercise in simplicity designed as a summer retreat for Dr. Farnsworth. It incorporated structural engineering that had not been done to date to accomplish the floating open plan that Mies was looking for.

This simple house has a lot of thought behind it, much the same way the pinot noir does. In fact Mies’ favorite part of the house was that you enter various terraces before you actually reach the level of the house. The entry was set that high to avoid the flooding from the nearby river but one could have easily chosen a simple direct stair instead, the architect wants you to slowly reach the top much the same way the pinot noir presents different tastes as you drink it.

Wine Stats:  “A perennial favorite, this Pinot Noir offers aromas of lush cherry and red plum, with subtle hints of black tea and cola. On the palate, flavors are ripe and elegant, centering on red cherry and spice with a touch of earthiness and dark chocolate. A rich, juicy mid-palate and vivid acidity lead to plush tannins on the finish. The result is a fabulous, appealing food wine” via description at www.cityspiritsdenver.com

Architecture Stats:  House was built in 1951 in Plano, Illinois.

Wine 3: Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2008

My tasting notes are big, bold, strong, velvety, hints of expresso with a lingering finish.

To me this wine has a “wow!” factor – it’s something that is out there. I chose to pair it with Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Batllo simply because it is big and bold project that really embodies what Gaudi is all about.

He is famous for continuing to design during construction and this wine certainly achieves that with the lingering finish. This piece of architecture pushes the limits of the building materials: stone reveals itself as soft and organic. The same holds true for the wine; it is big and lively, yet polished. The hints of espresso also take me back to mornings in Spain.

Wine Stats:  In Winespectator’s top 100 wines of 2010 and earned 90 points from Wine Spectator. “Very ripe and primal still, delivering a large core of velvety textured raspberry, fig and boysenberry fruit that is liberally laced with dark toast, pastis and roasted vanilla. Should settle in nicely with modest cellaring, as the structure is dense, but polished and integrated. Drink now through 2011.” via description at www.wine-king.com

Architecture Stats:  Built in 1906, Barcelona, Spain.

Have you sampled the wines? Or the designs? What are your impressions?

Photo/video credits:

• “More red wine please” by Gajen Indrakumaran on Flickr.com
• “Rolling River at Falling Water” by Karen Blumberg on Flickr.com
• “Farnsworth House” by Christopher Macsurak on Flickr.com
• “Casa Batlló Facade” by Son of Groucho on Flickr.com

So why wine and architecture – what do the 2 have in common?

• Architecture is a culture frozen in time much the same way wine is, wine is influenced by everything that is happening while those grapes are growing and architecture is the same way.
• They both continue to live and give pleasure to people long after they are created.
• They are subjective, someone might say that a building (or a wine) is bold and sexy and someone else might just say they hate it.
• They are fragile and must be maintained correctly or they will be ruined.
• They both have the potential to be priceless works of art.
• They can be paired with other things to compliment them.. or fight them.
• They can be Famous.

So let me tell you a good wine story…

A client of mine had been telling me that she was saving this bottle of a good wine that she had purchased in an auction to celebrate a 30 million dollar grant they had received. I really didn’t think much of it until the day a group of us sat down for lunch and she unveiled the bottle of wine to us.

Have you ever heard of Chateau Lafite Rothschild? It’s known as the Kings Wine at the French Court and has been for centuries. I really knew little about this wine other than the fact that it was rare and had never crossed my lips. Well it turns out this particular bottle of wine was older than I was, it was born in 1964 and the estimated value of the bottle was $1000! After it breathed for awhile, this was truly the most amazing wine I had ever tasted, but I couldn’t help but think “wow, what was happening in 1964.. what was going on that year?” It was like a walk back in time.

That is the same way I feel about architecture when I walk through a building, what was the architect thinking, what was happening in the world when this building was built? All these circumstances affected the outcome.. which brings me to the idea of a tasting and comparison of some “famous houses” to wine. No, there is no Chateau Lafite here today, but I highly recommend it if you have the chance.

To play along, you’ll want to head to the store to pick up the three wines on this shopping list. Once you have them, sample each of the varietals and take note of your impressions.

• Wine 1: 2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
• Wine 2: La Crema Sonoma Coast 2009 Pinot Noir
• Wine 3: Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2008

Photo credits:

• “Vino Venue reflection” by karlsbad on Flickr.com
• “Pour me some wine please!” by yashima on Flickr.com

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111007/news/710079811/#ixzz1a8Ii02EA

Excerpt from the article:

“We took something that was basically a couple of rectangular buildings and transformed them into a facility that meets the needs of today’s students,” said Paul Dawson, the college’s managing director of construction projects, in a news release. “This was a great accomplishment for our college.”

UPDATE

ECC’s Multipurpose Classroom Building garners design award for … Chicago Sun-Times Sun-Times Media File Photo ECC-ECN-1111-001.jpg ELGIN — DLA Architects Ltd. has described the addition that turned two formerly light-industrial properties …

Architectural organization honors ECC for building design TribLocal The organization gave Itasca-based DLA Architects, which designed the building, … William Templin of Itasca-based DLA Architects said competition judges …

Next week we’ll be participating in a continuing ed program that will certainly be of interest to schools and other governmental bodies who are interested in the policies and practices that affect the well-being of a community. The webinar is available to anyone and information can be found at the Council for Educational Facilities Planners (CEFPI) website. Hosted by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the presenters will be discussing how decisions for siting schools play a role in the health of the students, local residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

What:   

“Location, Location, Location: New Guidance for Locating Schools in a Healthy, Sustainable Way” offered by the Council for Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hosted by National Center for Safe Routes to School.

When: 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – 1:00pm Eastern/10:00 Pacific

Why:    

Learn about the:

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever federal guidelines for location school facilities, as mandated by Congress;
2. Model school siting policies for school districts developed by the nonprofit organization Pubic Health Law & Policy;
3. Active School Neighborhood Checklist developed by the Arizona Department of Transportation; and
4. Community-centered policy recommendations in Helping Johnny Walk to School from the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Register at: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/epa-school-siting

Photo credit Target by Jasper Johns courtesy cliff1066™ on Flickr.com

DLA Architect’s new Multi-Purpose Classroom Building for Elgin Community College is recognized as an Outstanding Design for Interior Renovation. Congrats to all involved!

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/8c62a0fd?page=68