Thursday, July 31, 2008

http://tesanaliving.com

I visited the site mentioned below in the comments (and above in the title of this post). Thank you for the comment.

The website looks nice. It navigates cleanly. The images clearly describe the architecture and surroundings. There is not much mentioned about the greenness of the architecture. The only "green" information is in reference to the preservation of a particular species of tree. While preserving old trees on a site is commendable, a developer can describe other things they do as well.

What other amenities are available to residents?
Is the stone on the houses from a local quarry?
Will the residents have higher or lower utility bills compared to the national average?
How are storm drainage issues handled?

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Green Architecture

It was not long ago that many architects dismissed the "green" label for architecture. It seemed a fad. For many the principles were so basic that it was common sense. Well it seems that it is not a fad, but a new wave. Dozens of cities across the nation have codified green design guides. Multiple non-government organizations have proposed standards. The USGBC has LEED. The Green Building Initative has Green Globes. Almost every professional association of manufacturers has some committee or marketing arm showing how their members are sustainable or environment friendly. Even Walmart has caught the vision. The federal government has gotten into the act with an expansion of their Energy Star program. The Department of Energy has become more vocal about their myriad programs.

Green design is the wave of the future. Our challenge as architects is to not just slap it together but coordinate all the components into a coherent whole.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Modifications

I've skipped a few big events, but started adding a list of Architectural Projects I've been involved in. I have worked in a variety of capacities. I started at the bottom and worked my way along.

Head Room

Sometimes in architecture you need to check for head clearance. In the USA head clearance for accessibility is 80".

Podcast with some architecture content...

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chris-ganiere