I don’t have a specific story, but several views.
As architects, we have the responsibility to lessen the impact of our buildings on the land. We need to think holistically about the building's function, materials and site orientation. We need to educate our clients and thus the public on how we approach design and construction.
As education spreads regarding sustainability, (from Bob the Builder’s new slogan, reduce, re-use, recycle to Al Gore’s movie), our clients are becoming more accepting of green design.
On a personal level, I strongly believe we should work near our home. Everyday, I hear about the terrible traffic commute along our I-5 corridor. The commuter headache is not for me. I chose to live and work in the same community. Therefore, everyday, I take a short 5-minute drive or 25-minute walk to my office, and along the way, I drop off my children at the nearby daycare. A short commute/no-commute is key!
For those that cannot afford to work in the areas they live, then mass transit is key. In Washington State, mass transit is a city bus. The idea of a commuter train in western Washington is a sad little train line that connects three communities. For a successful mass transit, we need a fully integrated system, branching out to all the bedroom communities, running along the freeways, convenient, fast, reliable. Washington State could really learn allot from the East Coast.
Funny how our childhood influences the unbreakable habits in adulthood. My wheat-growing grandparents instilled in me the “turn off the lights” habit. If everyone where to turn off lights when they left the room, it would save a bundle of energy! Open the curtains, and let the sun light in.
Another habit my grandparents engrained in me was our daily table scraps. With a simple covered pail under the sink, we would gather the fruit and veggie scraps and take it outside to the garden compost. Today, I live in an urban neighborhood, and I still use the compost, this time in a contained cylinder outside that breaks all the salad trimmings into wonderful soil. Easy!
These are a few of my views. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share.
Sincerely,
Kara Walk, architect, mother, consumer
Olympia Washington
