Committee on Architecture for Education

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on Architecture for Education and Committee on the Environment .
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When introducing biomimetic architecture, we share NEXT.cc's Buildings As Bodies journey (http://www.next.cc/buildings_bodies.htm) to introduce buildings as connected systems that are sentient and alive. We also offer journeys on Shelter (http://www.next.cc/shelter.htm), Vernacular architecture (http://www.next.cc/vernacular.htm), Green Building (http://www.next.cc/green_building.htm) and Green Schools (http://www.next.cc/green_schools.htm) to open understanding about architecture's response to climate. A classic to share (albeit slightly amended) is from the late Malcolm Wells, author of Underground Architecture:
NATURE VS. BUILDING
NATURE  + 1 5 0 0                                                     T Y P I C A L O F F I C E B U I L D I N G - 1 1 5 0

PURIFIES AIR                                                                Pollutes Air
PURIFIES WATER                                                           Pollutes Water
USES RAINWATER                                                         Produces Rainwater Runoff
USES AND STORES SOLAR POWER                                 May or may not use solar power
RECYCLES                                                                    May or may not be built of recycled materials,
RESTORES SILENCE                                                           biodegradable materials
PRODUCES OWN FOOD                                                  Materials are transported to site creating further
CREATES RICHER SOIL                                                       pollution
CONSUMES WASTES                                                      Creates Mechanical Noise
MAINTAINS ITSELF                                                        Imports food and supplies from afar
PROVIDES WILDLIFE AND HUMAN HABITAT                     Damages soil
MODERATES CLIMATE AND WEATHER                              Produces non -biodegradable wastes
IS BEAUTIFUL                                                               Needs maintenance
BUILDING                                                                     May or may not respond to cliamte and weather 
                                                                                    Is more often than not, very very ugly



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Linda Keane AIA
Professor of Architecture/Architect
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Dept. of Architecture
Chicago, IL
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This is not directed at any individual. It is a commentary on the issue in general...

All I can say is "what an example of self-hatred by an architect".

There is no depth of thought in this pedantic list. Just because it's written in a book does not make it valid or worthwhile. Using these simple metaphors just distorts the minds of our young people undereducated in critcal thinking. No wonder our graduating students are virtually useless to a client just after they graduated from school. They are taught to have competing interests with the client or even their own employment.

I understand this issue of bio-mimicry. It can be considered as just another example of anthropomorphism. To me, it shows a lack of creativity. There can be some valid and valuable lessons there for our built environment. However, when you break down this list to it's core values, Man should never build a thing and we should be living in caves wearing animal skins. Or perhaps, Man should not even exist...

This attitude is stuck in the "feel good" 1960's hippie movement, as well as the earlier communist Farmer Labor Party of the 1920's. To name a couple, Now, they call themsleves "Progressives" and disguise their envious, greedy views of stealing by the use of governmental force, from those that have worked for what they have. All in environmental wrappings. 

It totally misses the point as to why we do buildings. It is part of our social construct as humans. It provides shelter a place to work, creates income and protective financial value to investors (Homeowners).

Most people who argue this material demand that we live directly IN nature. Yet at the same time they argue EVERYONE must live in dense high-crime urban cities without personal transportation. In the cities everything is expensive, food, rent, energy... It concentrates and increases the environmental damage. This only serves the purpose of the self-serving politlcal meglomaniacs (government) and real estate financial elite (superwealthy). Do you have the $100 million dollars to build a small tower of apartments today? Living in a dense urban city requires 3 or more times the money to live in the same size space. It doesn't matter if you rent, or buy into a co-op or condo. Cities are noisy, crowded, filthy, smelly, and full of predatory criminals. Where do your kids play in a place like that? I can speak to this, because I've worked in these downtown areas 12 hours a day.

When you try to argue or don't agree with their issue, you're damaged goods. You are told you don't care about people, the environment, or you're evil. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are solutions to these artificial problems put forward by these Marxist enviromentalists, it's called Private Property, Freedom and Captialism. It's succeeded every time it has been allowed to function fully.

The first application in North America was with the Pilgrims four centuries ago. Without private property and personal responsibility these pilgrims would not have survived to have their "Thanksgiving Feast" and our country would not be what it is today. You can look it up. Look at the Chinese economy, now that they are embracing Capitalism alone. Just think what they could be with their deep cultural history and total Freedom. Did you know that Chinese Hong Kong, the city providing the economic stimulus to the rest of China is ranked first in the Index of Economic Freedom. The US is ranked ninth and dropping...

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Richard Gonser AIA CSI CCCA SCIP LEED
Chino Hills CA
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