Grant Lewis
1043 WRC
Dr. Roberts
November 23, 2011
Social Architecture The term architecture takes into consideration a number of things. These are space, mass, volume, light, texture, shadow, program and materials. The building that is the end product is a creative manipulation of all these elements. The term also includes the pragmatic elements like construction, technology and cost. And thus, the architect achieves something, which is functional, aesthetic, socially conscious and most of the times artistic too. Taken to its deeper roots, even an ordinary structure does need someone to design and supervise the construction. So, it would have been difficult to think of any building, be it a home, office, school, church or anything else, without the help of an architect. Thus, the industry of architecture has been in existence since the time man thought of building a private hut (Bennett). And by the 21st century, it has flourished into a full-fledged business. An architect designs and sometimes supervises the construction of buildings. Anything from tunnels that run far beneath the ground, to skyscrapers that tower above it, architects have always had a hand in building these great structures (Front Cover). Architects have designed the greatest buildings in history, from the stoic World Trade Center in New York, to the graceful and natural Falling Waters house in Pennsylvania, building styles differ as much as the architects who build them. The Social Architect's task is to design and bring into being organizations and communities that serve both the marketplace and the soul of the people who live and work within them. Where the architect designs physical space, the social architect designs social space (Hewitt). The role of the Social Architect is to create service-oriented space (in business, organizations, governments, schools and communities) by giving those involved the necessary space and “freedom to act” (Hewitt) on what matters most to them. As responsible citizens and community members we are all called to show up and accept an invitation to participate, to create, to function as co-designers. Acting on what matters is an act of leadership that is not dependent on the response of those around us whom generally say, "no we cannot" rather than "yes we can try" (Kenna). Social architecture is about creating space for people around us to act on what matters while having the will to action, believing that it is possible to bring about change, growth and positive momentum. Social architecture generates an image, fostering imagination, a position and role for each of us to help co-create (Lane). Acting on what matters for one person happens in concert with those around them, as individual effort will not be enough if we don't encourage others to find their own meaning, their own voice. Without them we will not be able to sustain our own. Structure is an essential part of any piece of architecture. Frankly, it is a reason buildings do not fall down. Whether it is a house, a bridge or a stadium, it is subjected to a number of loads which have to be resisted in one way or another. Structures serve this purpose of transferring loads from the points at which they are applied to the foundations (Lee). No building can possibly exist without this component and quite often architecture is defined by structures rather than the other way around. In any case, it certainly has to be a point of much consideration on behalf of both architects and structural engineers (Louis). Of course, buildings designed in vacuum without the constraints of all the forces acting would be much more interesting and would allow for more freedom in expressing ideas. However, building without the need of structure would eliminate the factor of the challenge to fuse functionality with aesthetics, which possibly is one of the main reasons why architecture is a form of art (Louis). Yes, structural part of buildings can be a huge constraint but, on the other hand, it turns good modern architects into great ones. Architecture of social change represents a conscious effort to reshape the life space of alternative societies. Their goals included uniqueness, accountability, perfectibility, collectivity, and credibility. Their environments were characterized by isolation, unique architectural features, recycling within closed systems, architectural adaptation, "perfect" details, inventions, elaborate transitions between public and private spaces, and prefabrication for easier assembly of the "model" town (Mee). The effects of "the architecture of social change" demonstrate the importance of alternative environments to the success of contemporary alternative institutions.
Green architecture is an approach to building which has become more popular in the last 25 to 30 years. Also known as sustainable design, green architecture is a method of design that minimizes the impact of building on the environment (Sampson). Once thought of as unconventional and nonstandard, both regulatory agencies and the public alike are quickly accepting green architecture as a socially responsible and logical means of construction (Sampson). The beginnings of today's green revolution can be traced back to the environmental awareness of the 1960s and European design. New construction techniques have led to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are “healthy for their occupants” (Social Architecture). Successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location. The concepts about green architecture can generally be organized into several areas of application (Sommer). These areas include sustainability, materials, energy efficiency, land use, and waste reduction. Green buildings are not only designed for present use, but consideration is also been given to future uses as well. An adaptable structure can be "recycled" many times over the course of its useful life (Sommer). Buildings consume a variety of materials in their construction. Green design reduces the dependence on resource intensive products and materials. Today, there are an increasing number of products available made from efficient, earth-friendly, or recycled materials (Louis). In a green building, consideration is also given to the construction process itself. Materials that minimize waste or can be recycled help, contribute to an efficient and environmentally sensitive construction process. Another important aspect of green architecture is the integration of energy efficient mechanical systems and conservation methods. Green buildings are designed to reduce or eliminate the dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, green designs further help to minimize waste through the use of gray water recycling and other sustainable energy strategies. Grey water is conserved or saved to be recycled to water gardens (Mee). Land use and building orientation also plays a critical role in green architecture. A green building is located to take advantage of its climate and surroundings (Bennett). These conditions not only affect the efficiency of a building, but of the community and society as a whole. Planning for responsible land use addresses these issues through the consideration of climate, transportation, and the natural environment. An amazing amount of waste is generated by the construction of a typical building. Green buildings are designed to eliminate waste by using modular systems of construction, recycled products, and efficient use of materials. The ideal green building would create no waste either during construction or use, so the impact on the environment and resources is minimized. Environmentally sensitive development at all levels housing, commercial and institutional appears to be a very promising approach to help achieve sustainability in these terms. Humanity shares a common need for affordable, healthy, durable, comfortable housing and workspaces designed and built to maintain or uplift the human condition. Unfortunately this does not yet frequently occur as a rule throughout the World (Nelson). In a world facing climate change and rapidly depleting natural resources, it makes sense for architects to design 'Green Buildings'. Green architecture is an outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use energy, water, and materials, while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal (Lee). New construction techniques have led to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. The concept of green building stems from effective utilization of energy resources including sunlight, electricity and water. It is more about sustainability, aimed at creating healthier and more resource efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition (Lane). Typical principles include climate-responsive design, use of local and sustainable materials, water harvesting, etc. Architectural elements like courtyards, clusters, wind towers, roof terraces and jaalis (stone lattices), among others, are used for effective climate control and have become social and cultural elements. Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. Green architecture or green design is based on the philosophy that changes in the manner of building and constructing can be more effective and cost efficient at protecting and environment and reducing the environmental pollutants compared to the traditional “end-of-the-pipe approach. It believes that the environment may be protected more if it is taken into account from the moment houses and buildings are designed rather than taking efforts to protect it after the houses and building have been constructed (Hewitt). For instance, constructing buildings which are designed in such a way that it uses solar energy and wind power will protect the environment more compared to finding ways to conserve energy after the building is built. Green architecture benefits not only the environment but even the building owner. On the part of the building owner, there are direct financial benefits to be derived from using the principles of green architecture. These benefits are lower energy and water consumption which translates to lower costs and savings (Kenna). Green buildings also require less maintenance and infrastructure which also leads to lower costs and savings. Second, indirect benefits of green buildings include better health of employees in view of the circulation of natural air and the use of natural light. Better health of employees leads to less absenteeism. Less absenteeism results to increased productivity for the employees.
Third, on a global scale green architecture protects the natural resources and mitigates the climate change which has become a phenomenon all over the world (Sommer). It also relies on renewable sources of energy making the building less dependent on electricity. Green architecture accomplishes these goals by minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, managing renewable resources to insure sustainability, reducing and eliminating harmful emissions to the environment, including those that contribute to global warming.
Fourth, it focuses on recycling of natural resources such as water. For instance, gathering rainwater for use in flushing the toilet and washing cars instead of using potable water helps conserve water. Fifth, green architecture has facilities for recycling which allows it to recycle materials and re-use them properly. It also helps in the reduction of the volume of waste thrown in landfills. For a long time, the Earth was seen as an unlimited source of materials that humans could use to survive. Preservation, protection, and sustainability were words that were not even used in conjunction with the environment (Social Architecture). Only within the last fifty years or so have we come to realize that the Earth’s natural resources are not going to last forever. In order to survive, we must develop alternatives to the natural resources normally used for fuels and make the best use of land that we possibly can. In closing, with a genuine understanding of architecture coupled with the surrounding environment that impacts all of us on such a profound level, we as a species can better protect ourselves and our home, Earth, for many years to come. Architects are the leaders of social change because the sculptures they create have the ability to change individual’s lives. It is through this process of understanding an accepting the role of the architect that we can allow ourselves to be transformed by the structures erected around us.