Studio Render Inc.Architecture, Politics and Philosophy

Jun 6th BedZED

Americans have drifted away from the days of the residence above a business and now have adapted to the long commute and the dependence on the automobile.  Dunphy (1997), In the United States from 1950-1990 the suburbs grew from 23%-47% (150 million to 250 million) while the cities declined from 33%-29% of the population.  The Industrial Revolution started the trend where families no longer worked together either on the farm or as tradesmen.  Men went to work at the factories and the women were homemakers.  Today, Calthorpe (2000) claims “Everyone wants a detached home in the suburbs” and “25% of the populations buying new homes are middle-class families with kids.”  The fact is the suburbanites who have taken to their subdivisions, 2-car garage and trips to the strip mall have not been given another option.  There are other options.  A development in Hackbridge, Sutton (UK) has come up with a possible solution to the environmental problem.  This Zero-Energy Live/Work development they have created, dubbed BedZED, makes a sustainable stance in design as well.

The BedZED development is important to the Architectural community because it is bringing to light that this type of eco-friendly structure is possible, aaffordable and that there is a want and need for it in today’s world.  Gregory (2003) “ZED Factory has been inundated with people wanting to do a ZED (a zero energy development).  With a wait list of over 700 people it is clear that BedZED is responding to a real need, and when sufficient clusters of people emerge other developments will be built.”  Dunster claims that he plays developers at their own game, being able to present a comparable home for the same price, but with the promise of an environmentally sound structure.  Change is tough but knowledge is key.  Upfront costs can be made back with time, in this case acheived  by reclaiming brownfields, recycling materials and a design that allows a living structure.  It is very possible to replicate and produce the same results on a regular basis, as long as someone is willing to take that chance at change.

“Building, structures are what it is all about.  Many “environmentally” sensitive buildings go unnoticed due to their “low profile”; and yet deserve to be recognized and set forward as an example of good Architecture.” William Allen (2004).   The low-profile of such buildings must no longer go unnoticed and the public must understand its responsibility to mother earth for the sake of their health and the future for our children.

Posted in Sustainable and tagged americans, architecture, BedZED, green, social problems, suburbs, Sustainable, technology by Studio Render with 11 comments.