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| Michael Braungart; photo courtesy of Jonata Daniel |
During an interview with the acclaimed German-born
chemist, Michael Braungart, we discussed many facets of green architecture. A
leader at the top of his field and at the top of research for green
architecture, Braungart made his philosophy clearly articulated. He said, “the
greenest thing anyone can do is to build architecture that lasts as long as
possible.” In effect, Braungart believes the greenest home is not one that has
the most sustainable bells & whistles, but one that will last for as long
as possible.
Making homes endurable includes many types of strategies.
First and foremost, the overall design, if done nicely and with meaning, can
satisfy generations of individuals and families. If one would notice, some of
the best-designed architecture is never be torn down. Think about Frank
Lloyd Wright’s homes or perhaps some homes in a historic district of your city
where the home values seem to defy gravity. It is likely that the homes built
in this area were designed with great care. Perhaps the city planning for this
particular area too was designed with care. As a result, it is the place where
everyone wishes to live.
