Green agenda - Big and Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century - Book Review

Architectural Review, The, Nov, 2003 by Randall Thomas

BIG AND GREEN: TOWARD SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Edited by David Gissen, London: Princeton Architectural Press. 2003. [pounds sterling]28

This is the book of the movie, or more precisely, the catalogue of the exhibition 'Big and Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century' held at the National Building Museum, Washington, DC.

We know what 'Big' is but what is 'Green?' 'Environmentally responsible Architecture' is one response. But the definition is so all encompassing that a number of buildings which I had never considered to be 'green' before have found their way into the book. On its own this isn't too serious, the future being more important than the past, but more clarity would help us all. Fifty buildings and urban projects (most of which have been constructed and many by famous architects) from around the world are described and well illustrated in colour. Brief comments are made under five categories of Energy Generation: Light and Air, Greenery, Water and Waste, Construction and Urbanism.

Interspersed with these are a number of thoughtful essays and interviews which allow development of some of the concepts behind the steel, glass, concrete and timber.

Often 'big' is synonymous with tall. So, if we judge by the book, what will the skyscrapers of the future be like? The shape will have been tested in a wind tunnel to ensure that it is at least partially naturally ventilated. Some will have single skins and some will have double with the decision being made on an ill-defined mix of climate, calculation and the respective personalities of the architects and engineers. Plants will find their way into atria or onto balconies-or, depending on the budget, window boxes. Part or all of the rainwater and waste water will be treated within the building.

And what will the cities of the future be like? Probably a mixture of 'big green', 'baby green' and 'medium-sized green' with the land designed to maximize the solar potential (sun and wind). Between the buildings there will be parks, pedestrians and efficient public transport systems. Water and waste will be carefully managed and this will include extracting energy from waste.

I liked the variety of projects but my favourite was the as yet unrealized Ventiform building, a variant of 'Madonna's bra' with wind turbine added. And this wasn't because I was greatly convinced by the likely output of the windmill. Rather it was the imagination that the project showed, and its sensual forms, reminding us that we should design in 'green' without preconceptions.

The engineer in me would have liked a bit more science in the book. The pragmatist in me, looking at such a variety of options kept asking questions like 'Does this make sense?' and 'Are some of these things better than others?'