My college experience like many of my contemporaries, has changed me fundamentally. There are certain classes that have dramatically influenced and broadened my views beyond that of any others. Ecological Issues is one of those courses. The class had a series of tasks, one of which was to create something architectonic from discarded materials. The project was called Waste Not/ Want Not or Win/Win, designed to serve as a valuable lesson that everything can be reused. I always cared about the planet like most of us do, however I unfortunately admit it was not as informed about our current crisis.  

 

As aspiring architects of this era, the word sustainability has been embedded into our vocabulary. It seems that architecture is now synonymous with sustainable efforts. We as architects should proudly embrace that responsibility. Sustainability is not a new concept, rather humans have been using passive sustainability through the ages. Simple design concepts such as orientation, material selection, placement, and landscape can make buildings much more adaptable to climate. Buildings contribute to pollution more than any other factor, and architects have control of such. I believe architects have the ability, technology, and foresight to make a significant impact environmental issues.

 

However, it doesn't require an architectural license to make an impact on the environment, anyone and everyone can contribute just by making simple changes. The most important of which is changing ones attitude towards consumption. As we know our global economy has a large impact on the planet. This attitude towards consumption has contributed to the alarming rate of climate change which we have seen in the past half century. We as a society are now beginning to realize the effects of such actions. Looks like the modernist master, Mies van de Rohe was right, “Less is More.”