The most exciting architecture today is not only environmentally astute but re-imagines a sense of place. The book [ours] by Andrew Michler is a collaboration between eVolo and the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University on contemporary architecture trends of sustainable design in selected locations around the world. We have put together a Kickstarter campaign to help support the ground breaking research behind the book.
[ours] disseminates how the best architecture comes together to create regional identity in the 21st century. Site specific design is a core reality in developing robust, thriving communities and informing the shared nature of the built and natural world through environmentally attuned development.
Regions are already responding to the challenge through inventive and provocative architecture. [Japan Condenses], [Spain Wraps], and [Australia Unfolds] explores how design practices inform a sense of place and provide solutions to complex issues in the built environment. These three divergent areas exemplify the quality of redefined design vernacular that addresses deep sustainable objectives.
Other regions from around the world will be explored as well including [Denmark Plays], [Germany Maintains], [Mexico Buries], [Cascadia Grows], South Africa and Central America.
The germ of the idea is to explore sustainable design by putting these buildings into context. We see the re-imagining of the built environment as one of the most important goals in thriving in an altered planet in the 21st century. By pushing the envelope these buildings create new architectural archetypes, integrating function and form to improve performance. We will explore how architects have learned from their failures and from taking risks.
Rather than put great cutting edge building projects in isolation we want to look both inward at how they work and came to be, and outward at how environmentally astute architecture is informed by and can redefine the society they are placed in.
The IBE is heading the development of the Place Assessment Tool or PAT, an integrated design attributes system used for the book’s project selection. PAT promises to help design professional visually prioritize place making needs and environmental attributes in design phase of project development.
Some readers may just enjoy the sheer beauty in the novel designs, while others may take the knowledge and apply it to their region.
The publication will feature in-depth narratives, interviews, and large format project photos and descriptions.
Art book quality with ground breaking architecture design theory
Approximate pages: 250
Large full color photography of selected buildings
Four regional chapters narratives
Projects descriptions
Project drawing index with floor plans, elevations and diagrams
Save at least $10 on your copy through Kickstarter (and you help make an even better book) !
This is an exciting idea to explore but its going to take a lot of work. We have a great group of interns to support, some research equipment to procure and of course a little bit of travelling to do. To get the best information possible we plan to go to the source- explore buildings and regions firsthand, interview the architects and occupants, and take a lot of photos and video. While we set the goal low every bit of funding we can raise helps uncover great projects that make a difference.
The funds raised from Kickstarter are for research only, not for things like printing and advertising.
Naturally we will have lots of updates on our travels and learnings exclusive for Kickstarter backers: think of it as a real time whirl-wind tour of the world’s contemporary architecture scene.
Rewards include a PDF of [Japan Condenses], signed copy of [ours], copy of eVolo Magazine #04 Re-Imagining the Contemporary Museum, Exhibition and Performance Space, exclusive interview transcripts with cutting edge architects, and a presentation and a lively discussion at location of your choice on the hyper-localization of sustainable architecture.
Discover your inner parametric architect. We are also offering the playful and mindful handcrafted zenblock, a building block that requires a special touch to be stacked or balanced. Custom made for this Kickstarter campaign each unique block is created with reclaimed birch and non-VOC painted on a single facet with eVolo Magazine colors and finished with a non-toxic oil finish.
Who we are:
Author: Andrew Michler LEED AP BD+C Writes for Inhabitat and eVolo on contemporary environmental building design. He is also a founding associate of Rocky Mountain Passive House and has designed and is building the first cradle-to-cradle off-grid Passive House. Read Andrew’s interviews with William McDonough, Bob Villa, and Joe Lstiburek.
Research: Dr. Katharine Leigh IIDA, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C The 2010 Design Intelligence Most Admired Design Educator, sits on the IBE governing board and leads the Interior Graduate Program at CSU. Her two main emphasis in research are creativity and sustainable design.
Research: Tara Steckly MMP LEED Green Associate A collaborator & manager at the Institute for the Built Environment, sustainable design advocate & creator, facilitator & connector of community partnerships, volunteer of USGBC Colorado, green building education coordinator for the Sustainable Living Fair. Tara oversees the research efforts of CSU graduate research interns for this project.
