The first goal is to harmonize with the site. Real estate folks like to say, "location, location, location," and the same is really true in ecological design: understanding the topography, the microclimate, the vegetation and the ecosysystems that are at work at a place and really trying to put those into action.
Our second goal, which is somewhat ironic as architects, is to build as little as possible. And that, for us, is being as space efficient as we can. The simple answer is to build less house.
The third goal is that buildings should be able to heat and cool themselves and generate their own electricity.
The fourth goal is to maximize resource efficiency: understanding where materials come from, and what the resources are behind them, and also integrating natural building systems such as straw bale, rammed earth, cob or adobe where appropriate.
And then, the final goal is to show that ecological design can be beautiful and bring it to the mainstream.
(Want to read more of David Arkin's thoughts on ecological design? Check out his interview at Treehugger!)
image Edward Caldwell
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