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ALBION DISTRICT LIBRARY BY PERKINS + WILL IS A 2018 COTE TOP TEN RECIPIENT. IMAGE: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.

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  • 1.  The future we must dare to imagine

    Posted 09-25-2017 11:34 AM

    The future we must dare to imagine 

    "When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?" 
    ― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters 

    Seeing major cities and communities being battered by two hurricanes in as many months with a third in the offing, two earthquakes shake one of the world's largest metro areas in the same time frame and Los Angeles battle a major wildfire can make the future look like a threat, for sure. This article argues for defining future as a promise, instead.

    People don't like to imagine terrible possibilities and usually avoid it until calamity stares from every TV screen. Then humans tend to take refuge in actionism and after that avoid thinking much about the future altogether.

    Pragmatic humanitarian action, collecting clothes, bottled water and teddy bears or even volunteering in person. Taking individual responsibility and action instead of solely relying on institutions or government is a laudable very American instinct of coming together in the face of adversity.
    Houston after Harvey

    Of course, it does nothing to change the causes of catastrophes.

    Nor do billions of FEMA dollars used recreating the status quo and even less avoidance of imagining the future.
    Florida coast after Irma (Ponte Vedra)

    Congratulating each other for coming together in adversity would be fine if it wasn't also a method of systematically smothering the larger truth that the pre-catastrophe status was unsustainable and in many cases irresponsible. Whether it is mobile home parks on the Florida Keys, one of the most vulnerable land areas worldwide or residential developments spreading into forests prone to devastating wildfires. Or operating retirement homes that can't be ventilated...
    Read full article




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    Nikolaus Philipsen FAIA
    Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
    Baltimore MD
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  • 2.  RE: The future we must dare to imagine

    Posted 09-27-2017 11:06 AM
    Thoughtful and well written.  thanks.

    Now, how to effect Change so we don't continue to repeat learning over and over.

    some suggestions:

    1.  Slow the restoration down to achieve as much future damage reduction as possible.
    2.  Phase out public funding of private real estate restoration in damage-prone areas.
    3.  Phase out public funding of public real estate restoration in damage-prone areas.
    4.  Conduct local discussions of damage mitigation strategies before the next event.
    5.  Make public funds available to implement damage reduction plans.

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    Thomas Hirsch, FAIA
    Principal
    HIRSCH GROUP ARCHITECTURE
    Madison, Wisconsin
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