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Kevin Matthews
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 485
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
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Location: Montana, USA
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 Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:15 am Post subject: |
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I would like to invite Mr. Gore to speak to the Timber Framers Guild.
It may be moot to talk to design professionals, because nothing gets done but some design that's only worth the paper it's printed on. Real work is needed to solve this crises, by real builders.
Derek J Swanger
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csintexas
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Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1676
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:03 am Post subject: |
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The main problem I see is that solving global warming isn't in the best interest of architects. Architects need work. That means new buildings. Even better is expensive new buildings. This means architects will be more likely to promote anything which will increase their bottom line which happens to be the status quo since it is easier to get people to spend money on excess than on efficiency.
Also sometime in the mid 20th century, when we no longer had to worry about practical things because we had cheap energy and a lot of time on our hands, architecture became artchitecture. Now a days most architects could no more design a practical energy efficient structure than a dog can behave like a cat. (it is simply not in their nature) So we have about three generations of architects around who are for the most part useless towards solving any practical problem.
(refer to my thread: Are people over at MIT stoned? And almost every building set forth as an example of good architecture in the past 50 years)
However, I am optimistic that a new generation of architects will eventually emerge which will change the current conditions.
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Chris Stewart
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
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Location: Montana, USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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I am optimistic too, about the new generation of architects, I'm going to help make some. It's easier to make new architects than retrain the old.
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 286
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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I agree, it's just like the medical field. Doctors are at the root of the problem. Sweep away all the doctors and our problems are solved.
If doctors would just stop fooling around and cure everybody, medical insurance would be affordable for all, there would be no more disease, blindness etc.
Raise the dead..................now that's real doctoring! |
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csintexas
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Joined: 06 Feb 2006
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Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
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That's kind of a crazy post birgco.
What does it mean and what does it have to do with the subject?
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 286
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: |
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It has everything to do with the subject. What's up with all the constant architect bashing? I'm not an apologist for the profession, but don't you think it's a bit ridiculous to blame the current state of affairs on architects?
It is possible it runs a bit deeper? |
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csintexas
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Just got around to reading the full article which was written by Kevin Matthews.
Great job on the article Kevin. My cynical nature sometimes gets the best of me. Your take on the problem was very realistic.
In my view the article outlines all the reasons why making enough changes to actually prevent global warming are not likely to happen at least until we get a few feet of sea level rise.
The only good thing I see currently is that we are finally at the end of the cheap oil age and rapidly increasing oil prices are going to play havoc in a society built on cheap oil. This will probably slow down carbon emissions by force.
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csintexas
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:52 am Post subject: |
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I didn't blame the architects. I said they where not capable of doing anything about the problem because just like the majority of Americans they are the problem.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project
Last edited by csintexas on Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 555
Location: Montana, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Always wanting to compare with doctors and lawyers. They take an oath. Architects have no profession, no standards, no ethics and therein lies the problem.
Architects were once leaders. The best of thier trades. the master builder.
It's either going to take leadship to fix this global crises or some smart engineering.
A better comparision would be acting, birgco. Do anything you want, you just need an audience. and not trade folks looking up to you.
I swear to God as my witness, and to those before me, to...
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csintexas
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:14 am Post subject: |
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Like many jobs in the 20th century Architecture became a specialization.
While architects at one time may have had a good understanding of the entire building system now they are not much more than aesthetic engineers or even worse artists.
Todays buildings are mostly designed using philosophical dogma and at best a crude understanding of performance.
The LEED program sets such low standards that it is essentially meaningless. The only building which should receive a platinum rating is a existing building which was reused and made to be more efficient with a minimum of new energy input.
By allowing such low standards we simply fool ourselves into believing we are doing something when we are not.
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 286
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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My point is this....it's easy to paint one group with a broad brush and say here is the problem,
here's the culprit.
The problem and solution lies somewhere with the
combined efforts of the government, the public,
the design community, builders, manufacturers, economics,
societal values and education. And the one thing that bugs me
more than just about anything is the immense amount of
negativism which prevades the discussion and the potential for a workable solution to the problem.
There was a time is this country when no problem was too great to challenge and the attitude was to
roll up your sleeves and "get going".
Now it more whining and complaining about how insurmountable
the situation is.
Maybe I can't change the world by myself,
but I'll give it my best effort. To do anything less would be as good as doing nothing. |
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csintexas
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:55 am Post subject: |
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How can I not be negative when we keep increasing our carbon emissions?
I think it is great to have a positive attitude but that doesn't mean we should fool ourselves. Only by identifying the problem can we come up with real solutions. Otherwise we will just be rolling up our sleeves and producing more carbon.
Your best effort as far as I know was to build a new house which just added to the problem. If this represents our best effort than we are doomed.
I'm not saying you are to blame any more that anyone else. I don't think builders are anymore capable of solving the problem than architects. Making this change is going to take solid reasoning and a fundamental change in morality.
Here is the response I got on another forum when I suggested we build smaller houses:
| Quote: | | Thanks G o d no one is allowed to tell us where or what size of home we can build. G o d bless A m e r i c a!!!!!!! |
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Chris Stewart
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 555
Location: Montana, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Fixing the Earth = Fixing the Architecture
If you kick'em while they are down, it's the really good ones that get back up.
It's all a part of your training. Don't take it personally it's just a matter of survival.
Derek
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 555
Location: Montana, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:22 am Post subject: |
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Whew! thanks Chris for letting me get that out of my system. Living small is the way to go. Rats in a cage. We're smart enough to know that. spread the word.
And thank you Kevin for a wonderful article and topic.
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