With the green movement gaining more popularity with each day, it seems that the concept has started to whither. While the intentions are nothing short of noble, the words “sustainability” and “green” are now being thrown around with little or no meaning , and due to the lack of education about the actual meaning of sustainability, much of the general public is none the wiser. Rather than looking at ways to adjust their lifestyle,they go about their usual lives doing nothing to change their impact on the earth, but feel they are a part of the solution because they purchase “green” products. The general public isn’t to blame. The current model for production separates people so far from the production process, that they associate food with a grocery store, not a farm, fuel with a gas station not an oil well, and a table with ikea not a forest. There is a severe fracture between modern humans and the earth that supports their livelihood. If people are able to witness, or participate in sustainable practices within the community, sustainability will become more than a word, it will will become a livelihood.
The purpose of this thesis is to explore the possibility of architecture providing a link between the unsustainable production methods currently employed in this country and around the world. In combining initial concepts with research, I will challenge architecture to provide the necessary components to support a program involving production at every stage, creating a functioning space where products are made, processed, and sold in the same place, providing a direct link into the community as well as affording the public an understanding of the process, resources, and waste involved in the production of their goods. The building will be an adaptive reuse project, reviving a commercial building from the late 1800’s located on NW Glisan and 7th St, in Portland’s Pearl District, affording it a prime location in terms of public transportation and Portland culture, without creating a new footprint.
The possible programs that may stem from this could be a form of specialized food production that incorporates urban agriculture for fresh food, cooking, drying, and canning, spaces that facilitates processing of the food, and a restaurant that sells meals made from the fresh and preserved food. Another program option stems from my initial idea of and art gallery showcasing local art. The building would incorporate living spaces, and studio spaces for local artists and/or craftsmen, as well as a community gallery space that would showcase local artists. Most importantly, the program will accommodate multiple levels of production, enabling the building to provide a space for start to finish production.
Your concept that society uses green to loosely, and has lost connection on the production process is something that I feel strongly about too. I often ask myself, do people who work in a LEED building even know what makes it sustainable? A lot of LEED, green technologies and sustainable measures have transformed into a marketing strategy and has lost some of its meaning.
I like the idea of making a production facility, while having it engage the public. There are some good opportunities, and perhaps there are even more program types you could look at. The food idea is good, and would promote this type of interaction you are after. An art gallery/studio seems to detract a little from your idea of sustainable production of a commodity (gas/fuel food/grocery, etc). Maybe if it were a specific type of art, like furniture production, there could be some interesting possibilities.