AIA’S WINTERY MINX

The Architecture Forum lecture at the DMA with Jeremy Harris, the former mayor of Honolulu, offered some pretty staggering statistics. For those interested, hit jump.

If not, click the link for a lovely warm fuzzy on our icky, cold day: the 2006 AIA 25-Year Award for E. Fay Jones’ Thorncrown Chapel, a lovely church built without cutting down any trees and on a budget of $180,000. Think of it as a wintery minx on this day of wintery mix.

Harris told the crowd, which saw attendees like Emily Summers (DAF Prez), Ron Wommack (DAF Past-Prez), Nancy Dedman, Gail Thomas (exec dir. Trinity Trust) and more, “every ecosystem on the planet is currently in decline;” “our dependence on fossil fuels is increasing;” and “most urbanization that will exist in this world by 2030,” the cities of our future, “are right now sitting on blank land.”

Also, the way our world population is booming, “it’s like building a new San Francisco every 5 days.”–which might be the most startling thought of all.

“There is no reason for buildings being built from here on out to not be green,” he said.

I’m looking in your direction, Mr. McMansion! We can no longer allow individual homes to consume as many resources as they do now.

Harris said: “I truly believe the actions we take in the next 10 years will determine the fate of humankind.”

Thanks to the DAF guys who allowed me to attend last night. Interesting stuff!