Log 8

Log 8: Toward a Critique of Sustainable Architecture and Landscape ------ The shelter (primitive hut) that became known as architecture first allowed humanity to sustain itself against nature. Today, architecture built to shelter humans from nature, must also protect nature from humans. It is architecture itself that must be sustainable. But what myths, clichs, and assumptions sustain sustainability itself? When is green architecture good architecture? When is it not? Why, for instance, is it impossible to say no to sustainability (is sustainability the new political correctness)? Is it possible to theorize sustainability, or even to pose a critique of something so loosely defined? These questions form themselves alongside the definition of sustainable architecture itself, at a moment that is ripe for a critique and evaluation of sustainability, and its different shades of green. ------------ Contents: Marc Anglil and Cary Siress visit a booming Dubai, Shumon Basar stays up all night in London, Tina di Carlo muses on the idea of tropical green, Cynthia Davidson talks with Glenn Murcutt, Daniela Fabricius looks at regreening Vieques, Jeanne Gang recycles industrial byproducts in Calumet, David Greene fabricates plugin nature (a Logplug!), Catherine Ingraham camps in the American desert, Mark Jarzombek sizes up the concept of sustainability, Jordan Kauffman meets LEED consultant Wendy Meguro, Bill Kelley, Jr., strolls Not A Cornfield in Los Angeles, Leon Krier finds hope at the end of the age of fossil fuel, Caroline O Donnell recalls the sustainability studio, Alessandra Ponte examines counterculture garbage, Hanno Rauterberg assesses a museum for Mercedes, Julie Rose follows the Wollemi Pine saga in Sydney, Zo Ryan queries environmental artist Mel Chin, Ole Scheeren proposes a Shanghai tropical soup... AND MORE!