100 Years of Green Building

While the energy crisis of the 1970s played a key role in turning modern-day architects to sustainability and energy-efficient designs, the roots of green building go back more than a century, according to Donald Watson, a professor, author and founder of EarthRise design. Watson spoke about “100 Years of Engagement of Architecture and Nature” during a noontime seminar at CCSE held Nov. 10.

Watson’s presentation was an insightful and beautiful display of the words and works of dozens of architectural giants who have stood in what he describes as a “green line” of sustainable designers who drew from nature and whose designs complement the local environment and climate. His history of architectural ideas over the past century was sprinkled with personal conversations with many of the heroes that he cites.

Generally, Watson divides the past 100 years of green design into two categories: design that responds to the “climate” of the location and design that is intended to respond to our “changing” climate of the present and future. In other words, building homes and buildings that take into account global warming and shifting climate patterns. He calls for designs with “resilience,” meaning being prepared for increased storms, water shortages, shoreline restoration, sea level rise and other climatic conditions.

Watson is the author or more than 100 papers and articles on topics of planning, urban design, architecture and construction, environmental resources and energy conservation. He is former dean of architecture and professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990-2000) and was chair or the Environmental Design Program at Yale School of Architecture (1970-1990).

You can view Watson’s presentation icon 100 Years of Green Building.