Home / NEWS / Sustainability talk is 'tiring' says architect

Sustainability talk is 'tiring' says architect

by Oliver Ephgrave on Jan 25, 2012

4 Comments

Miller (second from left) says talk of sustainable design is 'tiring'.

One of the region’s most experienced architects has labelled the constant media coverage of sustainability as ‘tiring’.

The comments were made by Steven Miller, regional manager for Perkins Eastman, and newly elected chairman of the AIA International Committee, at last week’s Middle East Architect roundtable.

Miller said: “This talk of sustainability is tiring, because it’s there. No international architecture firm, today, would design something that couldn’t get a LEED or BREEAM or a Pearl Rating with Estidama.

“All the magazines are saying ‘green, green, green’. But it’s a way of life for all of us. We don’t ever think any other way.”

Story continues below

FEATURED COMMENT

I do agree with Mr. Tony Marshal.Basically need is the mother of invention, Codes of practice need to be developed under

4 Comments

Readers' Comments

Shamsher H. (Feb 14, 2012)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Sustainable building
I do agree with Mr. Tony Marshal.Basically need is the mother of invention, Codes of practice need to be developed under consideration of geographical and climatic conditions of the region.It can be expected from international or local Architecture firms but to be enforced by the local authorities.Building bye laws from elsewhere can not be enforced without necessary amendments to the region of different geography , climate and culture. I wish if authorities of common interest can bring their heads togather on the issue.

Barbra Batshalom (Jan 25, 2012)
Boston
USA

I wish this were true - data shows differently
(Also with all due respect) - There are a number of large firms for whom these statements are true - but unfortunately, I engage directly with hundreds of firms (specifically about efforts to institutionalize sustainability in their systems, processes and culture) and I have to report, sadly, that this is not the case, industry-wide. Our last industry survey "How Green Is Your Firm, Really?" underscored specific areas where there are huge disconnects (leadership, methodologies, quality control, systems, use of tools, etc). Im thrilled that leading firms like Buro and Perkins are examples that the rest of the industry can look up to, but that shouldn't be confused with the current state of affairs which is a very different picture. I agree with the "sick of talking about it" myself (its been 20 years...come on!!) but I wish it weren't still needed..

Tony Marshallsay (Jan 25, 2012)
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia

The
I would hazard a guess that 99% of the people and companies that use the "S" word don't understand what it really means - it's just a "buzzword" that they have to work into their spiel in order to get orders these days. I therefore prefer to avoid using it. "Green" is different (unless it's "Greenwash") but, as commented in the article, developers who don't own and operate buildings themselves aren't at all interested in the life-cycle costing which justifies a high up-front investment, unless they are forced into it by building regulations or growing end-user pressure.

Jyoti Sharma (Jan 25, 2012)
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Sustainability talk is 'tiring' says architect
With all due respect to Steven Miller and Phil Dalgish, I would like to know how many of the buildings in the UAE or the region are being done by "international architectural firms" or firms with ingrained sustainability philosophy like Buro Happold? If one looks at who is working in the area and what their philosophy of design is, one would realise that we have a long way to go, until the automatic designing in of the "green" features becomes universal. Also in order to get the owners and cost managers to realize the life cycle benefits of sustainable buildings, we need to keep talking about them and media needs to keep promoting them, in particular talk about the benefits. In the middle-east, right now we are way behind, I would venture to say even as far behind as we were in the States in 1985, before the first edition of greening of the AIA master spec came about. I daresay, though, it looks like it is about to really take off in the region and when it does, we could say we are there.

COMMENTS


Name *
Email *
City
Country
Subject: *
Comments: *
Math Question: *
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.	Refresh the image if not clear
	Remember me on this computer