“Physical poverty is not an abstraction, but we almost never think of impoverishment as evidence of a world that exists. Much less do we imagine that it‘s a condition from which we may draw enlightenment in a very practical way.”– Sambo Mockbee

From time to time we like to showcase the work of interesting people who in one way or another influenced the way we think about design and how we approach sustainable architecture. A lot of architects these days claim to be “Green Architects” only because they strive to satisfy assessment schemes like LEED & BREEAM, but the problem is that these schemes are designed to provide the construction industry with a benchmark to rate new buildings in a way that satisfies governing and funding bodies, but often ignore true concepts of sustainability in favour of industry standard approaches to “green architecture.” In essence, Green architecture is about more than just slapping a bunch of renewables on to a design to gain ‘green credits’ and about more than just using materials from ‘sustainable’ sources or obscure traditional materials that achieve good ratings just because they are durable (BREEAM considers UPVC windows to be A+ rated according to their green guide to specification!).

Green architecture and sustainable development is really about social inclusion and the ability to provide housing for everyone today without destroying the planet for future generations.  Samuel Mockbee understood this principle and probably more than any other Architect of his time, showed us through his work how it was possible to produce great architecture in the simplest of settings without negating its beauty.

Samuel Mockbee – “Sambo” to those who knew him – was a green architect, educator and artist who dedicated his life to teaching, and to providing sustainable, low-cost homes to those who could not afford them. As the co-founder of the Rural Studio in Alabama, and as a professor at Auburn University, he co-created a program dedicated to building houses, community centers and other structures for the residents of poverty-stricken Hale County, Alabama, while introducing his students to the merits and possibilities of their chosen art form.

The Rural Studio
“As an artist or an architect, I have the opportunity to address wrongs and try to correct them,” Mockbee once said.

In 1992, Mockbee was hired as a professor within Auburn University’s School of Architecture. Viewing the opportunity to help less fortunate citizens while teaching architecture students to care for their community, he co-founded the Rural Studio with longtime friend and colleague D.K. Ruth.

To date, Rural Studio has constructed more than 80 homes and civic buildings in Hale County. The structures are often a perfect storm of design-build ingenuity – sustainable, cost-efficient and bold.
“Architecture is a social art,” Mockbee said. “And as a social art, it is our social responsibility to make sure that we are delivering architecture that meets not only functional and creature comforts, but also spiritual comfort.”

MORE ABOUT HIM »

by Laetitia Mailhes

We all know about the egg industry’s appalling record in terms of environmental and animal welfare management. Now, let’s not kid ourselves: overcooking eggs does not address the risk of salmonella infections. Neither does buying “organic” eggs. Salmonella is but the tip of the iceberg. Our responsibility, as consumers, is to pay close attention to the origin of the eggs we buy and to educate ourselves about the producer’s operations.

First off, don’t let an organic egg fool you: “organic” refers to the quality of the feed given to the hens but says nothing about their condition of living.

Which leads us to the second essential point: a battery-cage egg is not a cage-free egg is not a free-range egg is not a pasture-raised egg. These classifications have real implications for our health and the environment. To find out why, check out Rodale.com editor Leah Zerbe’s cue cards.

The great news is that the consumer is not alone anymore when having to choose between egg crates with various cryptic labels and statements: after a year of research, the Cornucopia Institute published its Organic Egg Report and Scorecard in the wake of last summer’s egg recall. Close to 70 brands are listed and ranked.

Another good news for the consumer: the new egg safety rule implemented by the FDA last July “requires the egg industry to take specific preventive measures to keep eggs safe during their production, storage and transport. Egg producers will also be required to register with FDA and to maintain a prevention plan and records to show they are following the regulation.”

The rule does not apply to egg producers who manage a flock of fewer than 3,000 hens or who sell their eggs directly to consumers.

This is good news long-term, one hopes, AND it should not give us an excuse to forfeit our responsibility in the kind of egg industry we choose to support with our money. Our health is at stake, as is the health of our planet. And not just our physical health, by the way: I would assert that supporting corporations that exploit workers and animals has a subtle, yet real impact on our overall well-being.

Finally, I don’t mean to ignore the fact that the most wholesome, nutritious, delicious eggs available command a steep price premium. My personal choice is to eat eggs only occasionally as a treat, and to favor healthy, protein-rich alternatives like sprouted lentils and quinoa.

These are among hundreds of tips you can adopt to “green” your lifestyle and contribute to a healthier planet. Take your free assessment onGoingGreenToday and receive your customized plan of action tailored to your household, with tips, links and easy access to a wealth of resources.

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[ Disaster ] Plans to build a highway through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park will destroy one of the world’s last great wildlife sanctuaries, a group of conservation experts has warned. The scientific journal ‘Nature’ published an article which gathers statements from 27 scientists who are asking for a re-think of the new 50 kilometer (31 mile) road that will bisect the national park causing major disruption for thousands of wildebeests and which they say will cause “environmental disaster.” Read the full story

In case you don’t know, human consumption is destroying the rainforests of the world, unfortunately for us, they are vital to our very existence.

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THE BIGGEST ANIMAL SHELTER IN LATIN AMERICA

{HATUN SHED}

Location: 3,770 m.a.s.l.  / Area: 2,048  m2 / Cost: approx. US$. 26,000

It might not look like much, but this building saves hundreds of animal lives and helps sustain an entire community. It’s also functional, inexpensive and built entirely out of locally sourced materials.

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