I have been almost obsessing about how I was going to proceed with the blog. It is crazy that I can be almost paralyzed by the amount of information available and how I am reacting to the new world before us. It is certainly a time of hope but one of great uncertainty.
In the last few months I have been traveling quite a bit - attending my first GREENBUILD - traveling to promote and conduct preservation training and all the while trying to think of how we make preservation relevant and accessible to every socio-economic group. How do I help make the case for the preservation of our built environment? In some ways it begins with a normalization of the language that preservationists use. It also begins with an evaluation of this disposable society we have become. In the last two weeks I have been in Nashville, TN and BBirmingham, AL - in both cities I did not see evidence of integrated recycling programs. I can't help but think that this is indicative of "the middle of the country". I admit it I am guilty of "living in the beltway bubble" and it is difficult at times to remember that the rest of the country isn't focused on what we have deemed important on the right or left coasts. In the end I think that we will find some measure of success by demonstrating that there is a measurable improvement in quality of life in those traditional communities that have been revitalized.
During a lecture at GREENBUILD moderated by Stephen Kellert- I had an ah ha(!) moment. Kellert spoke about low impact design being devoid of design. His remarks struck a chord, as I listened to the other speakers present their research about biophilic design, thoughts of our disposable society, the potential for the green economy, Van Jones' tome on green collar jobs, Bill McKibben's economy of more versus the economy of better... and on and on.... Low impact design does not have to be devoid of design. Design is not something that is exclusive to the elite. I am determined to demonstrate that good design, utilizing the existing built environment can provide an appropriate solution to building liveable sustainable communities.
The struggle is keeping up with the information and continuing to demonstrate how preservation - or as I will be calling it from now on - the existing built environment - can and will play an integral part in this brave new world.
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