Sustainability Journey

I studied at the UT School of Architecture in Austin in the 90s—the period when Architects like Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas gained prominence. The use of digital technologies came into focus. It was the era of the Deconstructivist movement. Ecology and sustainability in architecture weren’t in the foreground.

While UTSOA didn't have a formal sustainability program in the 90s, it was a period of growth and awareness about environmental issues, which influenced our curriculum.   

It was embedded in our training, but positioning sustainability into architectural practice was not a top priority in the design and construction industry once outside of school.

Even in my studio, one of the main challenges to consider sustainability is the cost. Building sustainably often requires the use of more expensive materials and technologies.

It wasn’t until I was faced with taking on our renovation while pregnant with my first child that I could take small steps towards putting it into practice.

Concerned about exposure to toxins, I researched and found better materials that we would handle and work with.  What I’ve learned through this process is that the material production and construction industry is full of unhealthy practices that put enormous pressure on the bodies of those who work in those industries and eventually to those who inhabit the spaces. 

It’s unbelievable to think that it is normal for construction workers to work with toxic materials, inhaling fumes and dust.  That it is normal you aren’t allowed to occupy the house until a certain amount of time has passed to “off-gas” the paint, the insulation, or sealants.   And it kind of goes all the way along the chain to the point of extraction.

I started looking towards traditional building methods and natural materials.  There’s a siloing of natural materials over the last 50 years or more into the world of a very niche ecological architecture.

What I’m hoping to do is be part of the kind of conversation around shifting the perception of these materials and making them more mainstream and accessible.

There is an urgent need for environmental protection.   The way we design and construct has a direct impact on the health of our planet and our health.