The Pioneering Sustainable Building That Still Inspires Pilgrimages
Spread out on a field in Michigan, Herman Miller's GreenHouse facility helped popularize sustainable building practices.
Sustainability
In an Industry First, Duvaltex’s New Collection Uses a Biodegradable Polyester Material
Duvaltex’s Clean Impact Textiles uses the industry’s first recycled, biodegradable polyester, meaning its fibers can break down in landfills and wastewater.
Measuring the True Value of Trees
Offsetted, an exhibition at Columbia University’s Arthur Ross Architecture Gallery, explores how our society commodifies trees and the unintended consequences thereof.
Why the Building Sector May Be Humanity’s Best Hope for Averting Catastrophic Climate Change
Architects have enormous sway in specifying building materials and modes of operation; they also understand the political, budget, and client-education barriers to executing zero-carbon designs better than anyone.
5 Leading Experts and Advocates on How Architects Can Fight Climate Change
Metropolis speaks with Michael Sorkin, The Architecture Lobby, Kate Orff, Jesse M. Keenan, and Tom Jacobs on the Green New Deal, Architecture 2030, political activism, and more.
The Living Future unConference Emphasizes Equity in Sustainable Design
The conference, a cross-industry event that was hosted in Seattle from April 30–May 3, is an outgrowth of the Living Building Challenge certification program.
Designer Christien Meindertsma Is Pushing the Design Possibilities of Humble Flax
An exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago shows how Meindertsma is using flax to create sustainable furniture and objects.
In Lake|Flato’s Eco-Conservation Studio, Sustainability and Education Go Hand-in-Hand
Green building was always part of the firm's DNA, though a little more than ten years ago Lake|Flato formed an internal studio that would focus on landscape and resource management.
5 Futuristic Materials That Could Reshape Architecture and Design
While technology has always been a double-edged sword when it comes to sustainability and equity, it also holds the key to ameliorating pressing environmental challenges.
Going Beyond the Punchlist: Why Architects Should Embrace Post-Occupancy Evaluations
While costly, a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) can reveal a wealth of information. Furthermore, new technologies are helping architects track building performance like never before.
15 Products for Designing Sustainable, Healthy Buildings and Interiors
Metropolis interviews experts from Perkins+Will, ZGF, and HOK about navigating the plethora of industry- and product-specific sustainability certifications.
When a Building Comes Down, Where Do Its Materials Go?
Recycling five essential materials—steel, concrete, drywall, glass, flooring—turns up different challenges, but architects can be part of the solution.
Sustainability Glossary: 6 Terms You Should Know
As part of the Metropolis Perspective: Sustainability special issue, we asked experts to provide refreshed definitions of key sustainability concepts.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Sustainable Building Standards
Metropolis spoke to leading sustainable design firms, both large and small, about pursuing an array of ever-evolving “green” certifications.
Design Provocateur: Revisiting the Prescient Ideas of Victor Papanek
Papanek, whose uproarious calls to politicize design won him a loyal following, is the subject of an exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum.
In the Face of Climate Change, Architects Must Consider Local Ecology and Social Context
Energy efficiency has long been the holy grail of sustainable architecture, firms are shifting the discourse to the more multifaceted and preventive realm of resilience.
Sustainability Glossary: Embodied Energy
As part of the Metropolis Perspective: Sustainability special issue, we asked experts to provide refreshed definitions of key sustainability concepts.
Gensler Creates a Showcase of Sustainable Design Near Shanghai
Johnson Controls' 378,000-square-foot Asia Pacific Headquarters aims to be a new symbol of China’s environmental coming-of-age.
Sustainability Glossary: Circular Economy
As part of the Metropolis Perspective: Sustainability special issue, we asked experts to provide refreshed definitions of key sustainability concepts.
Sustainability Glossary: Carbon Accounting
As part of the Metropolis Perspective: Sustainability special issue, we asked experts to provide refreshed definitions of key sustainability concepts.
