Sustainability // Via Psychiatrists and Breastfeeding

In a rather enjoyable yet confusing keynote speech in 2013, Chiliean architect Alejandro Aravena proclaimed that the key to sustainability would be achieved “in this generation, more psychiatrists, in the next generation, more breasts.” (ArchDaily, 2013). It was also for me, not at all evident in the commencement what the connection to therapy and breasts sustainability would have, and so I have decided to use this blog to decode his alternative explanation for achieving sustainable construction.

Aravena’s proposition is essentially a simple one: Architects cannot deny that “money and power follow common place, not common sense” (ArchDaily, 2013). . Commonplace is simply a desire to work within existing confined systems, regardless of appropriateness and thus, is independent of local thought and sustainable practice. We cannot deny that the forces of economics follow established and entrenched systems (i.e. ‘commonplace’ systems), arguably seen in our construction industry. As a result, Aravena points out that there is a fundamental fear of change, both within the developers (stakeholders) and with builders (realisers of vision). Adding to this fear, Aravena argues that firstly, “sustainable construction has to be cheaper than unsustainable construction,” (ArchDaily, 2013), given that we are essentially driven by cost.

In short, we cannot fight their fear or our capitalist societies in our quest for sustainability. We have to alter the mindsets of the stakeholders involved in order to precipitate change towards sustainability. Indeed for some well-known architects, sustainability is of no concern. Frank Gehry has called architecture for sustainability “bogus”, and Peter Eisenman insisting that it “has nothing to do with architecture.” (Hosey, 2013). Within Aravena’s mind, this is perceived as people who “innovate for the sake of innovation” (ArchDaily, 2013), something contributing to increased unsustainability. Our desire to emulate these great names facilitates ‘common place’ behaviour rather than ‘common sense’ behaviour. For Aravena, “Sustainability = rigorous use of common sense” and by working locally, logically and intelligently, sustainable design is achieved, not necessary through ‘newness’ or ‘innovation’ but simply through common sense.

His inference of psychiatrists – to alter existing mindsets and breastfeeding – to foster motherly love, is therefore not just a random statement. It is actually centred on “the improvement of the current state of affairs resides in a basic, undeniable form of education that is separate from a technical understanding of the practice of architecture and building.” (Quintal, 2013). I believe Aravena is in fact arguing for a dramatic shift in perspective for architects, developers and builders in general, a need to move toward common sense thinking rather than common place thinking. Only then can we create more locally suitable solutions, facilitating better and more sustainable architecture for our cities.

Resources:
ArchDaily. “Alejandro Aravena: ‘Uncommon Sense and the Economy of Sustainable Construction’.” Vimeo. Retrieved on 16 April 2014 from: http://vimeo.com/68565110

Becky Quintal. “Why Sustainability has Nothing to do with Architecture and Everything to do with Integrity: Lecture by Alejandro Aravena.” (30 July 2013). ArchDaily. Retrieved 16 April 2014 from:
http://www.archdaily.com/407716/why-sustainability-has-nothing-to-do-with-architecture-and-everything-to-do-with-integrity-a-lecture-by-alejandro-aravena/

Lance Hosey. “Why Architects must lead on Sustainable Design.” (19 March 2013). GreenBiz.com. Retrieved on 16 April 2014 from: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/03/19/why-architects-must-lead-sustainable-design?page=full