Introduction

"Society is living beyond its means. We are about to dispossess the earth of capital assets in the space of a few lifetimes through patterns of exploitation. These patterns are devastating the natural environment upon which we depend for our long-term survival."
Architects for Social Responsibility

The very nature of the environment appears to be changing greatly because of the interactive effects of cars, coal, nuclear power, exploitation of forestry, destruction of habitat, global warming, and other factors. Basic human needs are not being met.

How well are humans interacting with Earth? How can more acceptable relationships with the world be developed? Below is a list of current indicators that reveal how very distant a balanced relationship is with the environment (Curtis Brown, Ltd. 1988).

Tropical forests are shrinking by 11 million hectares per year; 31 million hectares of forest cover in industrial countries have been damaged, apparently by air pollution or acid rain.
An estimated 26 billion tons of topsoil are lost in excess of new soil formation annually.
Some 6 million hectares of new desert are formed annually by land mismanagement.
Thousands of lakes in the industrial north are now biologically dead; thousands more are dying.
Underground water tables are failing in parts of Africa, China, India, and North America as demand for water rises above aquifer recharge rates.
Extinctions of plant and animal species are now estimated at several thousand per year; one-fifth of all species may disappear over the next 20 years.
Some 50 pesticides contaminate groundwater in 32 American states; some 2,500 U.S. toxic waste sites need clean-up; the extent of toxic contamination worldwide is unknown.
The mean temperature is projected to rise between 1.5C and 4.5C between now and the year 2050.
Sea level is projected to rise between 1.4 meters (4.7 feet) and 2.2 meters (7.1 feet) by the year 2100.
The growing hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica each spring suggests a gradual global depletion could be starting.

These global conditions parallel David Wann's observations in his book Biologic, "that environmental deterioration is a lack of relevant information . . . [and that] poor design is responsible for many, if not most, of our environmental problems."

The statistics presented above also seem to support the statement of World Bank Economist Herman Daly that "we are treating the Earth as if it were a business in liquidation." The word "development" has evolved from improving the quality of life for humans to "an economic activity that fed the belief in endless growth."

Building a more environmentally stable future clearly requires some vision of it. If fossil fuels are not to be used for power, then what? If forests are no longer to be cleared to grow food, then how is a larger population to be fed? If a throwaway culture leads inevitably to pollution and resource depletion, how can material needs be satisfied? In other words, if the present path is so obviously unsound, what picture of the future can be used to move toward a global community that can endure?
Brown, Flavin, and Postel

What can be done to counterbalance the damaging effects of human activities on this planet? Writer J.G. Nelson explains, "Today a powerful idea is at hand that may provide the general guidance humankind needs now. That idea is sustainable development, the awareness of which is sweeping the world. The concept contains two powerful ideas. The first is that of survival (sustainability) at a time when this seems far from certain in either the human or the natural contexts. The second is the old Greek idea of development, of various kinds of betterment for humans at a time when complacency and consumption have overshadowed human connections to natural systems."

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY

The concept of sustainable design has come to the forefront in the last 20 years. It is a concept that recognizes that human civilization is an integral part of the natural world and that nature must be preserved and perpetuated if the human community itself is to survive. Sustainable design articulates this idea through developments that exemplify the principles of conservation and encourage the application of those principles in our daily lives.

A corollary concept, and one that supports sustainable design, is that of bioregionalism - the idea that all life is established and maintained on a functional community basis and that all of these distinctive communities (bioregions) have mutually supporting life systems that are generally self-sustaining. The concept of sustainable design holds that future technologies must function primarily within bioregional patterns and scales. They must maintain biological diversity and environmental integrity, contribute to the health of air, water, and soils, incorporate design and construction that reflect bioregional conditions, and reduce the impacts of human use.

Sustainable design, sustainable development, design with nature, environmentally sensitive design, holistic resource management - regardless of what it's called, "sustainability," the capability of natural and cultural systems being continued over time, is key.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability does not require a loss in the quality of life, but does require a change in mind-set, a change in values toward less consumptive lifestyles. These changes must embrace global interdependence, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability.

Sustainable design must use an alternative approach to traditional design that incorporates these changes in mind-set. The new design approach must recognize the impacts of every design choice on the natural and cultural resources of the local, regional, and global environments.

A model of the new design principles necessary for sustainability is exemplified by the "Hannover Principles" or "Bill of Rights for the Planet," developed by William McDonough Architects for EXPO 2000 to be held in Hannover, Germany.

Insist on the right of humanity and nature to co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse, and sustainable condition.
Recognize Interdependence. The elements of human design interact with and depend on the natural world, with broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognizing even distant effects.
Respect relationships between spirit and matter. Consider all aspects of human settlement including community, dwelling, industry, and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material consciousness.
Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural systems, and their right to co-exist.
Create safe objects to long-term value. Do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creations of products, processes, or standards.
Eliminate the concept of waste. Evaluate and optimize the full life-cycle of products and processes, to approach the state of natural systems in which there is no waste.
Rely on natural energy flows. Human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use.
Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.
Seek constant improvements by sharing knowledge. Encourage direct and open communication between colleagues, patrons, manufacturers, and users to link long-term sustainable considerations with ethical responsibility, and reestablish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity.

These principles were adopted by the World Congress of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in June 1993 at the American Institute of Architect's (AIA) Expo 93 in Chicago. Further, the AIA and UIA signed a "Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future." In summary, the declaration states that today's society is degrading its environment and that the AIA, UIA, and their members are committed to:

Placing environmental and social sustainability at the core of practices and professional responsibilities
Developing and continually improving practices, procedures, procedures, products, services, and standards for sustainable design
Educating the building industry, clients, and the general public about the importance of sustainable design
Working to change policies, regulations, and standards in government and business so that sustainable design will become the fully supported standard practice
Bringing the existing built environment up to sustainable design standards

In addition, the Interprofessional Council on Environmental Design (ICED), a coalition of architectural, landscape architectural, and engineering organizations, developed a vision statement in an attempt to foster a team approach to sustainable design. ICED states: The ethics, education and practices of our professions will be directed to shape a sustainable future. . . . To achieve this vision we will join . . . as a multidisciplinary partnership."

These activities are an indication that the concept of sustainable design is being supported on a global and interprofessional scale and that the ultimate goal is to become more environmentally responsive. The world needs facilities that are more energy efficient and that promote conservation and recycling of natural and economic resources.

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S SUSTAINABLE DESIGN INITIATIVE

Two events in particular were instrumental in the adoption of the National Park Service's Sustainable Design Initiative.

National Park Service Vail Symposium. In October 1991, five working groups studied "the state of the parks" as part of the organizational renewal activities associated with the 75th Anniversary of the National Park Service. They found that National Park Service is being stressed by a variety of factors:

The concept of sustainable design was mentioned frequently, as it covers a wide range of topics. It integrates principles that enable humans to live in harmony with the rest of the natural world, protecting biodiversity and sharing habitats with other species.

Virgin Islands National Park, Maho Bay Resort. In November 1991 the Sustainable Development Initiative was officially launched with a workshop in Maho Bay. This partnership forum included participants from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Ecotourism Society, National Parks and Conservation Association, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Greenpeace, local representatives from the Virgin Islands, private architectural and engineering (A/E) firms, and ecotourism resort operators. Representatives from various NPS offices included professionals and managers from parks, regional offices, Washington office, and the Denver Service Center.

The participants brought diverse perspectives and ideas to the workshop and subsequently produced the following guiding principles for the application of sustainability to the management of natural and cultural resource-sensitive areas

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design is intended to direct park management philosophy. Its goal is to provide a basis for achieving sustainability in facility planning and design, emphasize the importance of biodiversity, and encourage responsible decisions.

Sustainable development in this document refers only to park and ecotourism areas. When sustainable development and ecotourism are merged, they offer an opportunity for affecting visitor perceptions of the natural and cultural world. Ecotourism offers an unparalleled opportunity for more conversation-oriented values. A merger of ecotourism and sustainability would clearly distinguish sustainable development from traditional tourist development.

This guidebook articulates principles to be used in the design and management of tourist facilities that emphasize environmental sensitivity in construction, use of nontoxic materials, resource conservation, recycling, and integration of visitors with natural and cultural settings.

Sustainability principles have been developed for nine topics: interpretation, natural resources, cultural resources, site design, building design, energy management, water supply, waste prevention, and facility maintenance and operations. Although material is presented in separate sections, the application of these principles must be interdisciplinary and reflect the interconnection of all systems and resources.