Response To John Linn's Lecture

I’ve driven by the Proximity Hotel many times and wondered about those solar panels on the roof and the windows. To me all of those innovative implementations are very much aesthetically pleasing. The rows of solar panels look sleek and clean and as we’ve learned in class are very small details (as they are seen from the ground) that make a huge difference in how we perceive the structure. On a hotel- having the large windows as the primary source of light works very well as there is no breach in privacy as there is no one on the other side to see into the windows. From what we learned of Architecture 2030 and the idea of increasing sustainability through loose building we understand how these buildings are making a difference in decreasing environmental impact. From only seeing pictures of large scale buildings winning LEED awards I wonder if these goals are only being relegated to these large scale types of buildings…

 From working past summers and breaks in the construction sector with my father (roofing contractor) and Chuck Atkinson (home/apartment renovation construction contractor) I’ve seen many practices generally in new home construction which go against this goal of sustainability and quality. If you’ve ever heard the radio commercial about “KHovnanian Homes” then you know of what types of new homes I am addressing. These mini neighborhoods are springing up overnight made of mass-produced cheap houses with no trees cramped in on top of each other. Because I have either worked with my father or Chuck repairing various houses I know that these houses were “built to code” but not built to last. The roofs, the vinyl siding, the soil, the chimneys and perhaps everything else underneath we cannot see are of the cheapest materials. They give the appearance of being large in that they are vertical (but really aren’t as they are shallow in width) and the vinyl siding gives the appearance of looking like many of the more expensive homes. They are made this way to be sold to low-income families on long payment plans. From what I’ve seen these homes may not even last the duration of their payment plans. My father and I are amused whenever we drive by these houses and have named them “rich ghettos.”  Something must be done about these building practices as no matter how large and innovative a LEED building is it cannot offset the impact these rich ghettos are making.