David is experiencing healthy, accessible water, harvested from rain kept clean with created natural systems, at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Beauty and Longevity…

The following is excerpted from an article published in the current issue of Living Architecture Monitor:

The theme of the ASIC (American Society of Irrigation Consultants) conference I attended recently was “Weathering the Storm” and, as the title suggests, it had a strong focus on providing the attendees a perspective on the state of the building industry, the financial and regulatory climate, and forward-thinking, leading-edge practices. I was there to share an overview of an emerging green design tool (the Sustainable Sites Initiative). The audience was encouraged to embrace green practices to gain a competitive edge in ever-more challenging times. It was somewhat ironic that the conference was held in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the United States. Ironic in that longevity and sustainability are aspects we all strive for in our businesses, organizations, and the work products we provide. While just five years is considered a major milestone, a time-frame of 500 years (the age of St. Augustine) is rarely, if ever, on our radar screen. What are some of the essential qualities that sustain a place (or a business, institution, or cultural facility) generation after generation?

ASLA’s Rooftop Garden is a place of respite and beauty easily accessible to staff and guests.

In consideration of the role of ecologically-focused practices in green buildings, infrastructure, sites and neighborhoods, we would all agree that longevity is a key characteristic. In the rapidly emerging green building industry, there is a latent danger in providing competent, functional projects that still lack what it takes to stand the test of time. I would suggest that the use of green strategies into newly developed or retrofit buildings and sites is simply not enough to approach sustainability.

In order for a particular place to endure, green approaches must not only be fully integrated, well designed, functionally flawless, cost-effective (capital and long-term operations or life-cycle costs), and meet all of the programmatic needs of the project, they must exhibit excellence in other ways:

Clear Expectations – The design, specifications, construction/installation, and maintenance must be carefully coordinated, and all expectations clearly communicated on a constant basis. A management plan developed in concert with the design helps anticipate necessary resources. Long-term requirements and the associated aesthetic and cost implications have to be understood by the owner and others involved. As a living system, even low-input green infrastructure requires a proactive schedule of regular care, maintenance, and monitoring to ensure it is functioning properly and looks as it is intended.

Current – As the green building industry has soared from obscurity to mainstream, green products and materials are being introduced and improved upon constantly, and at a growing rate. This dynamic product environment requires diligent awareness of the costs and specifications of these materials.

Coffee Creek Center’s central park offers children a beautiful, exciting water environment to explore…

Beautiful – Additionally, considerable focus is needed on adapting these practices to the unique natural, cultural, and geographic context of a particular place in an authentic, beautiful way. Yes, that’s right- beauty is as essential to sustainability as avoiding toxins, sourcing local materials, natural daylighting, and carbon neutrality.

Connecting people to living, changing, landscapes and water elements improves their learning performance, health, and spirit, and therefore imperative for all involved in shaping human habitat. Only places and structures that exhibit true quality, craftsmanship and authentic beauty will touch people’s hearts, and ensure that they are perpetuated for the next 500 years, or longer…

David J. Yocca, RLA, AICP, LEED AP

See this article in the Living Architecture Monitor.

Learn more about the projects listed in this article:

Queens Botanical Garden

ASLA Green Roof

Coffee Creek Center