Toward [Re]generative Environmental Design

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dc.contributor.authorOesch, H. Fredericken
dc.contributor.committeechairO'Brien, Michael J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSchubert, Robert P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRott, Hans Christianen
dc.contributor.departmentArchitectureen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:49:23Zen
dc.date.adate2000-12-18en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:49:23Zen
dc.date.issued1998-12-09en
dc.date.rdate2001-12-18en
dc.date.sdate2000-12-13en
dc.description.abstractEven with all the knowledge and wisdom we can acquire, combined with the best of collective intentions, it will always be the case, that ultimately we have to balance what’s desirable with what’s possible. But what’s possible always proceeds us, like a carrot in front of our nose. Yet yesterday's dreams, could have been today’s reality... and perhaps todays dreams, can become real tomorrow. “Too often budget restrictions are used as the reason why good design is not possible, but the vernacular demonstrates over and over that fine, low-budget, small-scale design is possible if the designer [builder and inhabitant] cares.” [Wayne Attoe: The Architecture of Ricardo Legorreta] In this case, the project is a new rural family residence for a couple and their son, with an adjacent cottage for their aging parents. With a collective desire to design, build and live in the most ecologically responsible manner possible, the challenge is to integrate as many environmentally beneficial principles as logistics and budget constraints will allow. The result is a collaborative choreography of site, structure, materials selection, and sequence. The appropriate criteria by which a given structural system or material should be specified, is relative to the total system performance and longevity. Optimized performance is achieved through the correct interrelationship of elements, to maximize the greatest cumulative benefit. For example, the high embodied energy and pollution from the manufacture of extruded polystyrene [XPS] insulation is undesirable. However, because of its high R-value, moisture resistance, compressive strength, and dimensional stability, it is currently the best insulation available for below grade applications. Its use makes a living sod roof practical, which may have an enormous overall positive impact, but otherwise might not even be possible. "The most elegant design solutions... those that reduce complexity while solving multiple problems... won't be found by considering each item in isolation." [Alex Wilson and Nadav Malin: Environmental Building News, 10.95] In keeping with the principles and intentions cited earlier, the decision was made to build a [passive solar / straw bale and heavy timber / living roof] home.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Architectureen
dc.format.extent1 volumeen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-12132000-131722en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12132000-131722/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/36092en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.hasparthoesch.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 93604545en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectorganicen
dc.subjectArchitectureen
dc.subjectgreenen
dc.subjecttimber frameen
dc.subjectearth shelteren
dc.subjectsustainableen
dc.subjectindigenousen
dc.subjectsolaren
dc.subjectecologyen
dc.subjectecologicalen
dc.subjectvernacularen
dc.subjectstraw baleen
dc.subjectliving earth roof systemsen
dc.subjecthydronicsen
dc.subjectvisionaryen
dc.subjectself-sufficiencyen
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 2000.O473en
dc.titleToward [Re]generative Environmental Designen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineArchitectureen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Architectureen
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