Building beyond sustainability: an introduction to needs based design

Building beyond sustainability: an introduction to needs based design Based on thesis work for Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Sweden, Spring 2008 Nat Haltrich Ella Lawton Geoff Stack www.stackcoordination.com

needs based design fits here. If sustainability is a tree…

Agenda: Green today Design assumptions Needs Based Design “ There are no experts here - we’re all co-learners” - Bill Reed, Regenesis

The traditional design approach… + Images: Motloch, 2001 SITE ANALYSIS PROGRAM = SITE PLAN

… uses a familiar process… Image: © EDAW, Inc. 2003 Survey says… Understanding, communication, time + budget

… that’s “shoot first, ask questions later”… Community ‘Input’ and ‘Consultation’ Development Fees SOCIAL Environmental Impact Assessments Gov’t enforces minimums BIOLOGICAL

… and has been “greened.” Image: © EDAW, Inc. 2003 + = GREEN DESIGN

The green design approach Misses: Systems Social Structure “ [I am frustrated by]…budget pressures, political pressures… [and that the] self interest of some parties over shadows their sustainability ethic” - Maggie Lawton, Braidwood Consulting

Sustainability is a design problem. Image: © Wallace, Roberts & Todd, Inc. 2007 “ Sustainable development is not about physical objects - it’s about the needs of people now and in the future” - Manfred Max-Neef , economist From: the design of things. To: a design of collaborative processes that support people in their efforts to continuously meet their own needs. more than just a ^

“… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs " UN World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 Sustainability goal:

How might the process of urban design and development be changed to better facilitate the realization and maintenance of a sustainable society? “ Hope comes from a deeply rooted need for survival.” – Sim van der Ryn, Ecological Design Institute We asked:

Needs Based Design approach framework method Needs Based Design is an approach , framework and method that provides teams with a common language, strategy and tool for developing and maintaining communities that help society move towards, and beyond, sustainability.

Development can (and must) be healing. NBD assumes… “ We have never had anyone say to us that they want a project that is less sustainable” - Marco Sessa, Sudberry Properties “ Develop”: A process that looks into potential To disclose or reveal potential or a more advanced or effective state

Vision leads. NBD assumes… The “key is to create places that people will invest in over time.” - Deb Guenther, Mithun

Process is important and powerful. “ A lot of people are impatient with process – period.” - Alex Zimmerman, Applied Green Consulting NBD assumes…

Active government involvement “ Currently, if you’ve got a good development or a bad development, if you don’t abide by the rules, you’re treated exactly the same. There are process ways that you can differentiate those.” - Kay Saville-Smith, CRESA social research NBD assumes… Encouragement of maximums The pursuit of regional sustainable development efforts

Invite, Involve, Include Meaningful Participation “ How do you get value out of that participation in a constructive manner, not a deconstructive manner, as can happen with some project participants?” - Stephen Haase, Sudberry Properties NBD assumes the use of… Yes, and… it’s hard to coordinate.

Money is a tool, not an ends Reasonable ROI is always expected Ecological economics “ People do as good as they can, and as good as they can afford” - Erland Ullsted, City architect of Växjö, Sweden NBD assumes the use of…

Change is constant. NBD assumes… “ Most people don’t have a bigger picture – they mostly respond to the things that have the greatest impact on their lives.” - Jack Sullivan, University of Maryland NIMBY and NOTEism must be overcome.

Every place is unique. “ Communities are by definition organic people places, the construction is only part of the backdrop.” - Tim O’Riordan, UK Sustainable Devel. Commission How does life survive and flourish here ? What is our role as humans in supporting that flourishing? NBD assumes…

NBD approach

Systems thinking + understanding: Seeing the whole by recognizing patterns Leverage for effective change We are a part of the system “ By looking at just the project, and not the large whole, you are inherently promoting non-sustainability.” - Tim O’Riordan, UK Sustainable Devel. Commission A ‘sustainable building’ is not possible.

Social considerations: Fundamental Human Needs: Subsistence, Protection, Freedom, Affection, Creativity, Idleness, Participation, Identity, Understanding “ Development is not about objects - it’s about people.” – Manfred Max-Neef, economist, professor Goal: To create structures that provide people with the ability to meet their own needs Redefining ‘poverty’, removing barriers

A Structure for decision-making: The Natural Step: A shared language Simplicity without reduction “ So many people believe that unsustainability is due to screwed up values - I don’t think anything could be farther from the truth. There’s nothing wrong with our values, people simply don’t know what to do.” - Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt, The Natural Step

NBD systems

NBD success Participants envision future for project constrained by FSSD SPs: In a sustainable society: 4. people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs, and, natural systems are not subject to systematic increases in: 3. degradation by physical means, 2. concentrations of substances produced by society, 1. concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust.

NBD strategic guidelines Backcasting Meaningful Participation Prioritization

NBD actions A project gets completed.

NBD tools IDEA method + others as applicable

IDEA method

“ Creative tension” Green approaches Needs Based Design “ Outside-in ” “ Inside-out” IDEA method + others $$$ Green rating systems Matrices + indexes Tools Informed by strategy ‘ Less bad’ Actions Backcasting from SPs Meaningful participation Prioritization Backcasting from scenarios Consultation + charrettes Strategic Guidelines Common understanding Design within constraints Vision co-created Common understanding rare Boxes ticked Vision by owner $$$ Success Systems perspective Structured Social implications Mechanistic Fragmented Site Focused Systems

New work, new challenges… “ But the work, for me, is staying in a grounded, heart-connected, planet-connected place while we go through whatever we go through. That is the work.” - Jillian Hubby, permaculturist

Building beyond sustainability: an introduction to needs based design Based on thesis work for Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Sweden, Spring 2008 Nat Haltrich Ella Lawton Geoff Stack www.stackcoordination.com

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Building beyond sustainability: an introduction to needs based design

by Geoff Stack on Oct 09, 2009

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