"Place" as a geographical concept can be difficult to define and is often reduced to physical or imaginary borders. In her book, Eco-Homes: People Place and Politics, Jenny Pickerill describes place as " the way in which humans construct reality and engage with the world."
It is important to begin with place when considering an eco-build so that the buildings can be efficient. Green architecture methods that work in one climate region, may be completely ineffective in another. No two places are exactly the same and so, no two eco-builds should be the same. Assessing the strengths and vulnerabilities of a place is key to maximizing efficiency in design while reducing environmental impact.
Climate region must be strongly considered when designing an eco build, as well as what was on the land before and what surrounds it. The goal is to build in accordance with nature, so it is important that the surrounding environment is considered in all stages of an eco-build.
Jenny says of this " In some cases, eco-homes are imposed over place rather than embedded in it, and reflect a generic utopian vision, rather than the place in which houses are being built" (pg. 13). Eco-builds are commonly understood simply as methods to reduce carbon emissions of buildings, which is a large goal of eco design.
However, when the focus is placed on carbon without careful consideration to place, it further separates the built home from it's surrounding environment, which can lead to environmentally harmful build practices that exacerbate the impact of climate change.
Understanding place enables analysis of the type of world eco-builders are seeking to construct and how this construction relates, challenges, excludes, or re-creates other places.
Elizabeth Shove - How People Use and Misuse Buildings
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Lisa Fields
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