Problem
Ivanhoe Reservoir (Los Angeles, California) has a problem. Bright sunlight, chlorine and natural bromides combined together to form the carcinogen bromate and now Ivanhoe Reservoir is contaminated. The only way to effectively remove the chemical is to drain the entire body of water and clean the bottom surface to remove all the bromate. In the [...]
Ivanhoe Reservoir: Solving a problem / Illustrating another
Svanen Miljomark: The Official Scandinavian Environmental Label
Svanen Miljomark, translated the Swan Environmental Label, is Scandinavia’s official environmental certification label. (Interestingly, it is a derivative of the Eco-Label endorsed by the European Union.) The goal for the system is the establishment of a sustainable society enabled by sustainable consumption. Certification is awarded after the product, service or technology is evaluated using [...]
The Green vs Preservation Debate: Round One
A recent article in Preservation Online by Wayne Curtis debates the complimentary yet combative relationship of environmental and preservation movements in architecture. The author is writing for Preservation Online so his argument is framed from the perspective of a preservationist, but does present equal and valid points from both sides of the spectrum. The article [...]
Chicago’s Pervious Pavement Alleys
A recent article in the New York Times describes the challenges posed to Chicago by the thousands of small alleys snaking through the city. The nearly 2,000 miles of back alley service streets are an important part of the city infrastructure because they alleviate trash and parking problems on the main, frontage, streets. The [...]