On the road to sustainability

摘要

It is probably the closest thing I will experience to a rock and roll lifestyle: chairing a series of sustainability roadshows around Britain and Ireland on behalf of Corus and the AJ. That is to say, those parts of the lifestyle which involve repetition of content in front of different audiences and staying in hotels. The purpose of the half-dozen evenings was simple: to offer observations on the nature of sustainable architecture and construction, to introduce research work by Corus in relation to a range of its cladding products, and to give an architect's perspective on how an interest in low-energy design can produce a range of fine buildings. - Our 'band' line-up was Michael Sansom from the Steel Construction Institute, Rod Rice from Corus, and David Morley of David Morley Architects. Sansom was always first up, beginning with a quick reminder on where government policy is taking us regarding sustainability: not just prudent use of natural resources and effective protection of the environment, but an underlying ambition in respect of social progress, and 'high and stable levels of economic growth and employment'. That is to say, sustainability within the context of a modern economy rather than back-to-the-land zealotry.