Ten years ago, the idea that architecture could help save us from destroying our planet might have seemed ridiculous, or at best, unlikely.  Nowadays though, it’s become clear that every single aspect of civilized human life has the potential to either help or harm us - and it’s up to everyone to make conscious choices about which direction they want to go.  William McDonough, a Virginia based architect, is one of those people who stand out in their enthusiasm for taking us as far as possible in the right, the green, direction.

McDonough calls his design philosophy “Cradle to Cradle,” a term coined by Walter Stahel in the 1970s to describe a system of industrial and/or commercial creation that is essentially waste-free.  (The carpets we use in our Mixson homes are Cradle to Cradle certified.)  McDonough takes this one step farther, though, by seeking to create buildings that produce oxygen and energy, and sequester carbon, having a positive net effect on the environment instead of just a neutral one.  William McDonough + Partners, McDonough’s architecture and community design firm, has done some incredible work, including reinventing the Ford Motor Company’s Rouge complex into the ultimate in green design.  The truck assembly plant is now topped with 10.4 acres of green roof, making it the largest living roof on the planet.  Who knew an American truck assembly plant in Michigan would set a standard for green building?

To read more about McDonough’s projects, click here.

Filed under: I'On Group, Mixson, Urban Sustainability on October 6th, 2008