as the discussion emphasized last week... you might be well served to make this proposal as part of a larger retail chain of home improvement stores (ie. home depot).
the potentials for interaction and learning from the building itself - not only for people associated with the building trades but also the "weekend warrior" that you described - is greater. in addition, you can make a case for not only the pervasiveness of these stores but the need to address their "carbon footprint" (ie. the acres of underutilized green + energy efficient + sustainable roofs that they have, the amount of water they use, etc. etc. etc.)
the ideal would be to transform the whole store itself to allow one to understand most of its systems rather than, as your diagram of your building suggests, having to seek it by finding it in downtown providence or having to climb up the roof, etc.)
as a possible precedent, you can look at ikea stoughton.
or the "green" walmart: http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/7776.aspx
even home depot is trying to go that way: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/16/business/depot.php
Thanks for your feedback, I reviewed the precedents you mentioned, and while I find the idea of a green home improvement chain quite interesting, I believe I would prefer to focus on an individual, unique building to serve as a learning center, rather than a retail chain.
Professor Carranza, I'm still wondering which direction I should move in. I understand how my idea could be connected to a broader audience, and that appeals to me, but the thought of designing a new fangled Home-Depot doesn't. I liked some of the thesis ideas you posted and suggested as potential motivators in picking our own. They are creative and shocking, and thought provoking. Another idea I had recently was to redesign the Providence Main Library because I find it drab and in need of a renovation that could update and green the building that could serve to teach some of the principles I have lamented on. I know it’s a historical building, but it could work for me? What do you think?
3 comments:
thanks for posting these.
as the discussion emphasized last week... you might be well served to make this proposal as part of a larger retail chain of home improvement stores (ie. home depot).
the potentials for interaction and learning from the building itself - not only for people associated with the building trades but also the "weekend warrior" that you described - is greater. in addition, you can make a case for not only the pervasiveness of these stores but the need to address their "carbon footprint" (ie. the acres of underutilized green + energy efficient + sustainable roofs that they have, the amount of water they use, etc. etc. etc.)
the ideal would be to transform the whole store itself to allow one to understand most of its systems rather than, as your diagram of your building suggests, having to seek it by finding it in downtown providence or having to climb up the roof, etc.)
as a possible precedent, you can look at ikea stoughton.
or the "green" walmart: http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/7776.aspx
even home depot is trying to go that way:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/16/business/depot.php
Thanks for your feedback, I reviewed the precedents you mentioned, and while I find the idea of a green home improvement chain quite interesting, I believe I would prefer to focus on an individual, unique building to serve as a learning center, rather than a retail chain.
Your thoughts?
Professor Carranza, I'm still wondering which direction I should move in. I understand how my idea could be connected to a broader audience, and that appeals to me, but the thought of designing a new fangled Home-Depot doesn't. I liked some of the thesis ideas you posted and suggested as potential motivators in picking our own. They are creative and shocking, and thought provoking. Another idea I had recently was to redesign the Providence Main Library because I find it drab and in need of a renovation that could update and green the building that could serve to teach some of the principles I have lamented on. I know it’s a historical building, but it could work for me? What do you think?
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