Summary Analysis

The concept of sustainable architecture is not a new idea. Countless cultures throughout the ages have shown a desire to be harmoniously integrated with their environment. However, environmental concerns tend to be discarded by current generations because of their privileged ability to project the impact of their actions onto future generations, the attitude that rectification can always be taken at a later time. This is embodied in the selfish attitude that future costs are less of a burden than current costs. From our research, we learned how the construction of permanent building structures has significant impacts on the environment. These impacts can either be short term or long term, depending on their use of materials, energy consumption and space conditioning. An increased awareness of the environmental problems we are confronted with has led to an increase in alternative approaches to building construction. These alternative approaches include design that takes into account the following: reduced energy consumption, use of less environmentally harmful materials, waste minimization programmes and the encouragement of recycling. Traditional home owners may have trouble grasping the radical notion that a home can take care of itself. For this reason, very few people would fall into the building rubric of earth sheltered housing since, seemingly, they risk considerable criticism and ridicule.

However, the last twenty years have brought about a change in the consciousness of building, whereby sustainable natural built housing is becoming more and more popular. Today, there are at least 17 Earthships in construction in Ontario alone. This indicates that some consumers have come to recognize that Earthship building presents an opportunity for sustainable architecture. To better understand the construction involved in the making of an Earthship like that of the Potter's house, we took the opportunity to visit another Earthship that is currently in construction in Southern Ontario, just outside of the town of Guelph. The Wolf's Den, as this particular Earthship is so affectionately called, is also designed by architect Martin Liefhabber. Our trip out to this particular house in progress was decided on very spontaneously, so it was with surprise and pleasure that we found Mr. Liefhabber on the very site once we arrived. Mr. Liefhabber was able to show us how a tire is pounded as well as how the building envelope is put together. What struck us most was the fact that the architect participated so intimately with the projects which he designed. His obvious awareness of the environmental problems attendant to some forms of building construction inspired us to confront the use of traditional, conventional building means, and to pose the challenge of building with good conscience.