R7: Form follows Flows by Kristina Hill

Summary

Hill’s work explores the ramifications of recent and historic urbanization on a global scale and patterns of reaction in nature responding to climate change. Two of the main patterns established are what she coins as Flickering and Squealing, the former representing a rapid back and forth from states of collapse to plenty. The latter is like the sound brakes make when floored, meant to characterize the extreme values in a system (e.x. Accumulation of snow) widening their impact. She then asks where the responsibility of designers and planners falls into the mix. For designers and planners to have any say there needs to be a social need to invest in combating climate change, examples she cites include the Thames Barrier to protect lower London from storm surges. She concludes with a hope that designers and planners will focus as much on the effect they have on the environment as the education of the public on the subject, shifting it from being considered ‘fake news’ to the serious issue that it is.

Stitch 

Hill makes a number of good points, primarily that the United States is decades behind the rest of the world in climate awareness, the majority of the population still views it as a radical idea and one that has little grasp on reality. This I feel is a much more pressing focus than how we as designers can impact the environment. In the majority of programs some level of climate awareness and sustainability is being taught, it’s not the designers who need to be changed but the clients who are making the calls that need to be educated on the impact their development has. In my high school years I worked as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, working in their Bridgeport, CT warehouse constructing wall panels, painting siding, and helping with painting houses we were building for the needy. Our buildings utilized not local sustainable materials but the cheapest we could get our hands on for the best result. We utilized more insulation out of a want to lower long term cost not what was good for the environment. The point is the average person can only do so much to change their impact on the environment - recycle, consume conscientiously, waste little, etc - but the changes that affect the environment are put down by those above, those who built and sell the apartment complexes, those who build the factories and the warehouses, the wealthy who largely only care about their margins and the public opinion of their company. 

Questions

Is it our responsibility to educate the general public on climate issues?

How can we as designers bring sustainability to the average person on a meaningful scale?

What are some projects that are a good response to climate change?

What are some that are just treating the symptoms?