Discourse Community: Sustainable Architecture

The discourse community I chose includes architects (the main source of information), scientists and engineers that are looking for or had developed solutions to the exercise of architecture in a better way without harming the environment, by following all the parameters of sustainability as well as considering the humanity’s needs. With architecture being my major, I am looking forward to be an architect and successfully integrate myself into the architectural field and community. Hence, as a future architect, I am interested in sustainable architecture for its urgency and frequent discussion within the architectural field. I first learned about sustainable architecture few years ago as a freshman of architecture in my home country, when it was given me the task of creating a sustainable mid-class residency capable of self- generate electricity and renew and reuse water.

The topic sustainable architecture was chosen not only because I want to be an architect, but also because of the current climate changes happening. Therefore, various fields within the creative industry have been enlightening such topic. Hence, it is important that I understand more and do more research on this topic just so on my future activities as a student of architecture and as an architect I could have a richer background on the subject.

According to Borowy sustainable architecture is understood to be the one in which satisfies the present necessities without creating future developmental problems and without compromising the demands of future generations. The definition by stipulation of sustainable architecture defines it as not very efficient in terms of aesthetics. It costs a lot of money to apply more ecological materials within projects. The definition by negation states that sustainable architecture is not aesthetical. Its definition by example or the example of it says that although sustainable projects or buildings are a good way to preserve the environment, it cost a lot of extra money to build them.

According to UCF, a discourse community is a group of people involved in and communicating about a particular topic, issue, or in a particular field. The definition by stipulation of discourse community states that only a certain group of people within the same field of study, write and do research about certain issues within their main interests. The definition by negation of discourse community points out that discourse community does not imply that every individual included on it shares the same occupations and priorities. The definition by example or the example of discourse community is the discourse community within the topic of sustainable architecture includes architects that together with scientists and engineers are working to discover new technologies that will help on the practice of sustainable architecture.

With the topic of sustainable architecture, the primary sources were written and spoken by architects and scientists whom did research on this topic and have discussed new technologies to exercise sustainable architecture by creating projects or designs that would benefit not only the natural environment but also the human beings. On the other hand, the secondary sources were written by art historians and people on the health and wellness field. Those talk about the historical development of sustainability and sustainable architecture as well as its pros and cons to human’s health.

Both primary and secondary sources communicate about the issue of sustainable architecture. All of it by discussing the crucial aspects of this activities that might need improvement, and a closer look to what is really beneficiating and what is not beneficiating from sustainable architecture. This essay will consist on the discourse analysis of the following: what kinds of text were produced from the discussion; the genres and the rhetorical choices used within the sources; if all the sources were individual or collaborative texts.

When researching for this topic I was able to find mostly journal articles, textbooks, and video presentations. Those compositions were made by experts within the subject whom were discussing in between themselves new technologies and theories to be applied to better solve the issue. Within the primary sources, the texts produced are discussing and explaining sustainable architecture were mainly research reports, articles and projects exposures of sustainable design. One of the purpose of those texts is to expose the latest findings within sustainable architecture by scientists, architects and engineers. Another purpose is to provide more information about the issue. All of this by explaining the impact of sustainable design as well as its importance. For instance, the Jenny Sabin’s article/ seminar report “Sustainable Thinking” released in 2012. The article encounters research results shared by the Jenny Sabin design lab and other important figures within the community on ecological design considering the relationship between humans and nature on a seminar/lecture at Cornell University.

“At the beginning of February, a two-day event at Cornel University discussed the next steps for sustainability. The lecture was delivered by researchers and practitioners… who shared common concern for what co-organizer Michel Hencel has labelled ‘sustainability fatigue’… [that] focused on re-thinking the entire conceptual foundation for the project, one which examines our relationship with nature and nature’s relationship with humans.” (JSDL)

Within the secondary sources, the texts produced are discussions of the impact of sustainable architecture in other fields. Some of the other sources are more of reports of the evolution of sustainable architecture to the outside of the community as well as the history of it. However, every and each source has the purpose of showing other points of view about sustainable architecture within other communities. For example, the article “Towards a sustainable architecture” by Pascual Chust encounters all the aspects that make sustainable architecture what it is since its appearance. The author cites the materials and technologies used. All of it by showing examples of some projects by architects who have mastered the subject, the pioneers of sustainable design as well as other data published by architects within the subject.

“The married couple formed by architects Brenda & Robert Vale have devoted themselves to researching the issue of sustainable housing… In 1975, they published the autonomous house, a technical guide for developing renewable energy in domestic constructions, to permit greater respect for the environment and to save energy…” (Chust)

“The new Autonomous House” by Benda & Robert Vale (Chust)

The genres typically used by the authors of the sources within this subject were either written or visual genres. For being a subject on the creative field of architecture it is important to the authors to not only have written data. It also produces informative presentations and visual sources such as pictures or visual representations of projects developed throughout the subject of sustainable architecture. In which helps to better address the issue and its main aspects or ideas. With the use of these genres authors can reach out not only people within the architectural community or other communities interested on the issue, it will also reach out average readers. In which is a good step to take since sustainability is the only way to help with the reduction of pollution, therefore, the raise of awareness is needed.

The image below is one of the examples of the type of genres used by the authors. It represents the illustration of the author of a sustainable architectural project discussed within the article “Sustainable Thinking” by Jenny Sabin Design Lab. Within the image the reader can better understand the project and visualize its properties. Although it is explained throughout the article what is the purpose and components of the project.

“Marco Poletto of ecoLogicStudio, joined also by Claudia Pasquero, underscored the role of the architect as being centrally concerned with the design and development of built interfaces. Their Cyber Gardens in the city reveal how humans are forces within nature in a geological sense. These virtual gardens generate spaces of social cultivation…in their current installation in Simrishamn, Sweden, visitors navigate a suspended algae garden, where each unit is fitted with a nozzle to encourage visitors to blow fresh oxygen into the photobioreactor bags.” (JSDL)

“Cyber garden” by Poletto and Pasquero (2012)

Hence, the article above mentioned, can be considered as a mixture of genres since it contains both written and visual genres.

The next example of the types of genre used by authors is the video presentation/ speech by Nicolas Duval to the TEDx Talks YouTube channel titled “Architecture is in Crisis and sustainable design”. Such source is an example of visual genre, in which is not as frequent as photographs but it is just as effective because it links even more the audience with the author. For being a video/ presentation (visual genre) the author utilized his voice as his main tool to pass out his ideas and concerns about sustainable architecture and rise awareness to what should be done to avoid future problems. Within his presentation Duval also used other genres such as graphs and illustrations to address the subject of sustainable architecture. As seen on the following image in which is a screen shoot of the source in analyses, Duval has a diagram showing how can we make sustainable architecture possible.

“Architecture is in Crisis and Sustainable design” by Nicolas Duval (2015)

Within all the examples given, it is true to say that most of the sources produced about the topic of sustainable architecture mainly encounter two genres, written and visual.

However, it does not imply that other genres cannot be found within this subject. It is for sure that books and other genres can be found on this topic. However, for being more accessible written (articles, journals) and visual genres (photographs, videos, etc.) are more frequently used.

Within the subject of sustainable architecture most of the sources were mostly collaborative because of the urgency of the issue most of the data bases published are collaborations between different professionals looking forward to find efficient solutions to the issue as an interest of not only a specific group being beneficiated.

The article/ project proposal “Intelligent DC Homes in Future Sustainable Energy Systems” is a feature work and research between three engineers, experts in electronics engineering. Respectively, Enrique Dias, Juan Vasques, Josep Guerrero. On their article/ project proposal, the authors presented a significant amount of data, and concrete examples of previews theories and projects on sustainable energy systems.

The authors address the problem of dependence on very polluting energy sources such as oil. As an example the authors cite the U.S and China as powerful countries as they falling behind because they still rely heavily on gas and coal energy sources. Therefore, the authors state that the global warming is real, hence, they created these new alternative to sustainable energy systems to DC homes.

The intelligent DC home at Aalborg university (2015)

On the image above it is representation of the collaborative project between the three engineers that did research and developed the project to new intelligent homes at DC that are able to auto produce energy.

Some of the rhetorical choices used contain concrete language and Slogan. Concrete language is often used by most of the sources. A good example of the use of concrete language is from the article “What are the Disadvantages of green building?” by Michelle Toole, when the author explain how green building can affect the indoor air quality and how builders do it so.

“…a green builder may sacrifice indoor air quality for environmentally friendly building practices is the use of recycled products. In some instance a green builder may use a recycled product containing chemicals that emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) that have been found to be toxic to humans instead of choosing a non-toxic variation of the same product.” (Toole)

This quote gives a full and good description to readers of what it looks like or what happens when the construction of such type of building is done this way. The author clearly stated her points and concerns by using concrete language to explain how indoors air is sacrificed on some green buildings.

Slogan is mostly related with advertisement. In this case would not be different. Some sources use slogan to advertise companies or entities specialized on sustainability, more specifically sustainable design. A good example of the use of slogan is the article “sustainability specialists: LWPB architecture sits down with its clients early in the design process.” By Russ Garger. On this article Garger has a very persuasive tone. Tone in which clearly states the use of slogan to advertise this company LWPB Architecture in which is specialized in sustainable design.

“LWPB Architecture designs projects nationwide, many of them federal, but lately has concentrated within Oklahoma on municipal projects, such as the three recent ones for Oklahoma City. ‘These are very different project types and very different architectural styles due to our collaborative process, working to create a unique solution with every project…” (Garger)

“Oklahoma City’s Lincoln Park golf clubhouse” By LWPB Architecture (Garger)

With all the cited evidences and sources it is true to say that various kinds of texts are produced from the topic of sustainable architecture. Hence, there are several genres used within these sources. Within the genres chosen by the authors I could analyze the rhetorical choices of the sources and the use of charged language such as concrete language and slogan.

All of these mechanisms used by the sources it is easier to readers to follow the author’s points of view. As well as it makes easier to the writers to state their ideas and concerns that certainly are the same within the discourse community. With those concerns addressed, discourse communities can more easily gather to find solutions to solve addressed issues among them.

web sources and articles cited:

Chust, Pascual P. "Towards a Sustainable Architecture." Arte y Políticas de Identidad, vol. 10/11, 2014, pp. 227-250, Research Library, https://search.proquest.com/docview/16615941 2?accountid=2909.

Carlson, R., et al. "System for Integrated Business Environmental Information Management." Advances in Environmental Research, vol. 5, no. 4, 2001, pp. 369-375, doi:10.1016/S1093-0191(01)00088-0.

Duval, Nicolas. "Architecture is in Crisis and sustainable design ." YouTube.TEDx University of Nicosia/TEDxTalks, 22 Dec. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2017 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2EXsoiZ-To>.

Diaz, Enrique, Juan Vasquez, and Josep Guerrero. "Intelligent DC Homes in Future Sustainable Energy Systems: When efficiency and intelligence work together." (2015): 74-80. Web. 09 Mar. 2017. <http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=7353285>.

Garger, Russ. “sustainability specialists: LWPB architecture sits down with its clients early in the design process.” Construction Today. Nov.-Dec. 2013

Sabin, Jenny. "Sustainable Thinking." The Architectural Review, vol. 231, no. 1381, 2012, pp. 88-89, ProQuest Technology Collection; Research Library; Technology Collection, https://search.proquest.com/docview/963767311?accountid=2909.

Levesque, Mario R. J. Unravelling Nested Institutional Arrangements, McMaster University (Canada), Ann Arbor, 2008, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, https://search.proquest.com/docview/749414469?accountid=2909.

Moore, Steven A. "Sustainable Architecture and Engineering." Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, edited by J. Baird Callicott and Robert Frodeman, vol. 2, Macmillan Reference USA, 2009, pp. 293-295. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=ucinc_main&v=2.1

&id=GALE%7CCX3234100271&it=r. Accessed 09 Apr. 2017.

Oliver, Chris. "Editor's Choice Awards: Green sand Architecture Sustainability." Hawaii Business. N.p., 1 May 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

Toole, Michelle ."What are the Disadvantages of Green Building?" Healthy Holistic Living. N.p., 12 July 2014. Web. 09 Mar. 2017. <http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/disadvantages-of-green- building.html>.

Rottenberg, Annete T. and Donna Haisty Winchell. Elements of Argument: A Text

and Reader. 11th edition, Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2015.

UCF. "What is a discourse community?" What is a discourse community?:

ENC1102-13Fall 0027. N.p., 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

GIF on sustainable architecture.