2010 - using archaeology to inform the design of modern, sustainable architecture

USING ARCHAEOLOGYTO INFORM THE DESIGN OF

MODERN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

ASNM Annual Meeting 2010Rachel Preston

This is Green Design! NOT!

This is Historic Preservation?

Now what?

Technology is not the ONLY answer!

We can look backwards…

Solar Orientation

By ignoring the source and impact of materials used to create our living spaces, we are poisoning the

earth, the water, the ground, and ultimately… ourselves.

Construction ImpactsWorldwide effects of Construction

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Energy use

Potable WaterUse

US Effects of Construction

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Timber Harvest

Municipal SolidWaste

Greenhouse GasEmissions

Concrete is one of the worst building materials!

We might find an answer… in VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

New Mexican Vernacular

Haciendas• Small highly placed windows• Rooms only as deep as locally available vigas would allow• Covered walkways provide shade in summer and weather protection in winter• Courtyards with trees and wells act as swamp coolers

• Massive walls control heat and cooling• Small highly placed windows control solar gain• Exterior terraces allow for fresh air, ventilation, shading, and communication with each other and with nature• Solar orientation controls solar gain in summer

Pueblos

• Near-constant earth temperature of approximately 56 degrees inside, year-round• Efficiently heated with small fire• Uses only natural, locally-available materials• Simple construction

Pit Houses

Vernacular models reduce the size of your pie! (Which means more money in your pocket!)

They also help the environment because they use local materials, minimize transportation costs and effects,

and they can be made… by you.

The Moon LodgeTaos, New Mexico