I enjoyed your feature on organic architecture (see Pique, July 28). I have worked in the energy conservation and renewable energy field since 1975, and while I am now retired, it is still disheartening to see the lack of meaningful progress for the past several decades. The demand for big, heavy, thirsty SUVs is probably the most visible manifestation of our lack of concern about the environment. In Vancouver, it is even more disheartening, as they plan mega communities with highrises that will require external energy sources for heating and cooling (passive solar heating is almost impossible in highrises) and massive concrete towers whose residents will be completely reliant on elevators.
I might add that many of these mega developments, such as the Jericho Lands, Burrard Bridge/False Creek (Senakw), UBC/Pacific Spirit Park and Heather lands, are being proposed and built by First Nations and/or the MST Development Corporation (Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh). So, I got quite a chuckle when I read the second paragraph of the feature, which stated that “Indigenous architecture was grounded upon maintaining harmony with the land in a deeply organic manner.” Not in Vancouver, and not in Whistler either.
