I read your last column about water harvesting techniques and saw the video you linked to about Michael Reynolds and Earthships. Very inspiring stuff. Have you heard about the Earthship planned for the Lower East side in NYC? What do you think about it?
Ben, Long Island City
Paul Responds:
Dear Ben,
When news broke recently about the Earthship planned for the Lower East Side, I wasn't sure what to think. At first I thought, 'Wow, that's great.' I respect what Garbage Warrior and Earthship founder Michael Reynolds stands for and his whole history of questioning unsustainable “norms.” He has stated: “I discovered early on that architecture needs to embody the needs of people. Most architects have impractical ideas that are wasteful.” But when seeing sketches of the building design, I thought applying the Earthship building system approach into a narrow space between two taller buildings might not make so much sense. Part of me finds the use of vertical space above the two-story Earthship a bit “wasteful” in terms of maximizing amount of “urban infill”.
It's vital to design buildings like Earthships which function “independently.” But with new technologies on the horizon like Artificial Leaves which could enable every home to be self- powered via a solar-hydrogen combination, or revolutionary solar powered windows like those by Phythagoras Solar, or roof top greenhouses like Sky Vegetables, -- it might be possible to get a few more dwelling units out of that precious urban lot and still have the structure self sufficient like Earthships manage to do. David Roth at gbNYC told me: “I'm fairly bullish on Earthships in general. The more I've read about Earthships, the more impressive I've found them -- but building one on a narrow lot between six-story buildings on the Lower East Side just... I don't know.......”
What's astonishing is how the Lower East Side has become so gentrified from its crime ridden poverty days. It wasn't that long ago that you potentially took your life in your hand if you lived there. Hopefully, soon you'll be able to listen to a location specific audio tour on your iPod, on your way to see how the self contained waste system irrigates the greenhouse at the neighborhood EarthShip NYC. It's interesting to note that while Earthship waste recycling is brilliant - NYC is also planning to make gas out of its sewage waste. Thus renewable ideas like turning waste into power, are soon to be applied on a city level, opening up the possibility that the municipality as a whole could function as one large “Earthship.”
To conclude, I love the idea of Earthship NYC even if just as a kind of architecture as building performance art: a functional green sculpture fitting in to the Manhattan landscape. I'd move there in a New York minute if I could. And I'd open it up to the public to give tours of this living showcase of sustainability, just like owner, Ken Ruck wants to do. Many will follow how the building approval process for Earthship NYC unfolds at the New York Department of Buildings. Roth at gbNYC commented: “Michael Reynolds is very sure it can work. The biggest issue is going to be codes and the Department of Buildings in general, and I anticipate that being a very big issue indeed.” I do hope that the city expedites and facilitates working with Michael Reynolds and Ken Ruck. Because no matter what you think of the Earthship in this specific location, we are all lucky to have this kind of civic engagement. Hopefully all of NYC will transform into an “Earthship” and become like the magnificent star ships we've been waiting to land on earth. --Paul
Have a question for Paul? We encourage feedback and dialogue about subjects that appear in this column. E-mail Paul at greenadvocate@scheinmedia.com
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Thanks for the thorough response. Despite what you call my mixed feelings i.e. my bringing up real alternatives to the Earthship NYC model - My article was meant to be a positive commentary on Earthship NYC. I made a point of emphasizing at the end:
"I do hope that the city expedites and facilitates working with Michael Reynolds and Ken Ruck. Because no matter what you think of the Earthship in this specific location, we are all lucky to have this kind of civic engagement."
In answer to your comment:
"I have to ask a question you left out of your article. Who is responsible for creating a more sustainable world - the free market, the consumer, or the building department? "
I think all three should be and are responsible. In the case of Earthship NYC there is need to coordinate the progressive vision of the consumer and the creativity of a free market with approval from the Building Department NYC. I truly hope the city expedites the process and your team is able to achieve it's goals. I look forward to following the development as it progresses.
All the best,
Paul
While I enjoyed your mixed feelings, and enthusiasm in your article I think you left out a few important points.
First I think we can both agree that we, along with the larger part of humanity, desire a future where people live in harmony and balance with each other and their natural environment. While it would be nice to immediately create one perfect design the first time around that is adaptable to every social situation, climate, and economy - skipping to that ideal isn't practical or possible.
Positive change happens by action and action happens when humans put their energy and effort in a certain direction. Energy in the form of human commitment of their time and action coupled, with monetary energy in the form of capital is what creates change. If there is a client who eagerly desires to pay for an Earthship residence in Manhatten then two of the initial challenges of creating an ideal into a reality have been accomplished. This is how innovation becomes a reality.
I have to ask a question you left out of your article. Who is responsible for creating a more sustainable world - the free market, the consumer, or the building department?
Here the future home owner i.e. the consumer is making a large investment choice. A choice that is enticing because it will begin to pay for itself by saving the homeowner money in the future and it probably helps the homeowner sleep better at night after feeling more in touch with his integrity. This choice paves the way for learning how to create a sustainable building in Manhattan. WIthout a physical attempt there are no lessons learned, without lessons learned there is no innovation, before action it is simply a pipe dream.
There might always be plans of the building department and better solar power innovations, but without capital flow from consumers in the right direction they are just better ideas not a better reality.
This is what makes the Earthship Manhattan project so exciting. Earthship home ownership empowers the people to make a more sustainable choice for themself instead of waiting on someone else. Everything is in motion in Manhattan to create an ideal into reality ... of course it might not be perfect the first time, but what ever is?
The Manhattan Earthship Project has a team of people with capital, experience, expertise, and they can put the rest in trust, faith and hope. The Earthship Biotecture project in Manhattan is a great step in the direction of a better reality. We can't move into the idealistic future we envision without taking practical steps of action first so that we can learn what direction we want to go in.
http://www.earthship.org/component/content/article/929
Best,
Heather
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