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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

I noted recently that many large businesses see the wisdom of becoming more 
environmentally oriented. While American politicians pontificate, 
businesses are moving forward with or without tax incentives. European 
nations are in front of us on this as well as other issues. By comparison 
we seem young and immature. From the homesteader point of view, I check out 
these designs by leading architectural firms for ideas that I can use in my 
designs.


Swiss Award to Canadian Projects

by ArchitectureWeek

On September 30, 2005, the Swiss Holcim Foundation for Sustainable 
Construction honored three North American projects in its annual awards 
program. The Holcim Foundation, in collaboration with five of the world's 
leading technical universities, promotes sustainable approaches to 
environmental design. The awards highlight projects that go beyond 
technical solutions to consider process, human behavior, and visionary city 
planning.

Holcim Foundation advisory board member, Rt. Hon. Simon Upton, (France/ New 
Zealand), explains that while the concept of sustainability is being 
embraced by many business people and politicians, it often lacks content or 
coherence. "The Holcim Awards," Upton says, "are important precisely 
because they challenge participants to think through sustainable solutions 
in all their dimensions from the bottom up."

Five rounds of awards are being presented this fall, for Europe, North 
America, Latin America, Africa/ Middle East, and Asia/ Pacific. In the 
North American group, two awards went to Canadian projects and the third to 
a U.S. building. In the future, ArchitectureWeek will report on the award 
recipients from the other continents as well.

Greening of Benny Farm

The Holcim Gold Award 2005/ North America went to the Canadian firm L'OEUF/ 
Pearl Poddubiuk et Associés, Architectes for a pilot project for affordable 
housing, "Greening the Infrastructure at Benny Farm," in Montréal, Québec. 
Three nonprofit housing organizations — COOP CHEZ SOI, Project ZOO, and 
HCNDG — are involved.   >>>

The rest of the story is at:
http://www.architectureweek.com/