#10 Houses and Trees - Simon Ott

As I've mentioned before, I appreciate the integration of the environment as much as possible with our building structures.  Whether it's simply excellent landscaping or building a home into the mountainside, I think the more our living and working lives can be integrated with the world in which we live and breath the better of we all are.  

 In humankinds' struggle for the best shelter I think we've systematically divorced ourselves from the planet that sustains us and in that separation lies our doom as a species.  Laying aside any discussions about global warming or GMO foods or antibiotics in our water supplies, the simple truth is we live on this planet.  It supplies all of our necessities for life and we now know it is a closed system.

As so many people go about their day in a cramped fluorescent lit cubicle or office and others work deep inside the machinery of industrialization millions of people return home to small apartments and homes shut off from the outside world.  The most thought they give the environment around them is whether or not they need a coat or umbrella.  

So, even if in the course of our daily survival we can't stop to smell the roses because we don't have the time or they've all been paved over for the new highway, I believe we should strive to integrate as much of the outside world into our interior world as we can in our built structures.  If only to remind us of how important our planet is in relation to everything else.  As the Guy McPherson quote goes: "If you really think the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money."