In 2002, as we were preparing for the first Solar Decathlon, Richard King, the director of the competition from the outset, opined that the first one would be the most interesting. The whole concept was new, sort of like a solar Wild West and the variety would be at its peak. The reason, of course, is that contestants study the top-placing entries and emulate them for the next event. And isn't this how styles are born?
But is this a bad thing or good? For instance, plantings were relatively rare in the first two Solar Decathlons and, as a result, drew people in. This week, greenery is ubiquitous throughout the 20-home community that's sprung up for its 15 days of fame on the National Mall. That's good.
Dramatic interior lighting that makes for a beautiful nightscape is good too. And clever little gimmicks such as the home that incorporated a 1950s Airstream in 2005 are fading away, making the solar village much more consistent this year. Some would argue that is also good; some would not.
Now that the competition is to be held every other year, students and faculty advisers jump straight into their next design schema as soon as they get back on campus, balancing pressing deadlines, tight budgets, and a desire to win attention even if it means incorporating the stand-apart ideas of others.
Homogeneity? We'll have to wait and see. But it sure sounds like these students will be better prepared for the world into which they will soon be graduating.
What do you think?
Comments (1)
Your comments apply to the way in which architecture design studios are taught and develop. Personally, I have found this to be a good experience and a productive technique to learn and teach architectural design. Improvement and growth occur in cycles. Quality design takes a jump more in relationship to the quality of teachers and students than to any style. The standards as to what exactly is good design rise in quality and levels of excellence and only deteriorate when the commitment of faculty goes down. In my experience, style has very little to do with quality design. Over the years, styles come and go, but the issues that culture and residents of the environment generate remain real and in the flow of history. Quality comes with the character and commitment of faculty and students building on that which has preceded.
Posted by Jack Kremers | October 19, 2007 1:53 PM
Posted on October 19, 2007 13:53