Architecture Is Saving Nature
T
he Bay Area has a certain quality regarding the environment that most parts of the country are lacking in: sustainability. In studies conducted during the first two decades of the 21st century, the Bay Area has four cities in the top ten of the “Greenest Cities in the U.S,” with San Francisco topping the list, San Jose coming in at number five, Fremont sitting at number seven, and Oakland at number ten. Two more Californian cities, San Diego and Irvine, come in at two and three, respectfully, so it’s reasonable to conclude that Californians care about the status and health of our planet. With sustainability in mind, many Californians are obsessed with contemporary architecture. When given the chance, architects will design beautiful homes and buildings that blur the lines between modern living and nature. With popular designs such as the 175 acre tech campus, Apple Park, in Cupertino, and the 1,070 ft Salesforce tower in the center of San Francisco’s financial district, the Bay Area is home to many sustainable projects that are setting a precedent for the rest of the nation. In 2007, San Francisco was the first U.S city to ban plastic bags, which led more cities to follow suit and now eight states have banned single use plastic bags in an effort to reduce waste and protect wildlife. The Bay Area has strict regulations that require buildings and landscapes to meet a certain level of sustainability. These regulations largely have to do with water conservations and the types of plants that are used in landscapes. Being susceptible to droughts, it’s important that buildings use innovative technologies to limit wasted water. In landscapes, drought resistant plants are preferred because they take in as much water as other plants would. In downtown Los Altos, the Lucile Packard foundation headquarters represents one of these sustainable buildings that’s influencing the country. The building offsets 100% of its energy with its solar panels and an advanced heating and cooling system. Bridging the natural world and the workplace, the building offers a beautiful aesWthetic and helps the environment. 90% of the plants on the grounds are native to California which helps recreate habitats for local birds and animals whose homes have been lost due to human involvement. In addition, the building has a green roof which helps keep the building cool to reduce the use of air conditioning. The foundation says that their headquarters, “Represents a physical manifestation of our long-term commitment to conserving the Earth’s natural resources”.