#whereintheworld Restoration
“How we treat other human beings and nature reflects our values and our narratives about each other and the natural world. Indeed, narratives can blind, constrain, inspire and liberate us.” This excerpt from A Better Planet: 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future reflects our desire to demonstrate equity in the built environment.
For the past year and half, we have worked alongside MPHA to restore a building that faced significant trauma. Built in 1970, it has been home to seniors. Many of the current residents are from Asian and African communities. Fragrant spices were part of our walk-through construction site visits revealing the multicultural community that lives in the building. It connected us to the people that call this building home and often made us hungry!
Equity in the built environment is part of Architect’s Code of Ethics to design buildings and spaces that will enhance and facilitate human dignity for the health, safety and welfare of individuals and the public. Building codes during this era had no fire sprinklers or handicap accessible design requirements. A tragic fire in November of 2018 caused the death of six residents. We honor their memory.
Thought to be one of the first songs about the environment, Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Me” was released in 1971. Its lyrics still ring true today some fifty years later about how we care for the planet and each other.
Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east
Woah mercy, mercy me, yeah
Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury
Oh Jesus, yeah, mercy, mercy me, ah
Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh
Hey, things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
What we know for sure is that what you believe impacts how you behave, how you behave impacts what you behold. The materials we use to build and their life cycle disposal are equally relevant design decisions just as much as programmatic ones are. The MPHA building now has readily accessible units and plans for fire sprinklers. Features like roll in showers with benches and lower kitchen counters along with stunning views of downtown Minneapolis make this a beautiful model of how public housing can support and enhance the lifestyle of its occupants. When we know better as a society, we do better. We are grateful to be a part of doing better.
