Rafael Pelli

Design Process Redesigner

Background
BA, Yale University; Master's in Architecture, Harvard University Partner, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects; Green Advisory Board Member, Turner Construction

Awards

AIA 2005 Top Ten Green Award (for the Solaire)

Q&A

What started you on the path towards sustainability?

No single event encouraged me to start thinking about the environmental consequences of buildings. There were many, including my upbringing in Los Angeles where kids would frequently have to take time off from playing due to bouts of "smog"-- a shortening of breath that led to painful coughing. I learned later this was not typical.

I view good architecture as a creative response to fundamental needs, both physical and social, and environmental considerations as an inspiration to create. Buildings are too often reduced to a marketed product or reviewed as sculpture. I am interested in considering them in a more complete way: how does the built environment address the issues that confront us so urgently?

Who inspired you or nurtured your talent?

My parents. They taught me to both look closely at the world around me and to think for myself.

What gives you hope in your industry?

I'm encouraged by the enormous changes in the building industry in the last five years - an industry typically slow to change. The potential for greater change is supported by the advances in software tools that help us better understand and predict complex issues like air movements and thermal flow.

What worries you most in this area?

While the changes over the last few years have been impressive, they still represent only a small improvement in the overall impact of buildings on the environment. We need to maintain, or accelerate, the rate of change in the building industry. I worry that we do not have a strong research-and-development program for building technology in this country to fuel the next generation of changes. We need industry and the public sector to collaborate together on a more robust research effort. The building industry is capital-intensive and risk averse, but also very decentralized. We need mechanisms to pool resources and share experiments and experiences to affect change.

What advice do you give to young people who want to make a difference in the world?

A friend of the family gave me this advice when I chose to enter architecture, and I remember it to this day: Architecture is a matter of will. I think it applies to all endeavors, really, that are meaningful.

What is the role of technology in sustainable design?

Technology is an integral component of good design at several levels. The software tools are changing the discipline and allowing the exploration of both formal and technical issues. Much of the opportunity in new buildings is in making them more responsive to temperature, sun, air quality, and occupancy. Building technology in the form of sensors, motorized controls, and BMS systems support this effort. Advances in nanotechnology allow a new generation of materials that could, too, be more responsive. The challenge is to borrow from the rapid technological change in other fields for applications in building design, construction, and operation.