Native American and Pre-Columbian architectural design has been called primitive or lacking the sophistication of many societies that followed. However, many of the GREEN designs of today mimic the designs of those who came before. These societies built around the land in harmony with it because of their beliefs in the awareness of the sacred bond between the earth and themselves. Likewise, they knew which natural resources that offered them the most for their climate and were easily obtainable. They directed their buildings to take advantage of optimal sun and weather during the day and season. They used natural resources that were in abundance and did not harm anyone in their society, or their environment.
However, as new societies arrived, architectural design began to change. These newer forms had more emphasis placed on the more socially accepted aesthetics. This not only changed the materials used, but also had a profound effect on the environment and those in it. Design was no longer the earth-conscious, nature-friendly type it was before, but rather a more decadent and beauty-minded arena based on the newfound social awareness of architectural beauty.
It seems today we have come full circle in terms of social constructs and environmental awareness in design. Although design has not directly reverted to pre-columbian and native american design, the current shift to Green design depicts the growing awareness of eco-friendly, environmental design. However unlike our counterparts, the current technology is proving to offer and provide greater advantages to natural designs. This social awareness combined with technological advances is ushering our ancestral design into a new era. An era where our strongest resources are recycled and are combined with the benefits of past design to yield an alternative to the future of earth and our own society.
Although our society has dubbed this type of design as “cutting-edge”, “new”, and “innovative” is not as it may seem. Kostas Terzidis leeds to this point in his article on the “The Etymology of Design: Pre-Socratic Perspective”. He argues that many “original” designs of today are actually pieces from the past that are made to appear new, but in actuality they were only original before. This is quite similar to Pre-Columbian architecture and the fact that it is the original form of green design. This is because the societies were using the technology available to create designs that were symbiotic with nature and the environment. The reemergence of this design and utilization of modern technologies in its advancement is only serving to further the original green design rather than be the starting point.
Green design began with Pre-Columbian designers and was lost in the changing aesthetics of the times thereafter. At the same times the environmental benefits of the design were forgotten only to be replaced by the excess of design based on beautiful elements. Likewise, the Pre-Columbian designs were not appreciated for the cultural and natural implications that served as their basis, but rather forgotten for their lack in modern technological advances.
Image borrowed from:
http://www.eartharchitecture.org/uploads/Pueblo.jpg
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