Semenov to Speak on "Building in Ecology" at Feb. 28 Lecture Series Event

Event description courtesy of Essex Library

Did you know that Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors? Increasingly, that indoor environment is sealed off from the outside world. It’s no surprise that many of us suffer from what author Richard Louv has termed Nature Deficit Disorder. As we lose awareness of the natural world around us, we develop mental and physical illnesses and exacerbate the environmental crisis.

Imagine if buildings, instead of sealing us off from nature and its processes, could be designed to celebrate them! Imagine if facades were designed for birds and insects, walls were decorated with fractal ornament, and bridges lit up with the movement of fish…

All these are examples of buildings and public spaces that Centerbrook designer Misha Semenov is collecting into a catalog of spaces designed to reconnect us with ecology. The new emphasis on biophilia and the emotional connection to nature is proving to be just as important as the focus on resource efficiency that guided the first wave of green buildings. Misha will share some of these exciting projects and ideas, placing them in the context of the larger Green Architecture movement.

Essex Library Lecture Series pres. by Centerbrook Architects
"Building in Ecology: Curing Nature Deficit Disorder through Design"
Friday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
The Cube, Centerbrook Architects