Architecture awards, a part of the vast architectural media complex, have been complicit for the previous 30 years in the lack of action on climate change. By celebrating great 20th century design in an era of 21st century challenges, most architecture awards perpetuate a system that celebrates the wrong thing. By awarding the Gold Medal to Edward Mazria, a long-time advocate for solar design and sustainability, the AIA may be signaling a new, more serious attitude toward architecture awards.
This is an ethical issue. As a professional community, we do not celebrate buildings that collapse. Why, then, do we celebrate buildings that are helping to collapse entire ecosystems?
An ethical award system would do the following.
First: Only give awards to building projects that, at a minimum
- Are net-zero energy
- Are net-zero water, if the project is located in an arid climate
- Are built from recycled, recyclable, and/or sustainably harvested materials
- Demonstrate a low embodied carbon footprint
Second: Only give awards to architects or architecture firms who
- Have a portfolio of projects that meet the above-listed standards (not a one-off green project among a sty of carbon hogs)
Once a building, architect, or firm has met the above criteria, then discussions of aesthetics could begin.
Adhering to this plan would have the added benefit of forcing award committees to consider the work of younger, more progressive, and likely more diverse designers.
2021 AIA Gold Medal press release from the AIA.
A story about the award and Mazria from ArchDaily.