Blue Design

I have a vision for the future that is optimistic, creative, beautiful and prosperous. The core tenets of this vision begin with what I call Blue Design.

Blue Design is a comparatively young sustainability philosophy with its roots in architecture and passive design.  Blue Design focuses on evolving the relationship of nature and technology toward synthesis or a mutually beneficial arrangement.  It proposes that this large view depends on the smallest scale: each of our personal relationships with nature and our empowerment to think widely and non-traditionally. 

On this page you will find the earlier versions one and two of Blue Design, and the seminal Blue Design essays. The real work of developing the philosophy, and descriptions of its current form are on the Building Bridges tab. If you want the shortest version of what it is today, watch the video: Blue Design’s structure.

Blue Design is continually evolving. Are you interested in helping to take Blue Design thinking to the next level? If so, I’d love to hear from you.

Most Recent

Essays

Blue design future

Friday October 1st, 2010

Blue Design: The Future and the Present

Blue design future

What are the qualities of a Blue Design future? How can we promote its realization? This essay succinctly discusses both topics and presents two primary modes for Blue Design’s implementation.

View Comments |

creating a relationship with nature

Wednesday August 4th, 2010

Creating a Mature Relationship with Nature

creating a relationship with nature

Maturing our relationship with Nature is a complex endeavor with some parallels to other personal relationships we experience. In this essay, I explore the qualities of both a personal and collective mature relationship with Nature, and discuss our relationship to Nature as advocated by Blue Design.

download pdf | View Comments |

creating a relationship with nature

Monday July 12th, 2010

Cycles

creating a relationship with nature

Thinking about cycles is a powerful thing; the entrée to thinking in systems and a key to Blue Design. Thinking in cycles focuses on following a single component through its cycle in the system. Cycles are easy to see in the world around us, if we tune ourselves to them.

download pdf | View Comments |

foundational change

Friday June 4th, 2010

Foundational Change

foundational change

Our architectural firm has committed to evolving our deep vision of sustainability while still functioning as a profitable, business-as-usual enterprise. We are dedicated to embracing the foundational change required to live in paradoxical worlds. This essay explores the possibilities and challenges we face in embracing this change.

download pdf | View Comments |

finding a higher purpose

Wednesday May 26th, 2010

Pete’s Higher Purpose

finding a higher purpose

For me, conforming to conventional definitions both of architecture’s purpose and of personal success is no longer satisfying. I continue to search for deeper meaning with my professional work and this essay provides the background and insight into my new journey.

download pdf | View Comments |

controlling beauty

Tuesday May 25th, 2010

Beauty: Control and Depth

controlling beauty

What happens when we release our desire to control nature? Recognizing the natural beauty that exists without our influence is required when applying the theories of Blue Design. In this essay, I reach beyond conventional perceptions of beauty in built and natural worlds, in a search for more meaningful, connected definitions that speak of a new harmony between the works of man and nature.

download pdf | View Comments |

View all Essays ›