Sustainability is connection

The popularity of the cradle-to-cradle concept developed by McDonough and Braungart has caused a major shift in the outlook of politicians and policy makers. They have started to realise that sustainable construction can be taken up as a challenge and does not necessarily have to be forced on a development by restrictive regulations. The C2C philosophy has its own limitations, however. The theory is effective when applied to a product. But a building is more than just an object that can be disassembled and recycled. Architecture is required to establish connections with the surrounding area and the structure of the urban environment and the landscape. Buildings and cities need to connect people. That is why in the discussion of sustainability, connection is the core concept. Sustainability means not adversely impacting the environment, the ecology and the people around you. One can see such an adverse impact developing when a building denies its connection with the surrounding area.