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FEATURE ARTICLE 87
Shades of
Sustainability
Nature, our oldest muse, has inspired legions of green builders and
architects. Be it art, literature, economics, or architecture, if we look
closely, our best works reflect an unmistakable relationship with
nature. In today’s scenario, given the dire situation which we are in,
the time has come to look back at the traditional ways of preserving
what little remains of our reserves. In this article, Sunanda Satwah
identifies and ponders over the challenges that have come to define
this struggle.
‘Only when the last tree has died, the last river been poisoned, and the last fish been
caught, will we realize we cannot eat money.’
—A proverb of the Cree Indians
Sunanda Satwah, worldwide, their associated design and urban revitalization
currently a implications, and gave to the are termed as ‘bright-green
visiting faculty world ‘Ten Shades of Green’.1 environmentalists’. Those who do
at CTESCOA, Alex Steffen (2016)2 on the other not see any need for change are
has more than hand, grouped contemporary referred to as the ‘greys’.3
15 year’s of environmentalists into ‘light
experience greens’, ‘dark greens’, and ‘bright Vernacular and regional
in the field of greens’, grouping them by their architecture across the world is
architecture beliefs. Those who believe proof that sustainable design is
and over a decade’s experience in in achieving environmental possible without overexploiting
healthcare design. She can be reached sustainability through personal the natural resources. It
at: satwah1@rediffmail.com responsibility are marked as is testimony that through
‘light-green environmentalists’; contextually sensitive and
Shades of Green the ones that believe in radical ingenious adaptations, we can
industrial and political change are prosper within our means and live
Sustainable design is inherently termed as ‘dark greens’; and those in harmony with nature.
in harmony with nature and thus who believe that long-lasting
affordable. However, many believe prosperity and sustainability can Traditional Wisdom
that going green is more expensive be achieved through innovative
than the conventional route. Anupam Mishra4 narrates the
1 Buchanan P. 2005. Ten Shades of Green: story of a nation that successfully
Question is, ‘Can we Architecture and the Natural World. New practiced rainwater harvesting in
continue walking on the York: Architectural League of New York. the Great Indian Desert 800 years
conventional route?’ ago. Our ancestors had the innate
2 Steffen A. 2016. Bright Green, Light wisdom to intelligently collect
If not, then in what Green, Dark Green, Gray: The New
capacity can each one Environmental Spectrum; available 3 Refer to footnote 2.
contribute to sustainability? at: Worldchanging: http://www. 4 Mishra A. The Ancient Ingenuity of Water
worldchanging.com; last accessed on
There is no one-size-fits- November 21, 2017. Harvesting. Retrieved from TED Talks.
all solution. Peter Buchanan
(2005) critically scrutinized the
various green initiatives explored
DECEMBER 2017
Shades of
Sustainability
Nature, our oldest muse, has inspired legions of green builders and
architects. Be it art, literature, economics, or architecture, if we look
closely, our best works reflect an unmistakable relationship with
nature. In today’s scenario, given the dire situation which we are in,
the time has come to look back at the traditional ways of preserving
what little remains of our reserves. In this article, Sunanda Satwah
identifies and ponders over the challenges that have come to define
this struggle.
‘Only when the last tree has died, the last river been poisoned, and the last fish been
caught, will we realize we cannot eat money.’
—A proverb of the Cree Indians
Sunanda Satwah, worldwide, their associated design and urban revitalization
currently a implications, and gave to the are termed as ‘bright-green
visiting faculty world ‘Ten Shades of Green’.1 environmentalists’. Those who do
at CTESCOA, Alex Steffen (2016)2 on the other not see any need for change are
has more than hand, grouped contemporary referred to as the ‘greys’.3
15 year’s of environmentalists into ‘light
experience greens’, ‘dark greens’, and ‘bright Vernacular and regional
in the field of greens’, grouping them by their architecture across the world is
architecture beliefs. Those who believe proof that sustainable design is
and over a decade’s experience in in achieving environmental possible without overexploiting
healthcare design. She can be reached sustainability through personal the natural resources. It
at: satwah1@rediffmail.com responsibility are marked as is testimony that through
‘light-green environmentalists’; contextually sensitive and
Shades of Green the ones that believe in radical ingenious adaptations, we can
industrial and political change are prosper within our means and live
Sustainable design is inherently termed as ‘dark greens’; and those in harmony with nature.
in harmony with nature and thus who believe that long-lasting
affordable. However, many believe prosperity and sustainability can Traditional Wisdom
that going green is more expensive be achieved through innovative
than the conventional route. Anupam Mishra4 narrates the
1 Buchanan P. 2005. Ten Shades of Green: story of a nation that successfully
Question is, ‘Can we Architecture and the Natural World. New practiced rainwater harvesting in
continue walking on the York: Architectural League of New York. the Great Indian Desert 800 years
conventional route?’ ago. Our ancestors had the innate
2 Steffen A. 2016. Bright Green, Light wisdom to intelligently collect
If not, then in what Green, Dark Green, Gray: The New
capacity can each one Environmental Spectrum; available 3 Refer to footnote 2.
contribute to sustainability? at: Worldchanging: http://www. 4 Mishra A. The Ancient Ingenuity of Water
worldchanging.com; last accessed on
There is no one-size-fits- November 21, 2017. Harvesting. Retrieved from TED Talks.
all solution. Peter Buchanan
(2005) critically scrutinized the
various green initiatives explored
DECEMBER 2017
