Built to Last

One of the challenges we must face in the current green building trend, is to build and design buildings meant to last generations. Our forefathers were much better at this than we are, as can be seen by the lifespan of many of the buildings they erected. There seemed to be more of a "long-term" approach to things.

Now, in a day riddled with tight schedules and tight budgets, etc., it becomes more difficult to build something that will last beyond a decade. How green is that? Here's the big challenge: style! It seems as though what is hot and trendy today, is totally out of touch tomorrow. So, how do you build buildings that attract tenants, today, tomorrow, and a decade from now, without having to redo them 20 times.

Which brings me to what I really wanted to write about: used furniture. I walk through some new furniture stores, and I see a lot of really cool, trendy furniture. It has that "new car" feel to it. I see a new chair, and think, "wow, I'd like to take that for a spin (no pun intended)." The question I have to ask, however, is: how long will it last? Sure it may be made from recycled baby bottles, but what good is that if I have to get a new one in two years?

My mom, bless her, always decorated our home with garage sale furniture. You would never have guessed. It was beautiful. The reason she did this was simple: quality. She found that older furniture was built to last. She was on a first name basis with the local upholstery shop, and our furniture came out looking dynamite. Sorry Herman Miller, Knoll, Haworth... that is more green than your eco-chair (but please keep making them, cause I am really hoping to get a used one someday!)