Quoting Manuel Castells: "Raum ist der Ausdruck der Gesellschaft" (Space is the expression of society). And isn't it true; our mainstream socialization is indeed manifested in our built environment - the social construction of space is evident in "living the dream" through the classic suburban home. In order to re-structure urban space in a sustainable manner, we must restructure our values. I came across this really cool infill residential development in Toronto which takes into account this de-comodification of the "home" as a step toward urban sustainability. Based on the idea of the Urban Homestead, this house is powered by passive systems and constructed with recyclable material. The green roof has a cooling effect, retains water to prevent wasteful runoff, and the soil and plant combination provides insulation during winter...very cool.
