What is ECOBOX?

About ECOBOX:

ECOBOX is a project under NAL – the Norwegian Association of Architects – and was established in 1994, then known as NABU. Its goal is to integrate awareness and knowledge about sustainable planning and building into the everyday practice of architects, planners and others in the building sector.

The profession of architecture is based on a holistic approach, in which environmental considerations play an increasingly vital role today, and are becoming a requirement both in building codes and amongst clients.

ECOBOX builds on the 1992 Rio conference and Habitat agendas, and the ensuing declaration of 1993 by the International Union of Architects (UIA) concerning sustainability in the built environment. In addition, in 1997 ECOBOX was asked to assume responsibility for one of the UIA’s Work Programs on sustainable development of the built environment, titled ”The Road from Rio”.

ECOBOX plans and executes conferences, courses, workshops, information activities, reports and other initiatives. These activities have architects as their primary target group, and also entail extensive interaction and cross-disciplinary cooperation with engineers, researchers, public bodies, the building industry and public. Out of an annual budget of approximately NOK 4,0 million, more than 85% is market based, with projects commissioned by public and private sector clients. The remaining 12-15% is in the form of public subsidy from, amongst others, the Norwegian Ministry of Regional Affairs.

ECOBOX comprises a board, a project leader and other staff, plus resource persons engaged on a project basis. The board is selected to represent the various aspects of the profession, including members from public planning, architectural practice, research and education, as well as from the national executive of NAL.

The UIA declaration:

The declaration, which NAL has undersigned, was formulated as follows at the 1993 UIA Congress in Chicago:

”A sustainable society should preserve, renew and enhance nature and culture, for the benefit of all life, both present and future. A diverse and healthy environment has intrinsic value, and is essential for healthy societies. Today’s societies are seriously damaging the environment and are not sustainable.

Humankind and the natural environment are interlinked; and our societies are globally and mutually dependent both socially, culturally and economically. In this perspective, a sustainable future requires cooperation, equity and equality of all parties involved.

Buildings and human settlements play a large part in the negative effects on natural systems and on life quality. Sustainable architecture unites resource and energy consciousness, healthy materials and building, economic and socially sensitive land use, and an aesthetic awareness which can refine, confirm and inspire. It can to a large extent reduce humankind’s negative ecological influences, and simultaneously improve economic and social welfare.

As members of the world’s architecture profession, as individuals, and through our organisations, we therefore commit ourselves to:

1.                  Making a sustainable future a central concern of our practice and professional responsibility;

2.                  Developing and continually improving our discipline’s knowledge, methods and practice so as to promote a sustainable development,

3.                  Ensuring that all elements in the built environment are produced, constructed and recycled in a sustainable way;

4.                  Developing economic and legal frameworks for architecture which enhance sustainable practice;

5.                  Contributing to a scientific and public understanding for the importance of the decisive role which our profession plays in regard to sustainable development.”

ECOBOXs activities:

Workshops

The task of changing society towards sustainable paths of development requires active participation by people at many levels. The issues are complex, and require cross-disciplinary integration. Technology alone is no solution; environmental solutions must be ”owned” by those who are to implement and manage them, so all the parties must be involved in the processes. This implies using cooperative working methods to find ”win-win” solutions which create common goals and perceived benefits for all stakeholders.

Workshops are dynamic and interactive processes. They can be applied for purposes such as concept design for specific projects, local economic development, participatory planning, conflict solving, as well as for expert education on themes such as energy design or natural ventilation. Since its inception in 1994, ECOBOX has organised workshops of various kinds, at locations all over Norway. The Norwegian Research Council has funded the project for development of workshops as a particular tool for sustainable development in architecture and planning. ECOBOX has also initiated a handbook about these techniques.

Reports

ECOBOX initiates studies and reports on themes related to sustainability, such as energy conscious design, natural and hybrid ventilation, sustainable settlements and ecological planning.

Conferences, courses and seminars

ECOBOX arranges and leads educational events to raise professional awareness and skills, both for architects as well as on a multidisciplinary basis. These focus on themes such as: ecological design, urban densification, ventilation and indoor environment, urban ecology.

Information and networking

ECOBOX contributes to spreading information through publications, exhibitions, articles, radio programs, support to the architecture library, and a web site, as well as through international networking.

Study tours

On request from a variety of clients, ECOBOX plans and conducts tours in Scandinavia and Europe to study the state of the art in environmental architecture and technology, urban ecology and planning.

Interdisciplinary contacts

Since 1994, ECOBOX has built up an important role as contact, adviser and/or working partner for a wide range of organisations and groups in the field of sustainable development. These include ministries, local authorities, engineering associations, building and public health authorities, research institutes, architecture schools, and other regional associations, as well as environmental interest groups.

There are also regular contacts with organisations such as the State building authority, regional energy centres, Nordic architecture associations and selected international networks.

Examples of workshops conducted to date:

• Effective land use and urban densification (Hammerfest, Rena, Førde, Kristiansand)
• Sustainable redevelopment of the former airport at Fornebu (Oslo)
• Design for urban ecological housing (Tønsberg)
• Natural ventilation systems for offices and housing (Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø)
• Sustainable cities (Groruddalen)
• Urban renewal, indoor environment and healthy materials (Pilestredet project, Oslo).
• Sustainable housing development for a new area in Helsinki (Viikki project, Finland).
• Program formulation for a new environmentally-conscious school (Fredrikstad).
• Planning of ecological housing areas, North Norway (Narvik, Fauske)
• Reducing the ecological footprint of tourist and leisure facilities (Trysil)

Publications:

• Byggekunst and Arkitektnytt (the Norwegian journals of architecture) - many articles.
• Report on Fornebu: re-use of the former national airport in a sustainable perspective, 1996.
• Workshop report on sustainable town housing for Tønsberg town, 1996.
• Report from conference and workshops in Grorud valley, Oslo, 1998.
• Natural ventilation systems. Manual, with GAIA-Lista. 1997
• Natural ventilation, report no.2 (from follow-up seminars, 1998).
• Sustainable Sports and Leisure Facilities. Conference report, 1999 (English)
• The Pilestredet Park Urban Ecology Project. IFHP conference paper, Oslo 1999 (English and Norwegian)
• ”Bygg for en Ny Tid” - towards environmental architecture - a book on Norwegian projects, NABU 2000
• Sustainable Building Tradition (special issue of Byggeskikkbladet, Husbanken 2000)
• The Workshop Handbook ( Kommuneforlaget, 2001)

Contact ECOBOX:

Josefinesgt. 34, 0351 Oslo, Norway
Phone:   +47 23 33 25 00
Fax:       +47 23 33 25 01

e-mail:  nabu@arkitektur.no

Birgit Rusten, general manager
direct line: 23 33 25 44
e-mail: birgit.rusten@arkitektur.no

Stein Stoknes, project leader
direct line: 23 33 25 42
e-mail: stein.stoknes@arkitektur.no

 Margrethe Maisey, project leader
direct line: 23 33 25 22
e-mail: margrethe.maisey@arkitektur.no