Desert Vernacular: Green Building and Ecological Design in Scottsdale, Arizona - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 485

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Desert Vernacular: Green Building and
Ecological Design in Scottsdale, Arizona
Anthony C. Floyd
CONTENTS
28.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 487
28.2 Context of Place .................................................................................................................. 489
28.3 Toward a Desert Vernacular ............................................................................................ 489
28.4 Scottsdale, Arizona ............................................................................................................ 490
28.4.1 Background and History of Scottsdale, Arizona .............................................. 490
28.4.2 Scottsdale's General Plan and Character Area Guidelines .............................. 492
28.4.3 Sensitive Design Principles .................................................................................. 493
28.4.4 Green Building Program ...................................................................................... 495
28.4.5 Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance ................................................... 498
28.4.6 Native Plant Protection ......................................................................................... 499
28.5 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 500
References ..................................................................................................................................... 502
28.1 Introduction
To what extent can the environmental criteria of green buildings shape the architectural
vernacular in the upper Sonoran Desert of southwestern United States? How can regional
design guidelines contribute to a smaller ecological footprint? This chapter will outline
Scottsdale, Arizona's continuing efforts to develop effective design guidelines for a grow-
ing urban community concerned with preserving the natural desert with its flora, fauna,
and geological features. One of the fundamental concerns for Scottsdale: to integrate
development and the natural desert setting in an environmentally responsible manner.
This represents the application of an architectural vernacular that relates the buildings
to their environment. Vernacular buildings use locally suited design solutions for locally
derived social and environmental conditions. True Vernacular architecture evolves over
time to reflect the changing cultural and environmental context in which it exists. It is
sometimes misrepresented as culturally dated and antiquated but is an important refer-
ence point in the design of climate responsive and environmentally responsible buildings.
By using current building technologies combined with the passive design techniques that
respond to site conditions, climate and regional resources, an architectural vernacular
unfolds (see Chapter 31). 1
Environmentally responsible buildings are designed to be less impactful and in turn
harmonious with local bioclimatic and environmental conditions. This is one of the core
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