Uploaded on 2016-05-02 by Jasonbsantos

[1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14621760519401158.jpg Giving light to the phrase “For the future, it will be crucial that the environmental system in which a building is placed is disrupted as little as possible” will be centered on two words – harmony and balance. As I see it, the less or zero disruption that a building or structure to the environmental system in which it is placed is the one of the main functions of man on earth. Quoting the bible, specifically in Genesis 1:28 - Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." It means man needs to rule, subdue and manage the earth instead of causing disruption. In other words, govern appropriately. As defined in the dictionary, disrupt is to cause harm, disturbance and problems; synonyms include destruction and damage. Clearly, altering the environmental system that will entail damages is not the mandate of man. So is it possible to have a system with zero disruption? – No. In my opinion, disruption can only be minimized, mitigated and lessened to a certain degree. Disruption is inevitable. There is no “perfect” environment; if there is a slight addition, subtraction or even alteration that is caused by man. The picture shows an urban area that is located in the Ortigas Center (District), City of Pasig in the Philippines. I would like to believe that even before the building is constructed the environmental system is disrupted by the concrete road and sidewalk limiting the emergence of vegetation. Only the sparse trees were left for shade and as landscaping elements. As I interpret it, the building already disrupted the environmental system where it was built. The limiting factor is the amount or extent of disruption that it caused and how wide was the scope. Looking at the building vicinity, there is no open land, body of water or even a patch of “greenery” available. It can be derived that there is an imbalance in the environmental system. Also, the building site in which the constructed building is placed might be the only open land remaining in the area. Thus, creating the disruption and causing a negative effect on the whole system. Though it may not be evidently felt at this time, the future will definitely reap the impact of this imbalance - less greenery, less open land and less area for the ground to breathe and water to permeate for recharge resulting to massive disruptions on the environment. These disruptions may also lead to irreversible and catastrophic effects. As clearly framed by Mr. Lester Brown of Earth Policy Institute, “Among the environmental trends undermining our future are shrinking forests, expanding deserts, falling water tables, collapsing fisheries, disappearing species, and rising temperatures. The temperature increases bring crop-withering heat waves, more-destructive storms, more-intense droughts, more forest fires, and, of course, ice melting. We are crossing natural thresholds that we cannot see and violating deadlines that we do not recognize”. Also he adds that “If an economy is to sustain progress, it must satisfy the basic principles of ecology. If it does not, it will decline and eventually collapse. There is no middle ground”. This also takes the consideration on how the building is constructed. The materials used, the technology implemented and amount of energy spent to form the building. Another thing that is yet to be factored in the disruption equation of the photograph is the operations and maintenance aspect of the building. How the building will be operated and run its day-to-day activities is still a consideration that will affect the future of this system in the Ortigas District. It is a given fact that when there is a building, there is a resulting disruption on the environmental system. It is good to consider also if the building has positive effects on the system for example water retention and urban garden. Considering the objective of sustainability, in which is supplying the present needs without depleting the resources for future needs – future bound, pointing to Harmony and Balance. Harmony with the built and natural environment; Balance with the energy consumption and energy given back to the system. There must be a harmonious give-and-take in the systems involved so as not to deplete the resources of each system. It is safe to consider that there are areas to be developed and there must also be areas to be preserved and remain untouched for the whole system to heal, regenerate and produce again. The element of time is the important consideration. The past, present and future state of the environment must be synthesized harmoniously to have less disruption on the whole environmental system.