Hannover Principles
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The Hannover Principles are a set of statements about designing buildings and objects with forethought about their environmental impact, their effect on the sustainability of growth, and their overall impact on society. They were first formulated by William McDonough and Michael Braungart for planning Expo 2000 in Hanover and are presented in a copyrighted 1992 document.
The principles may be summarized as:[1]
- Insist on human rights and sustainability.
- Recognize the interaction of design with the environment.
- Consider the social and "spiritual" aspects of buildings and designed objects.
- Be responsible for the effect of design decisions.
- Ensure that objects have long-term value.
- Eliminate waste and consider the entire life-cycle of designed objects.
- Make use of "natural energy flows" such as solar power and its derivatives.
- Be humble, and use nature as a model for design.
- Share knowledge, strive for continuous improvement, and encourage open communication among stakeholders.
The original document states: "The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves."
[edit] External links
- The Hannover Principles
- [2] "The Next Industrial Revolution", a Documentary film about William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- The Promise of Principled Design: Reflections on the Hannover Principles 10 years later, by Teresa Heinz, April 2003.
