The Green Imperative: Ecology and Ethics in Design and Architecture

by Victor Papanek

A fresh edition of the sustainable design pioneer Victor Papanek’s classic and ever-relevant book examining the important role of design in combating climate change. Whether it’s horror at the plastic littering the world’s beaches or despair at the melting polar ice caps, the world is gradually waking up to the impending climate disaster. In The Green Imperative , Papanek argues for design that addresses these issues head-on. This means using materials that can be recycled and reused, no more pointless packaging, thinking about how products make us feel and engage all our senses, putting nature at the heart of design, working at a smaller scale, rejecting aesthetics for their own sake, and thinking before we buy. First published at the end of the twentieth century, this book offered a plethora of honest advice, clear examples, and withering critiques, laying out the flaws of and opportunities for the design world at that time. A quarter of a century on, Papanek’s lucid prose has lost none of its verve, and the problems he highlights have only become more urgent, giving today’s reader both a fascinating historical perspective on the issues at hand and a blueprint for how they might be solved. 141 illustrations

Genres: Design, Architecture, Sustainability, Ecology, Nonfiction, Environment, Business

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 1995

Reviews

[Skinzy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 2021 new edition. I was drawn to this book due to its elegant design- engaging typeface, attractive colors, and unique yet timeless layout. This book pushed me to think about what I can do to help create a more beautiful and sustainable world. For those who specialize in design, I imagine it would be doubly helpful, but it was still very relevant to my life. I would revisit this book and will be sharing it with loved ones in hopes of working toward a better existence together.

[Eric Bayani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although written in 1995, Papanek’s points still ring true. There must be more connection between end-user and designer. The intermingling of user and designer is integral to building a bio-enhancing society today.

The relevance of Papanek’s reflections and theses inspired hope for something better, but also instills disappointment at how slowly our various global communities are failing to address ecological problems caused and facilitated by us all.

I believe there to be an inherent responsibility tied to being a producer today, and Papanek’s probing questions regarding product development will be guiding questions in any and all design work I engage with moving forward. I would highly recommend this book to both designers/producers and end-users/consumers/users. Being more inquisitive about where your goods are coming from, researching their production, and generally engaging with your items more intentionally is a key reminder/takeaway from this book.

Despite the often brief and (it pains me to say it) shallow inclusion of various non-Western designers and communities, it was still nice to see their recognition as equals and, at times superiors, to Western designers that are more commonly associated with architecture and design.

[Caitlin Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very important read for me, I came across it by chance whilst looking for some inspiration for a sustainable design project of my own. I will take everything that I learnt from this book into my project considerations and into my life as a whole. The most terrifying part for me is the fact that this book was written and published originally in 1995, with the author expression concerns for the future of the impact of microwaves and of people owning more than 2 cassette players. This really put the issue of environmental health into perspective for me. The book includes a few helpful little lists for considerations to take before designing or purchasing new products, I will definitely take these forward into my life too. The book hasn't lost any of its important teachings or lessons over the years and is still completely relevant to design today, everybody should be aware of these things.

[Emil Sjöqvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some parts are slightly outdated, but the sentiment stands. Lots of great insights in areas, and an even more important topic than it was in 1995.
It's incredible how before his time Papanek was, or it at least feels that way.

[mahatmanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

ini buku sulit dikatakan 'sudah' dibaca. karena buku ini senantiasa saya baca. beberapa kali saya bolak-balik padanya, nyari kutipan darinya atau nyari fakta lain yang diungkapkannya. ini semua karena buku ini memang inspiratif. baru kali ini saya masukkan di goodreads karena justru saking deketnya sehingga terlewat oleh mata.
buku ini menyambung buku papanek sebelumnya "design for the real world". termasuk juga mengulang pendefinisian "fungsi" yang secara baru dia bikin.
di buku ini tindakan disain, dan keputusan-keputusan yang diambil di dalamnya ditimbang secara etik, khususnya etika lingkungan hidup. bahwa semua tindak disain yang mengubah alam 'natural' menjadi alam 'kultural' ini jelas-jelas punya konsekuensi ekologis yang belum dipikirkan mendalam dampaknya. membuat pensil,setip, kertas yang memungkinkan kita mengurai gagasan itu saja sudah punya dampak ekologis. belum lagi membangun rumah, apartemen atau bahkan kota.
so, membantah heroisasi arsitek dan urban planner, buku ini justru memerlihatkan betapa lemahnya mereka... dan betapa kuatnya ide modernitas itu sudah mencederai manusia penggagasnya sendiri.
terdengar romantik?
agaknya demikian! he..he..

[Jessika Hepburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read on the role of design in our remaking of the world and the ethics of designing for ecological impact. This work helped introduce concepts like “design for disassembly” that have heavily influenced product design and led to the development of IKEA type production. He would likely be horrified at how his more radical ideas of designing for sustainability and our ethical obligation to do so have been interpreted as design for disposability instead.

[Amber]

I had the honor of having this man as a professor so it holds a special place for me.

[Ilja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say really.. Every single human being on this planet should be familiar with the contents of this incredible book. Period.

[Jenina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely and timeless. The cerebral and the material.

A material imagination and intelligence: to understand materials means to be able to tell histories of what they do, why the structure was built, why some materials are preferred over others, what happens to them if they are treated in particular ways, and what meanings are associated with its plan-form.

In Françoise Mouly’s interview for Apartamento, she spoke about the holistic approach of the architecture education. While not everyone should be an (licensed) architect, everyone might benefit from the physical ways of communicating and representing ideas that the training can impart through sketches, plans, elevations, perspective drawings, models, etc. Papanek echoes this idea of a studio training in design and architecture: the hands-on performance, solution-seeking mindset, verbal and non-verbal communication, design crits, and self-criticism. It's a kind of training that prepares you outside the studio — molding you for life.

I’ll always be grateful that the other half of my college education was an architecture and design one. I'm more grateful that the overall education I received at Berkeley was an interdisciplinary education and training that taught me critical thinking, how to develop a perspective, and the iterative process of synthesis.

Papanek ends the book with a simple task for designers: to not aspire for grand spectacles — just great refinement, elegance, subtlety, high level of craftsmanship, and a deep commitment to practice and experience of all the arts. Simple materials and concrete gestures.

[Juliet Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a useful and insightful book for anyone interested in making design more ecofriendly and at the same time more human friendly (ie design that takes people's real needs into account instead of becoming obsessed with aesthetics for the sake of aesthetics). Papanek looks at designs for buildings and machines with an eye to using ecofriendly materials and ways of extending the lifestyle of items. He looks at designs made by various peoples across the world including a fascinating chapter on Inuit design (he spent a lot of time with Inuit people).

It's a book that fits neatly at the point between text book and creative non-fiction, being written in an engaging, accessible style and lavishly illustrated, while being creatively useful and informative. Ideal reading for anyone who designs things from architects to jewellery makers.

It feels like a very timely book.

Depressingly it was actually published in 1995 and this is the second time I've read it. Why are we so slow at doing the obvious? Why are so many new objects destructive of the environment in the way they are made, their short lifespan and the amount of waste that they produce?

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1995, this book has lost nothing of its importance. Problems highlighted back then, disappointingly, have not been addressed, let alone gone away. Papanek (and others) had insights and advocated for alternatives to relentless depletion of resources, wasteful design and packaging back then, but remained a minority. The most interesting chapter (10 - Generations to come) promotes design education from an early age, even as early as kindergarten. Fascinating and saddening at the same time.

[Carolina Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my precious references. Taught me how to be designer for behaviour change, by continually asking: "How can I apply this is my work?".

[NormaCenva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece, everyone should read it!

[Nicholas Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

eco-liberalism

[Mo]

This guy would be sent into a coma if he found out how Amazon operates in 2023

[Sasha Bernevega · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of overlap with “Design for the real world”. I’d say read either one of them. Still an excellent read for modern commercial designers

[Alira · Rating 4 out of 5]

He leido esta edición concretamente, como puede un libro de diseño tener una portada tan esperpentuosamente fea?

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on the need to change the way we design the entire spectrum of human artifacts, from buildings to automobiles to snackbars. Papanek discusses how product design should go far beyond aesthetics. Products can and should be designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly, conducive to human health, and easy to use and repair. He relates his own experiences in the design of a wide range of products and how he used his position as a designer to advocate this agenda. The text is largely engaging and easy to read. This is a good primer for anyone entering a field of product engineering or design.

[Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Directing how to design in Urban and Modern times ... why don't we use organic elements ? Tropical building must have more window or boxes hole to exhaust wind , more oxygen more better .

More woods, leafs, ceramics and recycled paper . Processing reuse trashes to be new material . Anti pollution, illegal lgging, world wildlife fund, balaclava, and traditional design may not been degradated by modern design , but must be renewal .

[Dalibor Chrápek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up 20% in and skimmed through the rest. The book might have been readable the year it was first published (1995), but its supposedly revised edition (2021) was incredibly irrelevant, outdated, boring and laughable, and read EXACTLY as if it were indeed 1995. The style didn’t sit well with me wither. Weird weird weird reading and a bad omen for the rest of the year since it is 1st January 🙂

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oddly, there are quite a large number of typographical errors in this book. Despite this, it is almost as good as Design for the Real World, and it sits right next door on my bookshelf. Another must read for designers and architects.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was good. Yeah, it probably was.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great design and architecture.

[John Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st half - design, 2nd half - architecture