For Immediate Release: April 18, 2007
Media Contacts: Emma Filar, Marketing & Communications Associate
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The Green House and Earth Day: News Release
The National Building Museum’s exhibition The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design shows how going “green” starts at home
WASHINGTON, DC—This Earth Day visit the National Building Museum's exhibition The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design and join the tens of thousands of people who have already discovered how even small decisions—such as what kinds of light bulbs, bamboo, or paint to use can have significant environmental, health, and economic impacts.
The Green House, deemed by Newsweek as a "must see," is the first exhibition to explore in a more comprehensive way the growing mandate for green design in houses and apartments. Featuring an international survey of 20 contemporary residences plus a full-size, furnished version of architect Michelle Kaufmann's Glidehouse™, and a materials resource room with 60 different green materials from carpets to countertops on display, The Green House illustrates the inherent compatibility of environmental priorities, comfort, and aesthetics.
"The National Building Museum is uniquely suited to the task of bringing the nuts and bolts, as well as the theory, of sustainable home design and practices to the attention of Americans," says the Museum's Executive Director, Chase Rynd. "We consider it our responsibility to advocate a future in which it is taken for granted that environmental sensitivity is essential to building."
The Green House has been very successful. Since its opening in May 2006, it has been visited by more than 100,000 people, making it one of the most popular exhibitions in the Museum's history. Not only has the exhibition garnered significant media attention, reaching an estimated 13 million homes through CBS Sunday Morning, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Newsweek, Elle, The Washington Post, and New York Times features, but it has also received acclaim from the visitors. One visitor from San Francisco, CA, wrote: "Very complete and informative overview…covered so many spectrums of how to make sustainable practices part of everyday life, wherever and however you live." Another from Edison, NJ, wrote that the exhibition "increased my awareness of green architectural products and manufacturers many times over."
Extended by popular demand through June 24, The Green House is complemented by a fully illustrated catalogue of the same name, along with a free green resource guide featuring a glossary of green terms, directories of leading architects, interior designers, advocacy groups, and others, and listings of additional green building and design resources, and a dynamic website.
In keeping with its role as an advocate of environmentally friendly design, the Museum developed a comprehensive educational programming schedule in conjunction with the exhibition. From scholarly symposia to youth and family programs, the Museum offered numerous ways to learn about "green" design. In fact, the Museum dubbed the autumn of 2006 "The Green Fall". Programming highlights from the entire schedule include:
- A day-long event, Greenovation: An Expo for the Home which featured vendors, product demonstrations, and five 45-minute seminars on green renovation topics led by nationally-recognized experts. More than 2,300 people attended this event.
- Two green school programs entitled Green by Design and Be a Green Builder, which have been attended by more than 1650 students since October 2006.
- A green family program, Was Kermit Wrong: Is it Easy to be 'Green'?, in which children designed their very own green roofs.
- An installment of the Museum's Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP) outreach program for at-risk youth in which participants designed collection boxes for the Museum using only recycled and sustainable materials.
The Museum will offer a variety of green programming for the remainder of the exhibition and beyond. Upcoming events include a May 30th symposium entitled Sustainable Design: New Directions in Affordable Housing that will explore how government, business, and the nonprofit sectors can work together to achieve sustainable and healthier affordable housing options for Americans. Information on this and other "green" programming is available at www.nbm.org.
After closing in June, The Green House will embark on a tour across the U.S. from fall 2007 through 2009. Confirmed venues include the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois (January–May 4, 2008), and the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ (May 20–November 1, 2008). With expressions of interest from institutions in Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas, The Green House may soon be coming to a city near you.
The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design is presented by The Home Depot Foundation with generous support from the ASID Foundation of the American Society of Interior Designers, Bosch home appliances, Portland Cement Association, Benjamin Moore® Paints, EPA/Energy Star, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Band Inc., Global Green, James G. Davis Construction Corporation, The American Institute of Architects, National Association of Home Builders, Smith & Fong Plyboo®, U.S. Green Building Council, 3form Inc., Andersen Corporation, Brighton Cabinetry, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC, MBCI, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, and The Tower Companies. Dwell is the exclusive media partner.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
