Even with all the knowledge and wisdom we can acquire, combined with the best of collective intentions, it will always be the case, that ultimately we have to balance what’s desirable with what’s possible. But what’s possible always proceeds us, like a carrot in front of our nose. Yet yesterday's dreams, could have been today’s reality... and perhaps todays dreams, can become real tomorrow. “Too often budget restrictions are used as the reason why good design is not possible, but the vernacular demonstrates over and over that fine, low-budget, small-scale design is possible if the designer [builder and inhabitant] cares.” [Wayne Attoe: The Architecture of Ricardo Legorreta] In this case, the project is a new rural family residence for a couple and their son, with an adjacent cottage for their aging parents. With a collective desire to design, build and live in the most ecologically responsible manner possible, the challenge is to integrate as many environmentally beneficial principles as logistics and budget constraints will allow. The result is a collaborative choreography of site, structure, materials selection, and sequence. The appropriate criteria by which a given structural system or material should be specified, is relative to the total system performance and longevity. Optimized performance is achieved through the correct interrelationship of elements, to maximize the greatest cumulative benefit. For example, the high embodied energy and pollution from the manufacture of extruded polystyrene [XPS] insulation is undesirable. However, because of its high R-value, moisture resistance, compressive strength, and dimensional stability, it is currently the best insulation available for below grade applications. Its use makes a living sod roof practical, which may have an enormous overall positive impact, but otherwise might not even be possible. "The most elegant design solutions... those that reduce complexity while solving multiple problems... won't be found by considering each item in isolation." [Alex Wilson and Nadav Malin: Environmental Building News, 10.95] In keeping with the principles and intentions cited earlier, the decision was made to build a [passive solar / straw bale and heavy timber / living roof] home. / Master of Architecture