"This is the first of a series of diary entries from Solearth; as a practice we have a background of looking at architecture in terms of ecology that is to say, looking at the relationship of buildings and living systems.

This, we call 'vital design' - the composition of projects, whether buildings or communities, as vital systems, working with the planet's energy flows and material cycles.

This is broader than just issues of energy usage with which sustainability in architecture is at present largely preoccupied and encompasses themes such as water, health, waste, materials amongst others.

This is important, thinking holistically about projects is still an architect's privilege in a professional world that is increasingly specialised and one which we should not lightly surrender - the success of a project can depend on it.

It is also important not to think about sustainability being only concerned with Part L; even the energy mantra 'build tight-ventilate right' is only half fulfilled by many new buildings - the issue of occupant health cannot be forgotten.

In our drive towards energy efficiency we must not loose sight of the fact that good sustainable buildings are much more than draft sealing and efficient insulation and that architects who claim to be trained in sustainabilty must be able to deliver more than just this".

Mike Haslam MRIAI RIBA BSc B Arch(Hons) Bau-biologist, Partner Solearth Ecological Architecture, 62 Pleasant's Place, Dublin 8.

www.solearth.com

email: mike@solearth.com