[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the way we build our buildings is stupid
the way we build our buildings is stupid
the way we build our buildings is stupid we mined valuable resources out of the
we mined valuable resources out of the
we mined valuable resources out of the earth we schlepped them on fossil fuel
earth we schlepped them on fossil fuel
earth we schlepped them on fossil fuel based ships all over the planet and when
based ships all over the planet and when
based ships all over the planet and when they arrived on the site they have to be
they arrived on the site they have to be
they arrived on the site they have to be put together by hand every building is a
put together by hand every building is a
put together by hand every building is a bespoke prototype every building is a
bespoke prototype every building is a
bespoke prototype every building is a one-off and we’ve been doing it this way
one-off and we’ve been doing it this way
one-off and we’ve been doing it this way for 200 years
for 200 years
for 200 years and our buildings are failing us they
and our buildings are failing us they
and our buildings are failing us they don’t work I’ll show you what I mean
don’t work I’ll show you what I mean
don’t work I’ll show you what I mean this is a building in 1917 and this is
this is a building in 1917 and this is
this is a building in 1917 and this is today it’s the exact same technology I
today it’s the exact same technology I
today it’s the exact same technology I would show you one from 1817 but cameras
would show you one from 1817 but cameras
would show you one from 1817 but cameras hadn’t been invented yet do you see what
hadn’t been invented yet do you see what
hadn’t been invented yet do you see what I’m saying you could essentially
I’m saying you could essentially
I’m saying you could essentially resurrect a zombie from the Civil War
resurrect a zombie from the Civil War
resurrect a zombie from the Civil War put him on a job site and he’d go right
put him on a job site and he’d go right
put him on a job site and he’d go right to work and that’s convenient but we’ve
to work and that’s convenient but we’ve
to work and that’s convenient but we’ve learned so much in the last 200 years
learned so much in the last 200 years
learned so much in the last 200 years they didn’t know then what we now know
they didn’t know then what we now know
they didn’t know then what we now know about cancer or endocrine disruption or
about cancer or endocrine disruption or
about cancer or endocrine disruption or indoor air quality so as John Oliver
indoor air quality so as John Oliver
indoor air quality so as John Oliver would say how is this still a thing not
would say how is this still a thing not
would say how is this still a thing not to mention the fact of how buildings are
to mention the fact of how buildings are
to mention the fact of how buildings are the largest contributors to climate
the largest contributors to climate
the largest contributors to climate change by the way I don’t even call it
change by the way I don’t even call it
change by the way I don’t even call it climate change anymore it’s too Pleasant
climate change anymore it’s too Pleasant
climate change anymore it’s too Pleasant I just call it chlamydia because nobody
I just call it chlamydia because nobody
I just call it chlamydia because nobody nobody wants that
so how do we fix this buildings require
so how do we fix this buildings require massive resources massive energy if the
massive resources massive energy if the
massive resources massive energy if the building is too hot you put in energy if
building is too hot you put in energy if
building is too hot you put in energy if it’s too cold you put in energy and our
it’s too cold you put in energy and our
it’s too cold you put in energy and our buildings are killing us by the way
buildings are killing us by the way
buildings are killing us by the way they’re making us all sick so we need
they’re making us all sick so we need
they’re making us all sick so we need regenerative healthful abundant
regenerative healthful abundant
regenerative healthful abundant buildings so pick your market failure
buildings so pick your market failure
buildings so pick your market failure whatever you want labor waste materials
whatever you want labor waste materials
whatever you want labor waste materials climate it doesn’t matter it’s failing
climate it doesn’t matter it’s failing
climate it doesn’t matter it’s failing on every level not to mention the fact
on every level not to mention the fact
on every level not to mention the fact that nobody likes us I don’t you just
that nobody likes us I don’t you just
that nobody likes us I don’t you just Google contractors and architects you’ll
Google contractors and architects you’ll
Google contractors and architects you’ll see what I mean they hate us come on now
see what I mean they hate us come on now
see what I mean they hate us come on now everybody in this room probably is a
everybody in this room probably is a
everybody in this room probably is a contractor story by the way you can
contractor story by the way you can
contractor story by the way you can learn a lot by googling things I didn’t
learn a lot by googling things I didn’t
learn a lot by googling things I didn’t know that you could accidentally kill
know that you could accidentally kill
know that you could accidentally kill your sister I didn’t that was a I don’t
your sister I didn’t that was a I don’t
your sister I didn’t that was a I don’t know that was a thing the role of
know that was a thing the role of
know that was a thing the role of sustainability is to give us a brighter
sustainability is to give us a brighter
sustainability is to give us a brighter future and frankly I’m trying to give us
future and frankly I’m trying to give us
future and frankly I’m trying to give us a future Star Trek and not Mad Max
a future Star Trek and not Mad Max
a future Star Trek and not Mad Max that’s the future that I’m going for and
that’s the future that I’m going for and
that’s the future that I’m going for and then thank you mom and then and what’s
then thank you mom and then and what’s
then thank you mom and then and what’s interesting is it’s more than just
interesting is it’s more than just
interesting is it’s more than just buildings do you realize that after we
buildings do you realize that after we
buildings do you realize that after we ban LED paint in buildings the crime
ban LED paint in buildings the crime
ban LED paint in buildings the crime rate went down so it’s tied to something
rate went down so it’s tied to something
rate went down so it’s tied to something much bigger because this is not
much bigger because this is not
much bigger because this is not Photoshop this is us designing buildings
Photoshop this is us designing buildings
Photoshop this is us designing buildings pretending it’s wintertime and we’ll
pretending it’s wintertime and we’ll
pretending it’s wintertime and we’ll never need air conditioning it’s
never need air conditioning it’s
never need air conditioning it’s incredibly short-sighted and the current
incredibly short-sighted and the current
incredibly short-sighted and the current state of Green Building alone is not
state of Green Building alone is not
state of Green Building alone is not going to cut it so building Barbies and
going to cut it so building Barbies and
going to cut it so building Barbies and that’s our energy dream house it’s nice
that’s our energy dream house it’s nice
that’s our energy dream house it’s nice but it’s not enough we need a disruption
but it’s not enough we need a disruption
but it’s not enough we need a disruption we need a paradigm shift we need a
we need a paradigm shift we need a
we need a paradigm shift we need a transformation and it’s got to come from
transformation and it’s got to come from
transformation and it’s got to come from outside it won’t come from within no
outside it won’t come from within no
outside it won’t come from within no candle manufacturer invented a light
candle manufacturer invented a light
candle manufacturer invented a light bulb right the post office did not
bulb right the post office did not
bulb right the post office did not invent email if you want a
invent email if you want a
invent email if you want a transformation it’s got to come from
transformation it’s got to come from
transformation it’s got to come from outside now I used to work for students
outside now I used to work for students
outside now I used to work for students in Frank Lloyd Wright and mr. Wright
in Frank Lloyd Wright and mr. Wright
in Frank Lloyd Wright and mr. Wright used to describe what he called organic
used to describe what he called organic
used to describe what he called organic architecture he even used biological
architecture he even used biological
architecture he even used biological terms to describe what we would do that
terms to describe what we would do that
terms to describe what we would do that a building would grow from its site that
a building would grow from its site that
a building would grow from its site that it was respond to its surroundings and
it was respond to its surroundings and
it was respond to its surroundings and for 25 years I built buildings like this
for 25 years I built buildings like this
for 25 years I built buildings like this that I called healthy
that I called healthy
that I called healthy buildings but they’re not healthy
buildings but they’re not healthy
buildings but they’re not healthy building so what do I really want here
that’s what I what life real life that’s
that’s what I what life real life that’s what we need we know that certain
what we need we know that certain
what we need we know that certain buildings are going to continue to
buildings are going to continue to
buildings are going to continue to progress the way they are we know
progress the way they are we know
progress the way they are we know building materials are continued get
building materials are continued get
building materials are continued get more and more transparent in their
more and more transparent in their
more and more transparent in their materials that continued to be less and
materials that continued to be less and
materials that continued to be less and less toxic less and less bad but they’ll
less toxic less and less bad but they’ll
less toxic less and less bad but they’ll never be good for you and they’ll
never be good for you and they’ll
never be good for you and they’ll continue to get better and better source
continue to get better and better source
continue to get better and better source what we’re doing is we’re building these
what we’re doing is we’re building these
what we’re doing is we’re building these living walls I’ve done a lot of these
living walls I’ve done a lot of these
living walls I’ve done a lot of these they’re beautiful right this is a living
they’re beautiful right this is a living
they’re beautiful right this is a living roof its nature but on top of dead toxic
roof its nature but on top of dead toxic
roof its nature but on top of dead toxic material it’s missing the opportunity
material it’s missing the opportunity
material it’s missing the opportunity what if instead our buildings were
what if instead our buildings were
what if instead our buildings were actually alive
actually alive
actually alive what if they breathed what if they could
what if they breathed what if they could
what if they breathed what if they could grow what if they could heal within
grow what if they could heal within
grow what if they could heal within construction there’s this small subset
construction there’s this small subset
construction there’s this small subset called green building right and there’s
called green building right and there’s
called green building right and there’s an opportunity that’s about to pass us
an opportunity that’s about to pass us
an opportunity that’s about to pass us by unless we seize on it an opportunity
by unless we seize on it an opportunity
by unless we seize on it an opportunity across DNA and biology that if we tap
across DNA and biology that if we tap
across DNA and biology that if we tap into a transform how we build our
into a transform how we build our
into a transform how we build our buildings and that’s my big idea and I
buildings and that’s my big idea and I
buildings and that’s my big idea and I call it frankly Pro struction Pro
call it frankly Pro struction Pro
call it frankly Pro struction Pro struction is the opposite of
struction is the opposite of
struction is the opposite of construction right it’s building the way
construction right it’s building the way
construction right it’s building the way nature does using nature’s technology
nature does using nature’s technology
nature does using nature’s technology how do you like that
how do you like that
how do you like that and I know it sounds science-fiction but
and I know it sounds science-fiction but
and I know it sounds science-fiction but it’s actually possible and there are
it’s actually possible and there are
it’s actually possible and there are architects working today to make this a
architects working today to make this a
architects working today to make this a reality if you look at the trends you
reality if you look at the trends you
reality if you look at the trends you can see what I’m talking about forever
can see what I’m talking about forever
can see what I’m talking about forever we’ve had low emitting materials then we
we’ve had low emitting materials then we
we’ve had low emitting materials then we had zero vo C type materials you can get
had zero vo C type materials you can get
had zero vo C type materials you can get those at Lowe’s if you like right then
those at Lowe’s if you like right then
those at Lowe’s if you like right then we had agricultural waste based products
we had agricultural waste based products
we had agricultural waste based products they’re very pretty and then now there’s
they’re very pretty and then now there’s
they’re very pretty and then now there’s an explosion in bio-based materials
an explosion in bio-based materials
an explosion in bio-based materials right now it’s a 65 billion dollar
right now it’s a 65 billion dollar
right now it’s a 65 billion dollar market it’s about to be a 500 billion in
market it’s about to be a 500 billion in
market it’s about to be a 500 billion in the next 10 years and if you see how the
the next 10 years and if you see how the
the next 10 years and if you see how the trends stack up you can see that living
trends stack up you can see that living
trends stack up you can see that living materials are almost inevitable what’s
materials are almost inevitable what’s
materials are almost inevitable what’s driving all this is for the first time
driving all this is for the first time
driving all this is for the first time in human history we now know why zebra
in human history we now know why zebra
in human history we now know why zebra gets its stripes we know how a leaf
gets its stripes we know how a leaf
gets its stripes we know how a leaf heals itself we know why the firefly
heals itself we know why the firefly
heals itself we know why the firefly glows and all of making it possible is
glows and all of making it possible is
glows and all of making it possible is DNA that for the first time ever human
DNA that for the first time ever human
DNA that for the first time ever human beings can easily catalog replicate and
beings can easily catalog replicate and
beings can easily catalog replicate and replace DNA and the cost of which just
replace DNA and the cost of which just
replace DNA and the cost of which just keeps going down if you go to MIT
keeps going down if you go to MIT
keeps going down if you go to MIT synthetic biology website growing a
synthetic biology website growing a
synthetic biology website growing a house is on their to-do
house is on their to-do
house is on their to-do so we’ve been talking about this for 20
so we’ve been talking about this for 20
so we’ve been talking about this for 20 years so I went to MIT and I met with
years so I went to MIT and I met with
years so I went to MIT and I met with their head of synthetic biology
their head of synthetic biology
their head of synthetic biology professor Ron Weiss lovely guy this is
professor Ron Weiss lovely guy this is
professor Ron Weiss lovely guy this is his office by the way here’s here’s how
his office by the way here’s here’s how
his office by the way here’s here’s how smart he is that’s his lunch order do
smart he is that’s his lunch order do
smart he is that’s his lunch order do you see what I’m saying like he’s on a
you see what I’m saying like he’s on a
you see what I’m saying like he’s on a he’s on a whole other level than you and
he’s on a whole other level than you and
he’s on a whole other level than you and me and I said to him how would I grow a
me and I said to him how would I grow a
me and I said to him how would I grow a building I said what if I wanted the
building I said what if I wanted the
building I said what if I wanted the walls to absorb chemicals he said well
walls to absorb chemicals he said well
walls to absorb chemicals he said well that’s easy I said what if I wanted it
that’s easy I said what if I wanted it
that’s easy I said what if I wanted it to glow he said oh that’s easy I said
to glow he said oh that’s easy I said
to glow he said oh that’s easy I said what if I wanted to heal itself easy I
what if I wanted to heal itself easy I
what if I wanted to heal itself easy I started to get very uneasy by his use of
started to get very uneasy by his use of
started to get very uneasy by his use of the word E it’s not very scientific term
the word E it’s not very scientific term
the word E it’s not very scientific term DZ and I said why is it so easy and he
DZ and I said why is it so easy and he
DZ and I said why is it so easy and he said we already know how nature does
said we already know how nature does
said we already know how nature does this we drag and drop them like software
this we drag and drop them like software
this we drag and drop them like software packages it’s easy I said okay if it’s
packages it’s easy I said okay if it’s
packages it’s easy I said okay if it’s so easy what’s hard
so easy what’s hard
so easy what’s hard and he said well buildings are kind of
and he said well buildings are kind of
and he said well buildings are kind of big and we have trouble growing big
big and we have trouble growing big
big and we have trouble growing big things like nature and we realized that
things like nature and we realized that
things like nature and we realized that if we start growing buildings and start
if we start growing buildings and start
if we start growing buildings and start to really get good at that
to really get good at that
to really get good at that it could help him solve his problem with
it could help him solve his problem with
it could help him solve his problem with growing organs and other things I also
growing organs and other things I also
growing organs and other things I also then asked him how do we prevent I don’t
then asked him how do we prevent I don’t
then asked him how do we prevent I don’t know Jurassic Park from happening how do
know Jurassic Park from happening how do
know Jurassic Park from happening how do we keep that from happening
we keep that from happening
we keep that from happening and he just said well first of all your
and he just said well first of all your
and he just said well first of all your buildings not gonna chase you through a
buildings not gonna chase you through a
buildings not gonna chase you through a kitchen and if it does try to eat you
kitchen and if it does try to eat you
kitchen and if it does try to eat you it’ll do it really slowly and I said is
it’ll do it really slowly and I said is
it’ll do it really slowly and I said is that biology humor and he said yes so
that biology humor and he said yes so
that biology humor and he said yes so there you go the way nature builds
there you go the way nature builds
there you go the way nature builds things is it creates what’s called a
things is it creates what’s called a
things is it creates what’s called a scaffold this is a scaffold this is
scaffold this is a scaffold this is
scaffold this is a scaffold this is coconut husk right and Apple is mostly
coconut husk right and Apple is mostly
coconut husk right and Apple is mostly scaffold with Apple DNA in it and when I
scaffold with Apple DNA in it and when I
scaffold with Apple DNA in it and when I think of scaffold I think of this
think of scaffold I think of this
think of scaffold I think of this frankly and that’s what it is it’s
frankly and that’s what it is it’s
frankly and that’s what it is it’s basically a structure that things grow
basically a structure that things grow
basically a structure that things grow over you our scaffold you’re a skeleton
over you our scaffold you’re a skeleton
over you our scaffold you’re a skeleton with you know ponch’s of fat on it right
with you know ponch’s of fat on it right
with you know ponch’s of fat on it right and nature has a variety of ways that it
and nature has a variety of ways that it
and nature has a variety of ways that it builds scaffolding and it more
builds scaffolding and it more
builds scaffolding and it more importantly it built scaffolding at room
importantly it built scaffolding at room
importantly it built scaffolding at room temperature without heat or pressure or
temperature without heat or pressure or
temperature without heat or pressure or fossil fuels and the results are
fossil fuels and the results are
fossil fuels and the results are incredible what nature can do a wealth
incredible what nature can do a wealth
incredible what nature can do a wealth of form and color and geometry and shape
of form and color and geometry and shape
of form and color and geometry and shape so this is what’s possible and I know
so this is what’s possible and I know
so this is what’s possible and I know you’re thinking plant-based right that’s
you’re thinking plant-based right that’s
you’re thinking plant-based right that’s what most people think but actually we
what most people think but actually we
what most people think but actually we expect that whoever does this it would
expect that whoever does this it would
expect that whoever does this it would be a variety of techno
be a variety of techno
be a variety of techno from nature plant-based mixed with
from nature plant-based mixed with
from nature plant-based mixed with fungal mixed with polymers who knows
fungal mixed with polymers who knows
fungal mixed with polymers who knows what and just one of these innovations
what and just one of these innovations
what and just one of these innovations could radically transform how we build
could radically transform how we build
could radically transform how we build our buildings think about your arm have
our buildings think about your arm have
our buildings think about your arm have a thins out in the middle and thickens
a thins out in the middle and thickens
a thins out in the middle and thickens at the point of higher stress all out of
at the point of higher stress all out of
at the point of higher stress all out of material that’s four times the strength
material that’s four times the strength
material that’s four times the strength of concrete and half the weight by the
of concrete and half the weight by the
of concrete and half the weight by the way it’s amazing construction keeps
way it’s amazing construction keeps
way it’s amazing construction keeps using co2 as a waste product
using co2 as a waste product
using co2 as a waste product pro struction uses it as a building
pro struction uses it as a building
pro struction uses it as a building block in construction we have to layer
block in construction we have to layer
block in construction we have to layer things over one another structure and
things over one another structure and
things over one another structure and form and lighting and plumbing
form and lighting and plumbing
form and lighting and plumbing infrastructure everything grows together
infrastructure everything grows together
infrastructure everything grows together we can move away from this idea of mass
we can move away from this idea of mass
we can move away from this idea of mass production into mass customization every
production into mass customization every
production into mass customization every building could be unique and instead of
building could be unique and instead of
building could be unique and instead of painting at every three to five years
painting at every three to five years
painting at every three to five years the pigment could come from within you
the pigment could come from within you
the pigment could come from within you wouldn’t need lighting anymore because
wouldn’t need lighting anymore because
wouldn’t need lighting anymore because the whole service could glow every
the whole service could glow every
the whole service could glow every building could be a LEED certified
building could be a LEED certified
building could be a LEED certified building every building could be a
building every building could be a
building every building could be a Living Building Challenge building every
Living Building Challenge building every
Living Building Challenge building every surface could be a smoke detector and if
surface could be a smoke detector and if
surface could be a smoke detector and if you pull a nail out of the wall the wall
you pull a nail out of the wall the wall
you pull a nail out of the wall the wall could heal the same way your own skin
could heal the same way your own skin
could heal the same way your own skin does that’s what’s possible you could
does that’s what’s possible you could
does that’s what’s possible you could even change the color of the house based
even change the color of the house based
even change the color of the house based on your mood or the time of year so if
on your mood or the time of year so if
on your mood or the time of year so if it’s October make the walls orange for
it’s October make the walls orange for
it’s October make the walls orange for Halloween go nuts every surface could
Halloween go nuts every surface could
Halloween go nuts every surface could absorb chemicals and carbon and
absorb chemicals and carbon and
absorb chemicals and carbon and transform a lot of other things and this
transform a lot of other things and this
transform a lot of other things and this is very much designed to work with
is very much designed to work with
is very much designed to work with existing buildings so grow your shell
existing buildings so grow your shell
existing buildings so grow your shell and put in your crappy IKEA cabinets if
and put in your crappy IKEA cabinets if
and put in your crappy IKEA cabinets if you want and rip them out in five years
you want and rip them out in five years
you want and rip them out in five years who cares we could even embed the
who cares we could even embed the
who cares we could even embed the building code itself into what we grow
building code itself into what we grow
building code itself into what we grow so if you grew a stair it would
so if you grew a stair it would
so if you grew a stair it would automatically meet code you wouldn’t
automatically meet code you wouldn’t
automatically meet code you wouldn’t need building inspectors anymore and
need building inspectors anymore and
need building inspectors anymore and nobody’s gonna miss them believe me
nobody’s gonna miss them believe me
nobody’s gonna miss them believe me imagine every surface a sensor a battery
imagine every surface a sensor a battery
imagine every surface a sensor a battery a heat sink so let’s grow our buildings
a heat sink so let’s grow our buildings
a heat sink so let’s grow our buildings we are not the first creatures to grow
we are not the first creatures to grow
we are not the first creatures to grow things on this planet lots of creatures
things on this planet lots of creatures
things on this planet lots of creatures grow things this is the silken spider it
grow things this is the silken spider it
grow things this is the silken spider it builds a fence around its nest to
builds a fence around its nest to
builds a fence around its nest to protect its young this is the bag worm
protect its young this is the bag worm
protect its young this is the bag worm loft it builds a pyramid which it then
loft it builds a pyramid which it then
loft it builds a pyramid which it then eats it’s fantastic and this little
eats it’s fantastic and this little
eats it’s fantastic and this little beauty this is the puffer fish it builds
beauty this is the puffer fish it builds
beauty this is the puffer fish it builds a geometric pattern on the floor to
a geometric pattern on the floor to
a geometric pattern on the floor to attract a mate to make up for its other
attract a mate to make up for its other
attract a mate to make up for its other shortcomings it’s amazing we suck at
shortcomings it’s amazing we suck at
shortcomings it’s amazing we suck at building what are we holding on to here
building what are we holding on to here
building what are we holding on to here we’re not very good at this
we’re not very good at this
we’re not very good at this sometimes it’s ridiculous and sometimes
sometimes it’s ridiculous and sometimes
sometimes it’s ridiculous and sometimes it’s catastrophic
it’s catastrophic
it’s catastrophic but we’re not good
but we’re not good
but we’re not good so let’s change this let’s switch from a
so let’s change this let’s switch from a
so let’s change this let’s switch from a paradigm of cut slash and burn to grow
paradigm of cut slash and burn to grow
paradigm of cut slash and burn to grow regenerate and breathe let’s use nature
regenerate and breathe let’s use nature
regenerate and breathe let’s use nature as the ultimate technology to make this
as the ultimate technology to make this
as the ultimate technology to make this possible I’ve been working with the
possible I’ve been working with the
possible I’ve been working with the XPrize foundation and we designed an X
XPrize foundation and we designed an X
XPrize foundation and we designed an X Prize for healthy homes to essentially
Prize for healthy homes to essentially
Prize for healthy homes to essentially grow buildings and if we do this we’re
grow buildings and if we do this we’re
grow buildings and if we do this we’re providing an abundant future of healthy
providing an abundant future of healthy
providing an abundant future of healthy buildings for everybody and that’s the
buildings for everybody and that’s the
buildings for everybody and that’s the real pot of gold at the end of the
real pot of gold at the end of the
real pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
rainbow
rainbow that’s redefining the American dream for
that’s redefining the American dream for
that’s redefining the American dream for everybody and frankly it’s inventing a
everybody and frankly it’s inventing a
everybody and frankly it’s inventing a new version of victory for the whole
new version of victory for the whole
new version of victory for the whole world thank you very much
world thank you very much
world thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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