Hannover Principles
Encyclopedia
The Hannover Principles is a set of statements about designing buildings and objects with forethought about their environmental impact, their effect on the sustainability
of growth, and their overall impact on society. They were first formulated by William McDonough
and Michael Braungart
for planning Expo 2000
in Hanover
and are presented in a copyrighted 1992 document.
The principles may be summarized as:
The original document states: "The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves."
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
of growth, and their overall impact on society. They were first formulated by William McDonough
William McDonough
William Andrews McDonough is an American architect, founding principal of , co-founder of with German chemist Michael Braungart as well as co-author of also with Braungart...
and Michael Braungart
Michael Braungart
Michael Braungart is a German chemist who advocates that humans can reduce our negative environmental impact by redesigning industrial production processes...
for planning Expo 2000
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and are presented in a copyrighted 1992 document.
The principles may be summarized as:
- Insist on human rights and sustainability.
- Recognize the interaction of design with the environment.
- Consider the social and spiritual aspects of buildings and designed objects.
- Be responsible for the effect of design decisions.
- Ensure that objects have long-term value.
- Eliminate waste and consider the entire life-cycle of designed objects.
- Make use of "natural energy flows" such as solar power and its derivatives.
- Be humble, and use nature as a model for design.
- Share knowledge, strive for continuous improvement, and encourage open communication among stakeholders.
The original document states: "The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves."
External links
- Waste = Food Documentary - An inspiring documentary on the Cradle to Cradle design concept of Michael Braungart and William McDonough.
- The Hannover Principles
- "The Next Industrial Revolution", a Documentary film about William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- The Promise of Principled Design: Reflections on the Hannover Principles 10 years later, by Teresa Heinz, April 2003.