ABSTRACT
The design studio is where the architectural action is. There are many ways for a building to obtain green status. This may be done formally via a rating system or informally through a focus on superior performance. Design is a multifaceted pursuit. It is at once cultural, technical, formal, and programmatic. An emphasis on one or another of design's facets affects the outcome of the pursuit and its resulting architectural expression. A comparison of two buildings by two Italian architects practicing in the early twentieth century reveals striking differences emerging from design emphasis. The architect's role is transformed from a specialist of form to a generalist of building performance—perhaps a reversion to the earlier days of design. This transformation represents an opportunity for innovation and can greatly affect our understanding of design. The architectural program developed by the architect and client determines the underlying potential for building performance.
