Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman--Including 10 More Years of Business Unusual

by Yvon Chouinard

Philosophy of Architecture The philosophy of clothing design is really no different from that for other products, including buildings. The following are guidelines we use in creating a new retail store or office building that will optimize esthetics, function, and responsibility. Don’t build a new building unless it’s absolutely necessary. The most responsible thing to do is to buy used buildings, construction materials, and furniture. Try to save old or historic buildings from being torn down. Any structural changes should honor the historical integrity of the building. We rectify misguided “improvements” made by previous tenants and strip away fake modern facades, ending up we hope with a building that is a “gift to the neighborhood.” If you can’t be retro, build quality. The esthetic life expectancy of the building should be as long as the physical material’s life span. Use recycled, and recyclable, materials like steel girders, studs, remilled wood, and straw bales. Install fixtures from waste materials like pressed sunflower hulls and agricultural waste. Anything that is built should be repairable and easily maintained. Buildings should be constructed to last as long as possible, even if this initially involves a higher price. Each store must be unique. The heroes, sports, history, and natural features of each area should be reflected and honored. —Y.C.

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