Joe Mamayek and I worked together in a large healthcare design firm in Boston. Like the American healthcare system, hospital design is complex and specialized. My focus was on clinical planning; making healthcare facilities that streamlined processes and accommodated medical technology. Joe embraced broader issues of context and connection. During a project’s conceptual phase, Joe created elaborative, evocative image boards, collages of visual ideas that reflected our client’s aspirations. When Joe sent me this response to ‘How will we live tomorrow?’ I asked him for images to accompany his words. As always, what he sent are beautiful and meaningful.

How will we live tomorrow?

“How will we live tomorrow is probably best answered after we address, How should we live.

I was involved in a recent bike event where the proceeds went towards the education of children with a focus on planet ecology. Quite a noble effort and in every way commendable, until one understands the details.

Apparently, the education will enable/allow children to ‘inherit the Earth.’ What struck me was this mindset that we have this right or privilege to ‘inherit the Earth,’ when in fact, we should be willing partners … authoring solutions for co-existence.

Yes, having an ecological consciousness is key, but fundamentally, having the right attitude towards land value/ownership is essential.

Aldo Leopold was an environmentalist from my home state Wisconsin and I’ve found great wisdom in his writings through the years. Aldo developed a Land Ethic which reflects his belief that, “land is not a commodity to be possessed; rather, humans must have mutual respect for Earth in order not to destroy it.”

Could men actually be stewards of land without having an economic mindset of property lines, fences and dollar values? If so, then Man, without distractions of economics, can be an equal partner with the planet. Perhaps a tipping point is needed to help influence How We Will/Should Live Tomorrow.”