Rob Harrison cPHc
@robharrisoncphc.bsky.social
passivhaus :: urbanism
+ bicycling :: sailing :: music :: local food
http://harrisonarchitects.com/
http://passivhaus.city/
+ bicycling :: sailing :: music :: local food
http://harrisonarchitects.com/
http://passivhaus.city/
Pinned
Manifesto - HARRISON architects
Click here to read our manifesto of lyrical sustainable design. The manifesto is in three parts – together they describe the principles behind our work, the techniques we use, and an excerpt of a para...
harrisonarchitects.com
Oh, hello Bluesky. 😊 An intro: I’ve been practicing and advocating for green architecture in Seattle since 1992, which led to taking the Passivhaus training in 2009. Climate change is a big driver, both personally and professionally. Read my 1992 manifesto here: harrisonarchitects.com/manifesto/
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
PSA for Seattle procrastinators: If you're voting today or tomorrow, USE A DROP BOX, NOT THE MAIL! The USPS won't guarantee your timely ballot is postmarked on time.
Locations of ballot boxes: cd.kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
More details: publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...
Locations of ballot boxes: cd.kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
More details: publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...
Post Office Delays Could Result in Uncounted Ballots; Harrell's Budget Increases Graffiti Spending 36 Percent - PubliCola
1. Mail processing delays could result in more invalidated mail-in ballots this year, and elections officials are advising voters to…
publicola.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
PSA for Seattle procrastinators: If you're voting today or tomorrow, USE A DROP BOX, NOT THE MAIL! The USPS won't guarantee your timely ballot is postmarked on time.
Locations of ballot boxes: cd.kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
More details: publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...
Locations of ballot boxes: cd.kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
More details: publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...
This applies to Seattle as well as Vancouver BC. Vote for @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social!
ELECTIONS MATTER, FOLKS. And if you love cities and understand the incredible role they play in our lives, remember that ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR REALLY MATTER.
Mayors have huge power over our quality of life, and even our lives. Don’t give that power to awful people who don’t understand better cities.
Mayors have huge power over our quality of life, and even our lives. Don’t give that power to awful people who don’t understand better cities.
November 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
This applies to Seattle as well as Vancouver BC. Vote for @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social!
I don’t care how much experience Bruce Harrell has—bad policy is still bad policy. #votekatiewilson
This sounds extreme, but is basically what many anti-homeless activists here in "blue" Seattle are advocating for: Involuntary commitment for homeless people with mental illness that manifests in visible symptoms, mandatory "accountability" for addicts, eliminating visible homelessness ("tents").
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I don’t care how much experience Bruce Harrell has—bad policy is still bad policy. #votekatiewilson
Awesome! I proposed this idea for increasing tree canopy and improving pedestrian safety by replacing parking with trees in 2018. harrisonarchitects.com/intersection...
October 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Awesome! I proposed this idea for increasing tree canopy and improving pedestrian safety by replacing parking with trees in 2018. harrisonarchitects.com/intersection...
@govjayinslee.bsky.social is on it. The linked article from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions includes changing zoning and building codes, in addition to climate mitigation, as necessary steps. Zoning and building codes are easier to implement and faster to change.
In our grief, we must realize that
while sirens can help, they cannot stop the source of increasing flooding. Only action against climate change, against pollution can truly protect us. Heat increases the capacity of the air to hold water. We can’t wait for sirens. www.c2es.org/content/extr...
while sirens can help, they cannot stop the source of increasing flooding. Only action against climate change, against pollution can truly protect us. Heat increases the capacity of the air to hold water. We can’t wait for sirens. www.c2es.org/content/extr...
Extreme Precipitation and Climate Change
www.c2es.org
July 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
@govjayinslee.bsky.social is on it. The linked article from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions includes changing zoning and building codes, in addition to climate mitigation, as necessary steps. Zoning and building codes are easier to implement and faster to change.
The flash flood news out of Kerr County, TX is tragic. We all want to prevent it from happening again and elsewhere. Lots of talk about better warning systems, better communication between local and NWS, etc. No one however has mentioned the idea of just not building in areas vulnerable to flooding.
July 9, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The flash flood news out of Kerr County, TX is tragic. We all want to prevent it from happening again and elsewhere. Lots of talk about better warning systems, better communication between local and NWS, etc. No one however has mentioned the idea of just not building in areas vulnerable to flooding.
And Seattle just spent, what, ten years? discussing whether to close Pike Place to cars. #seattleprocess
The strategy that Paris and Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social have used since her 2014 election has been a master class. Step by step, reflective of conditions & context (most in the city don’t drive), focused on quality of life, avoiding polarizing slogans, using referendums, proving it works.
Smart.
Smart.
Remember this? “Paris voters opted in a referendum to close 500 more city streets to cars, making way for pedestrians, bikers & greenery. The plan…will expand on a green push by Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social that has already seen 300 streets planted and cleared of cars since 2020.”
Leadership.
Leadership.
June 16, 2025 at 1:22 AM
And Seattle just spent, what, ten years? discussing whether to close Pike Place to cars. #seattleprocess
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
“This spring, Vienna passed a historic climate law, outlining a plan to get its climate pollution down to zero by 2040. Leaders see the city's vast social housing program as a critical tool.
Vienna has two types of social housing: city-owned & city-subsidized.” @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
Vienna has two types of social housing: city-owned & city-subsidized.” @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
June 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
“This spring, Vienna passed a historic climate law, outlining a plan to get its climate pollution down to zero by 2040. Leaders see the city's vast social housing program as a critical tool.
Vienna has two types of social housing: city-owned & city-subsidized.” @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
Vienna has two types of social housing: city-owned & city-subsidized.” @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
All the pro-housing legislation and zoning in the world mean nothing without the financial means to build housing. We need neighborhood-based crowd-funding for four-plexes, so people can develop their own lots.
Today in Seattle-
Good news: detached single family zoning is dead-now you can build a fourplex anywhere in NR.
Bad news: the local housing industry is also dead—only 379 new units under application in Q1 in Seattle.
Good news: detached single family zoning is dead-now you can build a fourplex anywhere in NR.
Bad news: the local housing industry is also dead—only 379 new units under application in Q1 in Seattle.
May 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM
All the pro-housing legislation and zoning in the world mean nothing without the financial means to build housing. We need neighborhood-based crowd-funding for four-plexes, so people can develop their own lots.
Glad to have played a role in one of Washington’s bills (HB 1183) that—along with major breakthrough legislation on TOD, parking reform, lot-splitting, middle housing and more—will make housing in our state more affordable and abundant. Thanks @sightline.org!
I'm calling it:
Washington has now accomplished more on statewide zoning reform than any other US state.
In the just ended 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers knocked out nation-leading parking and TOD bills, and more.
www.sightline.org/2025/05/15/w...
Washington has now accomplished more on statewide zoning reform than any other US state.
In the just ended 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers knocked out nation-leading parking and TOD bills, and more.
www.sightline.org/2025/05/15/w...
Washington Takes Statewide Zoning Reform to the Next Level | Sightline Institute
There’s a healthy competition brewing between states that are taking action for housing abundance. But as of May 2025, Washington leads the pack. Its legislature just passed best-in-the-US bills on bo...
www.sightline.org
May 16, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Glad to have played a role in one of Washington’s bills (HB 1183) that—along with major breakthrough legislation on TOD, parking reform, lot-splitting, middle housing and more—will make housing in our state more affordable and abundant. Thanks @sightline.org!
Perfect! Pierre Poilievre, for my American followers not tuned in to Canadian politics amidst all of our chaos, was the Trump-lite Conservative running against Mark Carney. Poilievre not only lost his bid for the PM role, but lost his seat in Parliament as well.
Bruce Fanjoy, who knocked off Pierre Poilievre in the biggest upset of the election, not only lives in a #passivhaus but touted it on the hustings and sold voters on energy efficiency. www.nationalobserver.com/2023/08/28/n...
This big blue house runs green and clean
A few years ago, Ottawa resident Bruce Fanjoy set out to build an energy-efficient house capable of producing all the power it needs. He succeeded.
www.nationalobserver.com
April 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Perfect! Pierre Poilievre, for my American followers not tuned in to Canadian politics amidst all of our chaos, was the Trump-lite Conservative running against Mark Carney. Poilievre not only lost his bid for the PM role, but lost his seat in Parliament as well.
I’m so proud of my Canadian friends for electing this remarkable man. Watch this speech. It brought tears to my eyes. 🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦
WATCH: Canadian Prime Minister isn’t a natural politician or orator, but I think you should watch his speech after last night’s victory. A bit nervous, humble, authentic, personal, casually funny, strong, ambitious, unifying, & in the end, truly inspiring.
The leader we need.
youtu.be/956Z6mnuOTQ
The leader we need.
youtu.be/956Z6mnuOTQ
Liberal Leader Mark Carney delivers victory speech
YouTube video by National Post
youtu.be
April 30, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I’m so proud of my Canadian friends for electing this remarkable man. Watch this speech. It brought tears to my eyes. 🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦
(Reposting to have on my feed for the next time saving a tree in an urban area is used as a justification for opposing new housing.)
Response From OSE!!!
The City has planted 22,700 trees in the last two years.
This is fantastic, and far in excess of the 1800 we lose, so we should see a growing tree canopy!!
We can have more trees and more housing and it helps that the city is planting thousands of public trees!!!
The City has planted 22,700 trees in the last two years.
This is fantastic, and far in excess of the 1800 we lose, so we should see a growing tree canopy!!
We can have more trees and more housing and it helps that the city is planting thousands of public trees!!!
April 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
(Reposting to have on my feed for the next time saving a tree in an urban area is used as a justification for opposing new housing.)
Protecting one’s house from wildfires is just wise and prudent financial planning, considering insurance payouts after a fire, if they are available at all, will never cover the cost of rebuilding. Build firewise, build Passivhaus.
That extremely basic climate-readiness proposals — like clearing five-foot safety perimeters around homes in wildfire zones — are still being argued over in even liberal cities tells us a lot about how ready the US is for the rapid worsening of the planetary crisis.
www.kqed.org/news/1203586...
www.kqed.org/news/1203586...
Berkeley Considers Controversial Plan to Require Vegetation Removal Near Homes in Fire Zones | KQED
The proposal, prompted by the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles in January, would initially apply to some 900 homes near Tilden Regional Park.
www.kqed.org
April 16, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Protecting one’s house from wildfires is just wise and prudent financial planning, considering insurance payouts after a fire, if they are available at all, will never cover the cost of rebuilding. Build firewise, build Passivhaus.
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
“The United States, with its enormous highways, sprawling suburbs and neglected public transport systems, is one of the most car-dependent countries in the world. But this arrangement of obligatory driving is making many Americans actively unhappy, new research has found.” Via @theguardian.com
How extreme car dependency is driving Americans to unhappiness
A car is often essential in the US but while owning a vehicle is better than not for life satisfaction, a study has found, having to drive too much sends happiness plummeting
www.theguardian.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:37 AM
“The United States, with its enormous highways, sprawling suburbs and neglected public transport systems, is one of the most car-dependent countries in the world. But this arrangement of obligatory driving is making many Americans actively unhappy, new research has found.” Via @theguardian.com
Representative Davina Duerr deserves massive, national props for writing this groundbreaking first-in-the-US bill and sticking with the ideas through two sessions. (Last year her HB 2071 got the ball rolling.) Thank you!
Thanks to @sightline.org, @michaeleliasso4.bsky.social and @robharrisoncphc.bsky.social for the ideas and support!
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Representative Davina Duerr deserves massive, national props for writing this groundbreaking first-in-the-US bill and sticking with the ideas through two sessions. (Last year her HB 2071 got the ball rolling.) Thank you!
This is fantastic news for affordable housing, Passive House and mass timber. I’ve been working on this idea since 2019!
The WA Senate just passed HB 1183, the first bill in the US to:
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
1 - Grant extra setback and height allowances for passive house
2 - Prohibit local req's for facade modulation and upper level setbacks for innovative construction types and affordable housing
lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
April 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This is fantastic news for affordable housing, Passive House and mass timber. I’ve been working on this idea since 2019!
Just because parts of the US are going backwards doesn’t mean WA State has to. More freeways are not the future. Vibrant cities are the future, where people move around by walking, riding bikes and taking buses.
WA State wants to tax buses and bikes instead of our roads, it wants to expand freeways instead of building sidewalks; our legislators need to hear from all of us, especially suburban and rural non drivers.
No Bus Tax, No Bike Tax!
Senate Bill 5801 proposes new fees on buses and a surcharge on electric bicycles to raise transportation revenue. Tell members of the House and Senate Transportation Committees to say "NO" to bus and ...
actionnetwork.org
March 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Just because parts of the US are going backwards doesn’t mean WA State has to. More freeways are not the future. Vibrant cities are the future, where people move around by walking, riding bikes and taking buses.
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
NEW STORY // Op-Ed: Harrell’s Growth Plan Fails to Add Enough Housing or Tree Canopy www.theurbanist.org/2025/03/29/h...
Op-Ed: Harrell’s Growth Plan Fails to Add Enough Housing or Tree Canopy - The Urbanist
# Architect Michael Eliason shares his blueprint for a greener Seattle with more abundant and affordable housing. The vision goes beyond townhomes to stacked flats amidst ample tree canopy.
www.theurbanist.org
March 30, 2025 at 2:01 AM
NEW STORY // Op-Ed: Harrell’s Growth Plan Fails to Add Enough Housing or Tree Canopy www.theurbanist.org/2025/03/29/h...
This is a self-own by Democrats from whom I expect more. What did we get in return, for making transit service harder to provide and e-bikes (the best last-mile solution we have) more expensive?
The line coming from Dem leaders in the state Senate is that the e-bike sales tax and additional fees on public transit are part of a bipartisan compromise on transportation. Well, the Senate just approved the revenue bill and it only garnered four Republican votes.
March 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This is a self-own by Democrats from whom I expect more. What did we get in return, for making transit service harder to provide and e-bikes (the best last-mile solution we have) more expensive?
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
A bipartisan transportation package makes sense in so far as it delivers transportation projects for every part of the state — even ruby red districts. What doesn’t make sense is including an “own the libs in cities” bus and bike tax to appease a handful of Republicans.
The line coming from Dem leaders in the state Senate is that the e-bike sales tax and additional fees on public transit are part of a bipartisan compromise on transportation. Well, the Senate just approved the revenue bill and it only garnered four Republican votes.
March 29, 2025 at 10:56 PM
A bipartisan transportation package makes sense in so far as it delivers transportation projects for every part of the state — even ruby red districts. What doesn’t make sense is including an “own the libs in cities” bus and bike tax to appease a handful of Republicans.
Cool, but two notes: 1) Electric cars also have tires. 2) Zoning and road design that promote walking and riding bikes also reduces VMT and therefore incidence of another “urban killer,” cars.
'Mic-drop moment' in scientists' push to save salmon from urban killer
The scientific discovery is gratifying for those who have watched in agony as coho salmon have died in urban streams for decades.
www.seattletimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Cool, but two notes: 1) Electric cars also have tires. 2) Zoning and road design that promote walking and riding bikes also reduces VMT and therefore incidence of another “urban killer,” cars.
Planning for the future means planning to accommodate people who do not yet live in an area—the kids of current residents, people moving toward economic opportunity, people fleeing repressive regimes or changes in climate. Local control of zoning by established residents tends to ignore these needs.
An abundant future is possible & we must work to create it. Supporting the status quo hasn’t worked. We need bold, innovative solutions if we want different results.
Olympia is leading WA’s housing policy. That isn’t sitting right in Seattle
As Seattle debates a proposed comprehensive plan, council members have had heartburn about density. It's the reason Olympia has become more dogged on the issue.
www.seattletimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Planning for the future means planning to accommodate people who do not yet live in an area—the kids of current residents, people moving toward economic opportunity, people fleeing repressive regimes or changes in climate. Local control of zoning by established residents tends to ignore these needs.
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
Paris is going to pedestrianize *500 MORE* street. Meanwhile Vancouver is slowly and painfuly suffocating the one great pilot it had in Gastown... Not to mention the rest on the metro area.
BREAKING & BIG: Today in PARIS, citizens voted in a referendum to PEDESTRIANIZE 500 MORE of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by city leaders to create people-places, curb car usage, and improve air quality. 66% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, official results showed!
Paris residents vote in favour of making 500 more streets pedestrian
Parisians voted in a referendum on Sunday to pedestrianise a further 500 of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by the French capital's left-leaning town hall to curb car usage and improve air quality.
www.reuters.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Paris is going to pedestrianize *500 MORE* street. Meanwhile Vancouver is slowly and painfuly suffocating the one great pilot it had in Gastown... Not to mention the rest on the metro area.
Reposted by Rob Harrison cPHc
Every single Democrat in Congress should be demanding the resignation of Waltz and Hegseth. Every single one.
This is a massive scandal. There should be a serious price to pay.
AND THERE IS ZERO DOWNSIDE FOR EVEN THE MOST SCAREDY-CAT CONGRESSPERSON.
This is a massive scandal. There should be a serious price to pay.
AND THERE IS ZERO DOWNSIDE FOR EVEN THE MOST SCAREDY-CAT CONGRESSPERSON.
March 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Every single Democrat in Congress should be demanding the resignation of Waltz and Hegseth. Every single one.
This is a massive scandal. There should be a serious price to pay.
AND THERE IS ZERO DOWNSIDE FOR EVEN THE MOST SCAREDY-CAT CONGRESSPERSON.
This is a massive scandal. There should be a serious price to pay.
AND THERE IS ZERO DOWNSIDE FOR EVEN THE MOST SCAREDY-CAT CONGRESSPERSON.