Watershed, “Building Sustainability,” Profiled in Scenic 98 Coastal Newsletter

In order to preserve and protect our unique coastal environment, our work creates ways for humans to integrate and interact with our natural surroundings while enhancing both resiliency and biodiversity.

We had a lot of fun chatting with Scenic 98 Coastal about what a sustainable economy could look like here on the Alabama Gulf Coast. They love this place as much as we do! From our many local projects to our eco-friendly practices and our passion for biophilic designs, we discussed every detail of our commitment to creating healthy buildings and landscapes that conserve and connect with our natural environment. We appreciate them highlighting our work and helping us create ripple effects (and even waves) across our coastal communities!

“The natural beauty of this place, which springs from the ecological health of this place, is essential to our quality of life on the coast,” said Watershed principal Rebecca Dunn Bryant. “So why should we accept this idea that development that destroys nature and erases our sense of place is some kind of necessary sacrifice for a healthy economy? We’ve all been trained to think that is the price of doing business. Nonsense!”

How are we building sustainability?

The generous environmental resources offered on the Eastern Shore draw people to our coast in search of a home where they can bike, walk, swim, and play in the great outdoors. But this great demand has led to a massive rise in structural developments, ironically depleting the natural resources people flock here to access. While we understand the allure of living in coastal Alabama, we know that the gain of new structures does not have to accompany a loss of biodiversity. 

Achieving this balance between architecture and nature in our own backyard is a unique task. Mobile Bay is home to record-level biodiversity, and a deep understanding of its importance guides our work as we carefully and intentionally design structures that bridge the gap between “indoors” and “outdoors,” enabling a connection to the abundant natural beauty that sprawls through Southern Alabama.