#Building

A portico is a parade of pillars assembled at a building's entrance to grant it solemnity and secretly whisper that special rituals are required. The vain columns satisfy their ego while stoically bearing the weight of the roof. They pretend to shield from rain and wind yet quietly monitor gatherings and judge every step on their marble carpet. Ultimately, it is merely a passageway and its sacredness is a figment of visitor imagination.

A zero-energy building is the emblem of ambitious architecture that vows to balance its energy ledger to zero. In reality, it masquerades as a green-clad parasite supported by convoluted subsidies and nocturnal backup generators. Behind the lofty phrases of solar panels and wind turbines lies a labyrinth of wires and cables. Its occupants are hailed as eco-devotees while enduring the austerity of darkness and cold. Ultimately, the only truly self-sufficient entities are the power plant next door and the national budget.