Sustainable architecture is growing in popularity and necessity all around the world. More and more people and governments are recognizing the need for sustainability to improve the health of the planet and the people that call it home. The problem is usually these projects are disconnected and just focus on one element, being green. This thesis focuses on how net-zero architecture, connections to nature and all-around interconnectivity can improve the health, wellbeing, and happiness of an entire community. Through a major mixed-use development on the bank of the St. Croix River, and exploration of how different architectural elements can have differing impacts on people, we can improve everybody?s wellbeing and thus build our communities for the long term in an ever growing and changing world
