Ecological Design (Paperback)

by Sim Van der Ryn (Author), Stuart Cowan (Author) "The word sustainability has become a kind of mantra for the 1990s, offering the possibility of balance and permanence in a world where we experience..." (more)
Key Phrases: ecological design process, technological sustainability, ecological accounting, New York, San Francisco, John Todd (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Sim Van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan present a vision of how the living world and the human world can be rejoined by taking ecology as the basis for design. Ecological design intelligence-effective adaptation to and integration with nature's processes-can be applied at all levels of scale, creating revolutionary forms of buildings, landscapes, cities, and technologies.

The authors weave together case studies, personal anecdotes, images, and theory to provide a thorough treatment of the concept of ecological design. In the process, they present and explain a series of design principles that can help build a sustainable world with increased efficiency, fewer toxics, less pollution, and healthier natural systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 1 edition (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559633891
• ISBN-13: 978-1559633895
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #406,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #25 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Building Types & Styles > Environmental

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is sustainable design?, February 9, 2004

By	James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A new benchmark in ecological awareness. Sym van der Ryn has long been practicing ecological design, and draws on his wealth of experience to give readers many valuable insights into this growing practice. Van der Ryn warns readers to separate the wheat from the chaff as there are many persons claiming to be toeing the line when it comes to sustainable design, but few are actually doing it. What is needed is a whole new approach to eco-friendly architecture and planning development, not just more band-aids.

The book takes a fairly general approach but there are numerous references for those really interested in pursuing the subject in more depth. He outlines his principles of ecological design which begins with gaining a better awareness of your locality, by looking into the ecological history of your community. Who knows your street may be where a stream once flowed, and that your storm drain in all likelihood flows into your water source, so be careful what you dump into it!

Van der Ryn avoids the cliches and pieces together a compelling set of anecdotes and observations which will open you up the broad field of possibilities. The book is well researched and written, with the valuable assistance of Stuart Cowan, a former student of van der Ryn. It is imperative that we gain a better appreciation of our natural environment before adding any more to our built environment. Sustainable design is our only future.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ecological Design Process, February 26, 2009

By	BYF "Backyard Flix" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Contents Include:

Part I: Bringing Design to Life

* Sustainability and Design
* An Introduction to Ecological Design
* Nature's Geometry

Part 2: The Ecological Design Process

* Introduction: The Compost Privy Story
* First Principle: Solutions Grow from Place
* Second Principle: Ecological Accounting Inform Designs
* Third Principle: Design with Nature
* Fourth Principle: Everyone is a Designer
* Fifth Principle: Make Nature Visible

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best sustainable design books out there, July 10, 2008

By	S. Clemenson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a great book. I received the books within a few days even though I had selected ground shipping. I would recommend to anyone with an interest in "green" building and design.