From the author of the bestseller 'Ecohouse' this challenging and exciting text gives you an insight into the real changes that are necessary to give our modern day built environment both 'sustainability' and 'survivability'.

The book is based on the premise that climate change is going to happen and its impacts on our lives are going to be far worse than generally expected. Sue Roaf argues that many modern buildings are not only 'unsustainable' in themselves but are also having a catastrophic effect on the global climate. In a unique argument, she illustrates that the only way we can hope to survive the following century in tact is if we not only begin to radically reduce CO2 emissions from our buildings and stop building climatically disastrous building types but also build only the buildings that can survive in the changed climates of the future.

Throughout the book, traditional and modern building types are used to: explain the history and impacts of climates past, present and future on buildings; set the scene in terms of the history of building development of where we are now and where we are going in terms of sustainability and survivability of buildings; develop two main scenarios of future building development with the 'business as usual' model and the 'survival plan' model, and to make a list of recommendations based on the two scenarios of what actions should be taken by architects, planners and engineers as well as local and national governments, businesses and ordinary people in ensuring the true sustainable nature of the built environment.

• A unique text that reassesses the fundamentals of sustainable design
• A discussion anddesign guide providing you with the full picture of true sustainability
• Includes case studies supporting the argument that challenges orthodox architectural design

Pub. Date: October 26, 2009 Publisher: Elsevier Science
Item: 185617720

The beauty, resources, and natural processes of the California landscape are brought to the home garden in Mark Francis and Andreas Reimann's fine testament to ecological gardening. The authors connect history, culture, region, and design to help us understand how California and its human population have evolved historically and how individuals today can make a difference in the state's future in their own backyards. The authors' goal is to bring the history of the California garden up to date with the ecological and cultural concerns of our time. Francis and Reimann use California's natural beauty and habitat as a starting point for inspiring Californians to see their gardens as extensions of the surrounding landscape. They provide essential information on native plants and wildlife, ecology and bioregionalism, landscape history and design concepts, as well as numerous examples showing how to integrate environmental principles in one's garden.

Landscape meaning and regional thinking are an important part of an ecosystem approach to home gardening, say the authors. By observing nearby native or naturalized environments, including vacant lots and abandoned property, one learns a good deal about local plants, wildlife, and other elements that can be incorporated into an ecologically sensitive garden. Yan Nascimbene's exquisite color illustrations perfectly capture the authors' sensual vision of an environment different from gardens commonly featured in gardening books and magazines. Photographs illustrate the designs of many of the best landscape architects working in the tradition of the California landscape garden, including Ron Lutsko, Topher Delaney, Owen Dell, AnnChristoph, and Rick Fisher. This is a book for anyone seeking a garden philosophy that is environmentally sensitive, and even experienced home gardeners, landscape professionals, and horticulturists will find new and useful material here.

Pub. Date: June 1999
Item: 052021764