Knowles, Ralph L.

Ritual house : drawing on nature's rhythms for architecture and urban design / Ralph L. Knowles.

Washington, DC : Island Press, ©2006.

xx, 202 pages : illustrations, maps, plans ; 27 cm

The houses we dwell in, the cities surrounding our houses, even the clothes we wear--these are all shelters we erect against the elements. This book for architects, designers, planners--anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Knowles shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow's mega-cities. Understanding how the elements affect our lives is more vital than ever. High-energy enclosed building systems have cut us off from nature, but we can re-connect to our landscapes and to humanity through buildings that honor ecological balance, personal choice, and creativity. By engaging nature in our designs, we can create shelters that are unique to their climate, their region, and their relationship to the sun.

1597260509 (cloth ; alk. paper)
9781597260503 (cloth ; alk. paper)
1597260517 (pbk. ; alk. paper)
9781597260510 (pbk. ; alk. paper)

Architecture Human factors.
Architecture Environmental aspects.
Architecture and solar radiation.
Solar energy.
City planning.
Solar Energy
City Planning
Architecture Facteurs humains.
Architecture Aspect de l'environnement.
Architecture et rayonnement solaire.
Énergie solaire.
Urbanisme.
solar power.
urban planning.

Localisation: Bibliothèque main 249103
Cote: BIB 178677
Statut: Disponible