A Sourcebook of Integrated, Eco-logical Solutions

by Janis Birkeland

In a crucial transition from short term environmental management to long term systems design, ecological principles and concepts are becoming increasingly integrated into our everyday lives,

influencing where and how we live. Design for Sustainability is an inspiring, radical and detailed collection of the eco-solutions that can be applied to a range of design challenges.
The ideas on offer integrate social, political and economic factors, and promise a substantial reduction of resource use.
Their application not only benefits the environment but also improves overall quality of life, raising standards of health and bringing about greater social and environmental equity. Soon buildings could emulate nature, purifying air and water, generating energy, producing food and treating sewage.
The sourcebook presents examples of integrated systems design by many of the foremost designers in the fields of industrial design, materials, housing design, urban planning and transport, landscape and permaculture, and energy and resource management.
They cut across traditional boundaries to move towards a new transdisciplinary approach to environmental and social problem solving. This invaluable reference and teaching resource for practitioners and academics includes informational boxes, sets of questions and useful exercises, and pairs of short readings providing diverse perspectives to compare, contrast and debate.