HARMONY IN DESIGN: EXPLORING ARCHITECTURAL ECOLOGY

A community in harmony with the existing trees on the site!

(Image source: apartmentguide)

The most important lesson I learned from reading "Introduction to Ecological Urbanism" in Mohsen Mostafavi's Ecological Urbanism is that there should be a healthy balance between natural and man-made elements in urban environments. Excellent designs, in my opinion, result from dynamic interactions between the built and natural surroundings.

I have seen several colonies being established by developers in the United States. The dwellings are often grouped around the organic road that runs through the property. I want to elaborate on what Professor Franco explained in the class. It is heart breaking to see that they cut all the trees present on the site, make it flat and then plant a very few trees which take several years to grow. The grass they use for the lawn is not even the native one! It would be wonderful to live in a community that is integrated into the natural (fully or partially) environment rather than one that is built by destroying or drastically altering the site context.

It is important that the new built environment blends well with the existing site landscape and recognizes and values the dynamic relationships that exist between the constructed and natural environments. We must be aware of these concerns and their effects on the environment, human behavior, and cognition since we will soon be practicing architecture. We must realize that just because something is often done around us doesn't necessarily indicate it is the best course of action. Not only must we think and do what is best economically, but also socially and ecologically.