May 29, 2016 Name: Rashid Nori Email: noonosman@gmail.com Address: 155 Croydon Rd, Yonkers, NY 10710 Program: PhD in EcoVillage Design Track 1, Sustainable Communities Course 4: Socio-Economics Book # 5: Design for Human Ecosystems, by John Tillman Lyle Chapter 1-16, and a Brief Summary of the Book
Chapter 1-16 Main Point: 1. Humans have affected nearly all environments on Earth. 2. Awareness and conflict. A battle between developers and environmentalists. 3. Addressing the importance of public opinion in environmental issues. 4. Water flow and land use. The Southern California example. 5. Three different bases for defining a region as described by Richardson. 6. Understanding the subcontinental plan, 7. Understanding the stages and themes of design. 8. Understanding the challenges facing the design process.
Summary: In the introductory chapter of this book, the author begins by addressing the environmental transformation, which resulted in a series of new intellectual approaches driven by our passion for change. The author points out that, throughout recorded time, and probably since the development of agriculture and the industrial period, human had shaped most of world's landscape. In the second chapter, the author addresses the landscape concept, water flow as integrating element of landscape by taking a look at the flow of water through the landscape of a major urban region.
He examines the case of the metropolitan Southern California, a 200 square miles land area that has been saturated by urbanization over the last hundred years, concluding that with little long-range planning and little recognition of the limits that resource supplies might place on growth, the area has grown from a population of less than 20,000 in 1880 to over 10,000,000 in 1980. Chapter there focuses on the concept of regions and its importance to the planning and design. The author also identifies the three different bases for defining a region, depending on one's purpose as described by Richardson. They consist of: a) homogeneity of some characteristic, b) modality, the nodes being cities, and c) the planning region, defined according to the geographic extent of the issues at hand. Chapter four covers the regional landscape design, subcontinental design and its unit size, noting that a subcontinental plan will have to be drawn if all the conflicts are to be resolved, and if the water flow is to become both maximally beneficial and sustainable, a subcontinental plan will have to be drawn. Chapter five examines Plan Unit Scale and its common mechanism in establishing specific land use. Using a case study of Whitewater Wash, the author examines the project unique setting which is suitable for renewable energy generation, recreation, and preservation. Some regional goals set by Whitewater Wash include: Maintain the water regime, use the unique wind potential to generate energy for the regional population, and protect rare plant communities and wildlife habitats. Chapter six through nine, the author addresses the Design Processes and Methods which involve The Stages and Themes of Design, The Stages of Romance, The Stages of Precision, and The Stages of Generalization. In chapter 10 – 16, the author discusses the Models of Ecological Order which involves; Foundation of Ecosystem Design, Structure, (the role of plants), Structure (design for animals), Function, (controlling material and energy flows), Location (patterns and landscape suitability), Location (impact prediction), and A New Era of Design.
A Brief Summary of the Book Summary: Professor Lyle was one of the pioneers leading thinkers in the field of ecological design and regenerative design approach. This book; originally published in 1985, explores methods of designing landscapes that function in the sustainable ways of natural ecosystems. The author argues that careful design of human ecosystems recognizes three fundamental concerns: scale, the design processes itself, and the underlying order that
binds ecosystems together and makes them work. He also outlines a design process in which natural systems can co-exist with human systems. In the final chapter this book, the author summarizes the key themes of his book. He points out that, the material in this book represents our progress to date in learning how to design sustainable human ecosystems. He further points out that, although none of these concepts or techniques is perfect; a fruitful direction has been established. The author concludes the book; noting that; “All in all, we have not learned to do it very well yet, but I believe we have at least reached the point where we know what we are trying to do�. Throughout the book, the author lays a solid foundation for the design process in which natural systems can coexist with human systems. The theory presented by the author consists of using a wide range of case studies to aid in understanding the principles of ecological design and why it is critical for creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. The book is a valuable reading for professionals, architects, planners, educators, environmentalists, students of ecological design and the general public. It should also be of considerable interest to everyone who cares about the future of our planet.
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