by Ken Yeang

Ken Yeang has written a comprehensive instruction manual that provides a strong and thoughtful foundation for design and what constitutes ecodesign.

“Ecodesign”, states Ken Yeang, “is about the overall perception of how our human communities and built environment can become an integral and benign part of life on the planet. Ecodesign must be applied to all aspects of our built environment (such as land use, building design, product design, energy systems, transportation, materials, waste, agriculture, forestry, urban planning).”

If the reader is a student in the world of building a healthy and holistic environment, “Ecodesign” is an ideal companion set out in a logical manner that facilitates both learning and decision making. Dr. Yeang’s thorough text book proceeds, step by step from site analysis, including how to work with different environmental factors, right through to high rise design for natural ventilation and landscaping, with details regarding materials used in construction. For those experienced in ecological design, Ken Yeang’s manual is fully up to the demands of everyday practice and is an excellent reference and resource guide. This rich 499 page text book contains information and strategies that will inspire and inform designers, architects, and instructors while challenging the industry at large - its key players and regulators to bring about a truly sustainable world.

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Caroline Davies, Editor, Lifestyle and Culture

Design For Life is a personal biography as well as a book on design. Sim Van der Ryn is clearly inspired by the natural world and has taken the time to understand it. He is a generous soul in sharing his years of experience and research to arrive at his present place of understanding today. Sim allows us into his mind as he is creating his blue prints, plans and designs for his clients. He reveals his interests in subjects of spirit and matter.

“Buildings are not static objects, they are organisms. Cities are not mechanical assemblies, they are ecosystems. Through ecological design, our buildings and cities can become more fully integrated with nature. Like organisms, they can produce their own energy, and consume and recycle their own wastes without polluting. Design can show us the connection between nature’s living cycles and the built environment.”

This is a wonderful book to read as a historical document about the sustainable building movement through the experience of Van der Ryn, reminding us of the difficulties and challenges environmentally balanced design and building has met, and because of the tenacious work of pioneers such as Sim Van der Ryn, is now finally being understood as an essential way of life for the well being of all.

Caroline Davies, Editor, Lifestyle and Culture

For more information:http://www.gibbs-smith.com

Angela M. Dean


Angela Dean has worked for over a decade as principal architect of AMD Architecture in Salt Lake City specializing in environmentally responsible designs, as well as educating the public and professionals about sustainable architecture.

Green By Design shows how we can balance our dreams with our resources, time and budget through fourteen in-depth case studies. A step-by-step planning and construction handbook for green design, Angela Dean offers practical and senstive strategies that meet individual needs whilst creating inviting, affordable and environmentally conscious homes. Dean understands that a home is a personal place of refuge and avoids the “one size fits all” approach.

Accompanied by excellent photographs, floor plans, and resource guide Green by Design is also a great book for an architect’s clients to read in order to understand basic fundamentals in green design, as it covers a lot of ground and is very clear.

For more information:http://www.gibbs-smith.com

Designs That Reuse, Recycle, And Reveal
by Jennifer Roberts


Even before I started to read the content of this book, my eyes were drawn like magnets to the elegant photographs accompanying the narrative. Once visually familiar with the engaging designs created from reused and recycled materials, I found the narrative to be as interesting as the images engaging - Jennifer Roberts shares the voices of the subjects focused upon in REDUX, who speak of their motivation, experiences, and outcome. Beautifully presented material filled with practical information and an excellent resource guide.

There are sections on renovation, adaptation, and new construction and within each, chapters highlighting very different and creative examples of REDUX. Putting it Back Together has a chapter called, “Deconstructing: A 50’s Rambler and Reconstructing a Bold New Home”, Beauty and Brains - “Raising the Bar for Ecologically Intelligent Design”, What Goes Around Comes Around: “Humble Cargo Containers Meet High Style”, A Very Cool Icehouse: “An Artist and an Environmentalist Transform a Derelict Brooklyn Warehouse”.

Jennifer Roberts has also written Good Green Kitchens, and Good Green Homes. For more information go to: http://www.jenniferroberts.com, http://www.gibbs-smith.com

Caroline Davies, Editor, Lifestyle and Culture