92
(Lovelock & Margulis, 1974), Lovelock and Margulis put forward the theory that the Earth is a selfregulated organism, a complex ecological system with everything within the earth and the biosphere
interconnected and evolving. This ‘interconnectedness’ has become instrumental in the works of landscape architect Lyle, who promoted the duality of ‘man and nature’ in Design for Human Ecosystems
(Lyle, 1985); he also stressed the importance of regenerating our natural environment in Regenerative
Design for Sustainable Development (Lyle, 1994).
Despite concerns about ecological degradation, and efforts to better understand and improve the
integration of our built and natural environments, economic and technical progress in the industrial
sector has been the overriding human goal in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including providing for
material comfort at the expense of nature. Notwithstanding the emergence of ‘sustainability’, embodied in the Brundtland Commission’s inquiry in 1987, sustainability has become a mantra for the
1990s, offering one perspective as to a balance and permanence in the world (Van der Ryn & Cowan,
1996). This perspective is also despite extensive evidence of the exploitation of fossil fuels to provide
energy, to fuel cars and to support the ever-expanding industrial sector that continues to poison the
Earth. The demands of human needs and lifestyle pumped carbon emissions into the atmosphere like
never before in the history of humankind. The proponents of technological sustainability assert that
fundamental changes in the way we do things are not necessary; minimising the harm to nature is
enough. Sim Van der Ryn challenges the efforts of the Brundtland Commission about the definition
and effectiveness of ‘Sustainable Development’, given its assumption of the principles of technological sustainability, and instead promotes ‘Ecological Design’ as the correct vehicle for improving the
built environment. In Ecological Design (1996), Van der Ryn and Cowan support David W. Orr’s definition of ecological sustainability, in contrast to technological sustainability, defining Ecological
Design as “… any form of design that minimises environmentally destructive impacts by integrating
itself with living processes” (Van der Ryn & Cowan, 1996, p. 18).
Van der Ryn and Cowan further argue that, in many ways, the environmental crisis is a design
crisis, and that impacts upon the environment are as a consequence of how things are made, buildings
are constructed, and landscapes are used. Supporting this design paradigm, Van der Ryn and Cowan
defined design as the intentional shaping of matter, energy, and process to meet a perceived need or
desire. They summarise the failure of design and planning discourse as follows:
… Our present forms of agriculture, architecture, engineering and industry are derived from design epistemologies incompatible with nature’s own. It is clear that we have not given design a rich enough context. We have
used design cleverly in the service of narrowly defined human interests but have neglected its relationship with
our fellow creatures. Such myopic design cannot fail to degrade the living world, and, by extension, our own
health (Van der Ryn & Cowan, 1996, p. 9)
7.5 Design and Planning with Nature
Matter, of this is the cosmos, sun, earth and life made. Sun, shine that we may live. Earth our home, oceans our
ancient home. Atmosphere, protect and sustain us. Clouds, rain, rivers and streams, replenish us from the sea.
Plants, live and breathe what we may breathe, eat and live. Animals, kin. Decomposers, reconstitute the wastes
of life and death so that life may endure. Man, seek the path of benign planetary enzyme, aspire to be the world’s
physician. Heal the earth and thyself (McHarg, 1992 [1969], p. vi).
McHarg wrote the above prayer, after 20 years of thought, as an introduction to Design with Nature
(1992 [1969]). Planner Mumford commenced the introductory chapter to McHarg’s book stating that
‘there is still only a small shelf of books that deals with man’s relation to his environment as a whole’.
Mumford expressed that this book was a notable edition to a handful of important texts, because it
drew upon science, reflected upon ‘ecology’ and confirmed that human life is intertwined in the forces
of nature, so that nature needs to be treated as an ally and friend (McHarg, 1992 [1969], p. vii).
7 Design and Planning with Nature
(Lovelock & Margulis, 1974), Lovelock and Margulis put forward the theory that the Earth is a selfregulated organism, a complex ecological system with everything within the earth and the biosphere
interconnected and evolving. This ‘interconnectedness’ has become instrumental in the works of landscape architect Lyle, who promoted the duality of ‘man and nature’ in Design for Human Ecosystems
(Lyle, 1985); he also stressed the importance of regenerating our natural environment in Regenerative
Design for Sustainable Development (Lyle, 1994).
Despite concerns about ecological degradation, and efforts to better understand and improve the
integration of our built and natural environments, economic and technical progress in the industrial
sector has been the overriding human goal in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including providing for
material comfort at the expense of nature. Notwithstanding the emergence of ‘sustainability’, embodied in the Brundtland Commission’s inquiry in 1987, sustainability has become a mantra for the
1990s, offering one perspective as to a balance and permanence in the world (Van der Ryn & Cowan,
1996). This perspective is also despite extensive evidence of the exploitation of fossil fuels to provide
energy, to fuel cars and to support the ever-expanding industrial sector that continues to poison the
Earth. The demands of human needs and lifestyle pumped carbon emissions into the atmosphere like
never before in the history of humankind. The proponents of technological sustainability assert that
fundamental changes in the way we do things are not necessary; minimising the harm to nature is
enough. Sim Van der Ryn challenges the efforts of the Brundtland Commission about the definition
and effectiveness of ‘Sustainable Development’, given its assumption of the principles of technological sustainability, and instead promotes ‘Ecological Design’ as the correct vehicle for improving the
built environment. In Ecological Design (1996), Van der Ryn and Cowan support David W. Orr’s definition of ecological sustainability, in contrast to technological sustainability, defining Ecological
Design as “… any form of design that minimises environmentally destructive impacts by integrating
itself with living processes” (Van der Ryn & Cowan, 1996, p. 18).
Van der Ryn and Cowan further argue that, in many ways, the environmental crisis is a design
crisis, and that impacts upon the environment are as a consequence of how things are made, buildings
are constructed, and landscapes are used. Supporting this design paradigm, Van der Ryn and Cowan
defined design as the intentional shaping of matter, energy, and process to meet a perceived need or
desire. They summarise the failure of design and planning discourse as follows:
… Our present forms of agriculture, architecture, engineering and industry are derived from design epistemologies incompatible with nature’s own. It is clear that we have not given design a rich enough context. We have
used design cleverly in the service of narrowly defined human interests but have neglected its relationship with
our fellow creatures. Such myopic design cannot fail to degrade the living world, and, by extension, our own
health (Van der Ryn & Cowan, 1996, p. 9)
7.5 Design and Planning with Nature
Matter, of this is the cosmos, sun, earth and life made. Sun, shine that we may live. Earth our home, oceans our
ancient home. Atmosphere, protect and sustain us. Clouds, rain, rivers and streams, replenish us from the sea.
Plants, live and breathe what we may breathe, eat and live. Animals, kin. Decomposers, reconstitute the wastes
of life and death so that life may endure. Man, seek the path of benign planetary enzyme, aspire to be the world’s
physician. Heal the earth and thyself (McHarg, 1992 [1969], p. vi).
McHarg wrote the above prayer, after 20 years of thought, as an introduction to Design with Nature
(1992 [1969]). Planner Mumford commenced the introductory chapter to McHarg’s book stating that
‘there is still only a small shelf of books that deals with man’s relation to his environment as a whole’.
Mumford expressed that this book was a notable edition to a handful of important texts, because it
drew upon science, reflected upon ‘ecology’ and confirmed that human life is intertwined in the forces
of nature, so that nature needs to be treated as an ally and friend (McHarg, 1992 [1969], p. vii).
7 Design and Planning with Nature