14 February 2009
CLIMATE, PLANNING: Book review - Ecopolis- Architecture and Cities for a Changing Climate, by Paul F Downton
Ecopolis is a book about cities, ecology and climate change written by one of Australia’s leading advocates and pioneers of sustainable architecture. Challenging conventional definitions and limitations of architecture and planning, it proposes a strong trans-disciplinary approach that links built environment professionals, life scientists and the wider community in the design of human settlements as living components of the biosphere.
The book includes what may be the first definition of the purpose of cities in the modern era and introduces the powerful concept of the urban fractal. The author demonstrates the history and lineage of his philosophy through an extensive review of the work of key theorists and practitioners which, in itself, provides a useful reference tool for ecocity theorists.
Identifying key theorists, practitioners, places and philosophies, the book provides a solid theoretical context, and goes on to present a series of design and planning tools for achieving Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED). Combining knowledge from diverse fields to present a synthesis of urban ecology, the book will provide a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in architecture, construction, planning, geography and the traditional life sciences.
