Engineering and fabrication
Ecological design - Is it the same as design for sustainability?
Has anyone noticed that 'design (and policy/planning/ etc) for sustainability' uses the old destructive paradigms of growth economics, toxic materials, and single function products, whereas 'ecological design' use PROCESSES of design and problem solving that really push green practice to a new standard ?
Public Comments
- It would be nice if they were the same in the minds of the paper signers. However that seems to be a ways off. The more economically feasible we can make the ecological designs, the greater our bargaining power becomes.
- not the same at all...
designing for sustainability sounds like it's designed to sustain growth. that's not desirable in a world of finite resources. small wonder that it stresses monocultures, and limits flexibility and imagination. but it does provide for convenience and reliance. existing products are refined with a nod toward nature, but they still exist and still consume!
designing ecologically, for instance using principles of permaculture, allows for a greater use of PROBLEM SOLVING and employs objects and landscapes that serve multiple functions. this increases diversity and ability to change.
it also employs knowledge and experience from varied disciplines, giving MANY people a share in the ownership of said design. ownership breeds pride, and continued thinking and adapting. nature and humans in harmony using sound ideas: THIS is part of the process, part of the new standard you speak of!
- Permaculture: Sustainability is now just a buzz word. Another one collected by politicians, business owners and marketing executives to 'sell' their product.
However, sustainability should be the same as ecological design if your descriptors for ecological design is the use of processes of designing and problem solving in an environmentally friendly way. It could also be a retracted definition for Permaculture.
There are fantastic examples of amazing design. Look at the biomimicry designs by Eugene Tsui. Using natural patterns, solutions and designs FROM nature to create amazing architecture, furniture and clothes. Monolithic domes designed from underground potato storage second link.
The Japanese Dome is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient system that can be built in a day. An extremely cheap solution which can stand typhoons and earthquakes.
What about Biomimicry generally for design inspiration look at 12 sustainable ideas from nature? fourth link.
Bill Mollison, the co-founder of Permaculture design and the 'Daddy' of 'ecological' design. It is about observing and learning from nature. He looks at natural patterns and natural systems, makes a few minor adjustments in order for nature to again perform at her optimum and SUSTAINABLE best.
