Ritual house, ritual city : drawing on nature's rhythms for architecture and urban design

Celebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USCвЂTMs School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners—anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles,В __Ritual House__В shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrowвЂTMs mega-cities. The houses we dwell in, the cities surrounding our houses, even the clothes we wear these are all shelters we erect against the elements. They are also the embodiment of intuitive rituals, individual and cultural responses to nature s rhythms. Life in the 21st century has separated us from those traditions now, Ritual House reawakens us to our lost natural heritage. Celebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USC s School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Knowles shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow s mega-cities. Understanding how the elements affect our lives is more vital than ever. High-energy enclosed building systems have cut us off from nature, but we can re-connect to our landscapes and to humanity through buildings that honor ecological balance, personal choice, and creativity. By engaging nature in our designs, we can create shelters that are unique to their climate, their region, and their relationship to the sun. Ritual House will take its rightful place among those classic works that become touchstones for the culture. Celebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USCвЂTMs School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners—anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles,В Ritual House В shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrowвЂTMs mega-cities. About Island Press......Page 3 Title Page......Page 6 Copyrights Page......Page 7 Table of Contents......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgments......Page 20 Ch. 1: Sheltering......Page 23 Ch. 2: Migration......Page 43 Ch. 3: Transformation......Page 63 Ch. 4: Metabolism......Page 81 Ch. 5: Sheltering the Soul......Page 95 Ch. 6: Settings and Rituals......Page 109 Ch. 7: Boundaries and Choices......Page 131 Ch. 8: The Solar Envelope......Page 147 Ch. 9: The Interstitium......Page 173 Ch. 10: The New Architecture of the Sun......Page 195 Notes......Page 200 Bibliography......Page 206 Index......Page 214 Useful for architects, designers, and planners, this work shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. It also analyzes methods of sheltering, ranging from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard, to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Sheltering -- Migrations -- Transformations -- Metabolism -- Sheltering The Soul -- Settings And Rituals -- Boundaries -- The Solar Envelope -- The Interstitium -- The New Architecture Of The Sun -- Notes. Ralph Knowles. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 185-192) And Index. WE HUMAN BEINGS, IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD AND in all types of society, seek shelter-a building, a tent, or some other structure that keeps us safe and comfortable.