The Nature of Design: Ecology, Culture, and Human Intention

by David W. Orr

The environmental movement has often been accused of being overly negative--trying to stop "progress." The Nature of Design , on the other hand, is about starting things, specifically an ecological design revolution that changes how we provide food, shelter, energy, materials, and livelihood, and how we deal with waste.

Ecological design is an emerging field that aims to recalibrate what humans do in the world according to how the world works as a biophysical system. Design in this sense is a large concept having to do as much with politics and ethics as with buildings and technology.

The book begins by describing the scope of design, comparing it to the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Subsequent chapters describe barriers to a design revolution inherent in our misuse of language, the clockspeed of technological society, and shortsighted politics. Orr goes on to describe the critical role educational institutions might play in fostering design intelligence and what he calls "a higher order of heroism."

Appropriately, the book ends on themes of charity, wilderness, and the rights of children. Astute yet broadly appealing, The Nature of Design combines theory, practicality, and a call to action.

Genres: Ecology, Nonfiction, Design, Architecture, Science, Environment, Philosophy

237 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2002

Reviews

[Chuck H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2002, this book is eerily prescient and contemporary and all the more urgent as a result. It starts out explaining how to improve the design a city, or a university building, but in the end it explains how our morality must be extended both spatially and temporally, in order for civilization to continue, as our ecological and moral deficits are leading us to extinction.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful read about the state of our culture. David Orr has an excellent command of the English language and uses it to intelligently convey his arguments. He seeks to speak at you, rather than down to you. He touches on a variety of ideas how to revolutionize society to change. The chapters cover planning, wilderness, architecture, language, economy, and more. The chapter "Verbicide" provides a great argument on why we should seek to master our language. The last chapter titled "Loving Children" is the gripper and weaves together all his arguments and why we need to change.

As one reviewer on the back cover says, "If you are looking for a warm glow because you recycled your tine cans and sent a check to the Sierra Club, you better pick another book. These are urgent, impatient, absolutely realistic essays."

[jenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

that david orr is amazing. anyone interested in this book, or is reading this book or read it should read the article he wrote called "loving children: a design problem." you can read it here: http://www.resurgence.org/resurgence/...
and this book is his thoughts on how to love. via ecologial design. amazing.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant so far.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Gave me a completely new perspective on how to really look at a building and evaluate new structures. Highly recommend to anyone. Easy read and great information.

[Har · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great!

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for teachers of any age.