Design For Life

by Sim Van der Ryn

Design for Life: The Architecture of Sim Van der Ryn surveys the work and principles of Sim Van der Ryn, a world leader in the field of sustainable architecture. Sharing his years of experience as a teacher and using his building designs as examples, the author shows us that buildings are not objects but organisms, and cities are not machines but complex ecosystems.

Genres: Architecture

Unknown Binding

First published August 18, 2005

About the author

Simon Herman Van der Ryn was a Dutch-born American architect, researcher and educator. Van der Ryn's professional interest was applying principles of physical and social ecology to architecture and environmental design. He promoted sustainable design at the community scale and the building-specific scale. He designed single-family and multi-family housing, community facilities, retreat centers and resorts, learning facilities, as well as office and commercial buildings.

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had lunch with this guy in Sausalito. He has a very deeply ingrained sense of ... nature? that is VERY different from what most people think of as "environmentalists." This man is a staunch idealist, and as such is more than a bit cynical and frustrated with the world. Frankly I don't blame him.