ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book discusses the possibilities for a cultural understanding of ecology. It explains the ways that architecture can respond to what is today commonly called the environmental crisis, precedents for which can be found in 20th century examples, many of which are rarely considered in ecological discussions today. The book also illustrates a number of projects and cited statements by Le Corbusier, whose account of the origin of the brise-soleil or "sun-breaker" seems to have confirmed their understanding of the artistic dimension of environmentally responsive design. It examines three examples or scales of cultural ecology namely: domestic, monastic, and urban. A domestic ecology could range from an individual dwelling, to a group of farm buildings, to a villa, with or without barns and agricultural fields. Similarly, a monastic ecology could take the form of a university college, an urban housing block, or a traditional monastery.
