ABSTRACT
Design, in the context of this book, is the organization of elements in the sense of composition. Composition, in turn, is the combination of parts or elements to form a systemic whole. And, a systemic whole of any kind has five basic components: (1) composition, (2) structure, (3) function, (4) systems-altering disturbances, and (5) constraints with varying levels of negotiability. In this book, I contrast a forest with a city because every city is composed of design elements taken from Nature (largely from forests) and is best comprehended in that way if we are to successfully adapt to the vagaries of global climate change.
