Living and Building With The Natural World, part 2

-- Here's part 2 of the writing i began posting last week ~

Unfortunately, some people who occupy buildings have no awareness of where the materials of the building comes from, or where the energy to nourish the building comes from, or how to block out the summer sun while letting in the winter sun, or how to cool the building by working with the wind.  

We live in buildings as if we are riding in a powerboat -  unconsciously flipping on switches to bring us light or energy, moving through space with no consideration of our relationship to the natural world.   We can live as if we are sailing:  A building can be a vessel that puts us in more intimate relationship with the world around us and inspires us to engage with natural energies, flows and rhythms.

What other ways can the built environment be a part of the natural world? Most simply, it can put us in relationship with the natural world - and provide place for intimate relationship with our loved ones and all parts of our self.  We can consider each natural element -  water, soil, fire, air/wind, sun, wood, stone - and ask how we can consciously interact with each as 

we design and live in our buildings.

-- The third and final part will further explore ways to build and live with the natural world!



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