Ritual House: Drawing on Nature's Rhythms for Architecture and Urban DesignCelebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USC’s School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners—anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Ritual House shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow’s mega-cities. |
Contents
Migration | 22 |
Transformation | 42 |
Metabolism | 60 |
Sheltering the Soul | 74 |
Settings and Rituals | 88 |
Boundaries and Choices | 110 |
The Solar Envelope | 126 |
The Interstitium | 152 |
The New Architecture of the Sun | 174 |
Notes | 179 |
| 185 | |
| 193 | |
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Ritual House: Drawing on Nature's Rhythms for Architecture and Urban Design Ralph Knowles Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptive adjustments afternoon allowed Angeles appear architect architecture Ashtabula Bottom boundaries building called choice cities climate close cold comfort complete continuous cool courtyard cover cycle daily density depend direct doors dwellings early east energy enters example expand farm Finally floor garden growth heat higher important inside interstitium Knowles land leaves less light living look lower means migration morning move nature occupy offer orientation passing possibilities Press range region remain result rhythms Right rise ritual River roof rooms seasons separate shade shadow shape sheltering side solar access solar envelope space spring stories street summer surrounding tent town traditional trees units urban usually village wall warm wind winter zoning