<p> Green roofs are an emerging technology promoted primarily for stormwater management but little has been published about their potential for biodiversity performance. This is the first study to explore the potential for creating prairie-like, non-succulent, native plant communities on unirrigated extensive green roofs in the southeastern United States. Ten experimental green roof platforms were used to: 1) identify native species and methods of establishment appropriate for green roof applications in the southeastern United States; 2) examine the effects of introducing natural soil into a commercially available green roof soil media mixture on the survival and establishment of native prairie species; and 3) examine the composition of early successional green roof plant communities. Eleven planted species were successfully established and 46 colonizing species were identified. It was found that the addition of native prairie soil did not significantly affect survival, overall cover, or biodiversity in terms of species richness and evenness.</p>

<p> This dissertation presents a case study of ecological restoration in an urban park, using a mixed-methods methodology that included a survey instrument, open-ended interviews, behavioral and trace observations, and modified grounded theory methodology for data analysis. The purpose of the study was to identify values that users of four ecologically restored areas of Chicago's Lincoln Park associated with their use of the park areas and to determine the extent to which they experienced contact with nature while visiting the areas. The study was conducted within the framework of a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of the restoration projects, the Lincoln Park Evaluation Study in the College of Architecture, Design and the Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago, which was commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service. The author, the principal investigator for the POE, developed a set of ten values or benefits associated with park use that were included in the survey instrument and informed the onsite, open-ended interviews with park users--beauty, solitude, tranquility, recreation, health, contact with nature, habitat preservation/restoration, community identity, public life, tourism, and other (to allow respondents to add their own values to the list). The results of the study indicate that users valued contact with nature and habitat restoration most, followed closely by tranquility, solitude, and beauty, with health and recreation next and public life and community identity trailing all others. No new values were added. Data analysis suggested that respondents fell roughly into two camps, those who valued contact with nature most and those who valued habitat restoration most. Respondents who selected tranquility, solitude, or beauty as important values viewed them as secondary to contact with nature or habitat restoration because the former would be unavailable without the latter. The study's results complicates the dichotomy between natural and built environments, as respondents praised the restored areas--arguably built environments--as refuges from the city. A theme that emerged from qualitative data analysis suggests that ecological restoration of urban parks might be related to nature-identities, emotional bonds with types of natural areas, calling for future research to determine the relationship between urban nature and urban residents' nature-identities.</p>

Expanding on the fields of bio-mimicry, morpho-ecologies, and dynamics and fluidity in architecture, this thesis proposes architecture as organism. It suggests that as organism, architecture is inherently responsive to the thresholds it exists on and within, thresholds which are composed not just of the physical but of the ephemeral; of time and of space. The existence, metabolism and morphology of an architectural organism becomes a function of the dynamic world into which it is born, inextricable from the ecology of the space it will inhabit. This thesis explores the architectural organism in the context of a visibly and significantly changing threshold, how connections are made between it and the world around it, and how it might engage those who are its inhabitants. The thesis is located in Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy, at the mouth of the Gaspereau River.

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-76). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Architecture has been pushed towards the realms of theorization, conceptualization and design methodologies. It is apparent that design is becoming interrupted and more associated with the manufacturing of ideas. It has lost its essence as a phenomenon whose roots are embedded in history and man’s relationship with his specific habitat. Hence, the aim of the thesis is to redirect architectural attention to Ecology and its various implications on design. The study puts forward the notion that human achievements are an outcome of the interaction between ecology, Culture and Cognitive Structure. These relationships are thought to set the principles behind environmental qualities of stability, compatibility and fitness. Once designers arrive at an understanding of these principles, they will be able to manipulate their design ideas to accommodate ever changing circumstances of their physical and cultural environments. The title “Physical, cultural and cognitive interactions in the conception and the production of the built environment” implies a significant theme which could indicate major traits that characterize modern practices and theorisation within the area of Architectural and Environmental Design Studies. In this work, it will be seen why and how: First, a lack of consideration for the physical environment, its requirements and its role in producing diversified architectural forms. The most significant outcome of a such position lies in divorcing nature, its laws and the ecosystems on which man has spent the preceding history elaborating building patterns on the basis of utilising them for his interest free of charge and without consequences to his survival. The fact is that different cultures, ways of life and differentiated built environments, which can only be attributed to man’s adaptation to different ecological conditions, have been widely swept away under the mythical notion of “International style”. Second, because the architects and theorists of the contemporary architecture admire mental constructions and abstract philosophies of their own, they have advocated an alien and distorted meaning of the concept of culture. The most likely interpretation of this vital concept is that it is viewed as related to a kind of abstract intellectual capacity in the human brain that does not lend itself to variation in the physical setting. Tragically, the adoption of such view has resulted in sweeping away subcultures which have been developed in remote areas in accordance with their geographical setting. The most acceptable meaning of culture has been to imply the role of physical environment in shaping social relations, the modes of thought, norms, beliefs, ways of life, the ideologies and the total range of customary behaviour, all of which have been influenced by people’s adaptation to their environment. Therefore, building forms, patterns of growth, town morphology, in short, architectural phenomenon, has, like culture, evolved characteristics from its natural habitat. We now often observe that such an argument is totally diminishing in the present architecture and in the environmental activities of those in charge. Third, the interruption of continuity and flow of human cognitive knowledge by introducing techniques and thoughts whose practical values, aesthetical capacities and meanings do not correspond with people’s knowledge of the environment, building behaviour or activities associated with the history of people’s relation to their own habitat. This work is structured in two main parts; the first one will deal with the contribution of the different disciplines such as Ecology, Culture, Economy, Psychology, Architecture and Urban Design from the theoretical point of view in the development of the different concepts. In the second part, we will discuss the impact of these disciplines on the production of our built environment and we will end up by suggesting a model highlighting the interactions of these disciplines in the evaluation and the production of our built environment through a chosen case study which is Algiers. The main methods used in this study are: Descriptive for the first part which is dealing with the review of the current literature on Ecology, Culture and Cognition; Analytic for the proposed model and the case study; the third method is predictive and concerns the last part of this work.

Esta pesquisa não teve a pretensão de resolver ou solucionar as questões envolvidas na problemática das coberturas vivas, e nem tão pouco dizer a maneira correta de se executar, mas sim apresentar algumas sugestões e questões a serem observadas no que se diz respeito ao desenvolvimento e aplicação da cobertura viva, e servir também de apoio para interessados na tecnologia. Ao longo de toda a apresentação da pesquisa será enfatizada a necessidade de se estudar cada cobertura dentro de seus parâmetros de singularidades impostas pelo local de implantação. Para isso desenvolveu-se um estudo sobre o sistema construtivo de cobertura conhecido atualmente como \"cobertura verde\", \"teto verde\", ou \"telhado de grama\". Essa investigação teve como enfoque questões técnicas de execução, como: impermeabilização, tipos de vegetação, tipos de drenagem, substrato, irrigação, etc. Dentro da pesquisa foram investigados alguns materiais disponíveis no mercado, que possam ser adaptados e agregados à execução da cobertura viva. Uma etapa dos estudos foi estruturada em uma análise de produção de ensaios com modelos reduzidos, a fim de observar e entender mais de perto o ciclo e o funcionamento da cobertura. Este estudo apresenta observações técnicas, realizadas tanto na fase de projeto como na de execução, fornecendo subsídios para contribuir com o aperfeiçoamento desta tecnologia. Com o objetivo de evitar qualquer tipo de endurecimento dos futuros pensamentos envolvidos na resolução da problemática da singularidade da cobertura, a pesquisa não observa uma inserção em dinâmicas regionais, como por exemplo: componentes e materiais e sua disponibilidade regional, índices pluviométricos, vegetação e clima, e outros fatores envolvidos na implantação regional da cobertura viva, sendo que cada uma destas problemáticas sugerem e abrem caminhos para muitas outras pesquisas. / This research did not aim to solve or resolve the issues involved in problematic of living roofs, and neither tell the correct way to execute, but to present some suggestions and issues to be observed as regards the development and application of a living roof, and also serve to support people who are interested in this technology. Throughout the presentation of the research will emphasize the need to study each roof within the parameters of singularities imposed by deployment location. To do this it developed a study on the construction system of coverage currently known as \"green roof\", \"green cover\", or \"grass roof.\" This investigation was focused technical issues of implementation, such as waterproofing, vegetation types, types of drain, substrate, irrigation, etc. Within the research were investigated some materials that are available in the market which can be adapted and added to the execution of living roofs. A step of studies was structured in an analysis of production tests with scale models in order to observe and understand more closely the cycle and operation of the roof. This study presents technical observations, performed either in the design phase and in the implementation, providing subsidies to contribute to the improvement of this technology. With the purpose of avoid any future tightening of thoughts involved in solving the problem of uniqueness of the roof, the research does not observe an insertion in regional dynamics, such as: materials and components and their regional availability, rainfall, vegetation and climate and other factors involved in the regional deployment of living coverage, with each of these problems and suggest ways to open many other researches.

Esta pesquisa não teve a pretensão de resolver ou solucionar as questões envolvidas na problemática das coberturas vivas, e nem tão pouco dizer a maneira correta de se executar, mas sim apresentar algumas sugestões e questões a serem observadas no que se diz respeito ao desenvolvimento e aplicação da cobertura viva, e servir também de apoio para interessados na tecnologia. Ao longo de toda a apresentação da pesquisa será enfatizada a necessidade de se estudar cada cobertura dentro de seus parâmetros de singularidades impostas pelo local de implantação. Para isso desenvolveu-se um estudo sobre o sistema construtivo de cobertura conhecido atualmente como \"cobertura verde\", \"teto verde\", ou \"telhado de grama\". Essa investigação teve como enfoque questões técnicas de execução, como: impermeabilização, tipos de vegetação, tipos de drenagem, substrato, irrigação, etc. Dentro da pesquisa foram investigados alguns materiais disponíveis no mercado, que possam ser adaptados e agregados à execução da cobertura viva. Uma etapa dos estudos foi estruturada em uma análise de produção de ensaios com modelos reduzidos, a fim de observar e entender mais de perto o ciclo e o funcionamento da cobertura. Este estudo apresenta observações técnicas, realizadas tanto na fase de projeto como na de execução, fornecendo subsídios para contribuir com o aperfeiçoamento desta tecnologia. Com o objetivo de evitar qualquer tipo de endurecimento dos futuros pensamentos envolvidos na resolução da problemática da singularidade da cobertura, a pesquisa não observa uma inserção em dinâmicas regionais, como por exemplo: componentes e materiais e sua disponibilidade regional, índices pluviométricos, vegetação e clima, e outros fatores envolvidos na implantação regional da cobertura viva, sendo que cada uma destas problemáticas sugerem e abrem caminhos para muitas outras pesquisas. / This research did not aim to solve or resolve the issues involved in problematic of living roofs, and neither tell the correct way to execute, but to present some suggestions and issues to be observed as regards the development and application of a living roof, and also serve to support people who are interested in this technology. Throughout the presentation of the research will emphasize the need to study each roof within the parameters of singularities imposed by deployment location. To do this it developed a study on the construction system of coverage currently known as \"green roof\", \"green cover\", or \"grass roof.\" This investigation was focused technical issues of implementation, such as waterproofing, vegetation types, types of drain, substrate, irrigation, etc. Within the research were investigated some materials that are available in the market which can be adapted and added to the execution of living roofs. A step of studies was structured in an analysis of production tests with scale models in order to observe and understand more closely the cycle and operation of the roof. This study presents technical observations, performed either in the design phase and in the implementation, providing subsidies to contribute to the improvement of this technology. With the purpose of avoid any future tightening of thoughts involved in solving the problem of uniqueness of the roof, the research does not observe an insertion in regional dynamics, such as: materials and components and their regional availability, rainfall, vegetation and climate and other factors involved in the regional deployment of living coverage, with each of these problems and suggest ways to open many other researches.

No description available.

The work deals with the possibility of use the traditional knowledges and methods in construction with regards to today's lifestyle and technology, emphasizes the importance of the legacy, respect for countryside, individuality and surrounding environment. Above all I try to summarize the information about the current situation in architecture of family houses, which influence dominates in this area and which choices we have. I target especially the organic architecture mainly for wood constructions. At the beginning of the work I describe the issues of present architecture. I am dealing with the question if traditional and modern way of life must be in conflict, how we change our environment today and what could be the eventual effects for the future. The second part of the work is focused on the traditional vernacular architecture in South Bohemia, especially in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava) region, on types of construction, use and processing of materials and their integration into the countryside. The final part is applied to present ecology architecture. Firstly I summarize and identify the objects in general, subsequently I focus on the wood constructions, which correspond to traditional knowledge and experience in the manufacture and processing of wood.

Presented theses dealing with the complex influence of human activity on the environment. Particularly provides the calculation of carbon footprint volume consumed during manufacturing of raw materials used for a normal and a low-energy house. The calculation of the energy performance certificate for both variants is also included. To evaluate of economical demanding investment to both mentioned houses including carbon dioxide disposal, the theoretical calculation of the price of carbon footprint equivalent has to be determined. The aim of this study is an investigation of carbon footprint in construction industry focusing on the production of carbon dioxide during the realization of a normal and low-energy house.