Eco-Architecture II: Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature (Wit Transactions on Ecology and the Environment)

The development of Eco-Architecture is driven by the depletion of natural resources, especially fossil fuels and the need to preserve the balance of nature. Eco-Architecture makes every effort to minimize the use of energy at each stage of a building's life cycle, including the extraction and transportation of materials; their fabrication; their assembly into the building; and ultimately the ease and value of their recycling when the building's life is over. The design may also take into consideration the use of energy in building maintenance and changes in its use, not to mention its lighting, heating and cooling, particularly where the energy consumed involves the emission of greenhouse gases.This book contains papers presented at the Second International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, held in The Algarve, Portugal.The multi-disciplinary nature of Eco-Architecture is reflected in the contents, which includes topics on: historical and philosophical aspects; ecological and cultural sensitivity; energy and building technologies; alternative and renewable sources of energy; design with nature; design with climate, siting and orientation; materials selection and their life cycle assessment of materials; design by passive systems; conservation and re-use of water; building operation and management; rehabilitation and adaptive re-use; and case studies.