Design for a Living Planet: Settlement, Science, and the Human Future

by Michael W. Mehaffy, Nikos A. Salingaros

In this brief, accessible volume, the authors -- an urban philosopher and a mathematician-physicist -- explain the surprising new findings from the sciences that are beginning to transform environmental design in the modern era. Michael Mehaffy and Nikos Salingaros explore fractals, networks, self-organization, dynamical systems and other revolutionary ideas, describing them to non-science readers in a direct and engaging way. The book also examines fascinating new topics of design, including Agile, Wiki, Design Patterns and other "open-source" approaches from the software world. The authors conclude that a profound transformation is under way in modern design -- and today's students and practitioners will need to be aware of its implications for our future.

Genres: Architecture

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Tony Crispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we have an essay collection by the Shaq and Kobe of urban design science, and it's pretty good. Definitely one of the more accessible primers/introductions to design complexity and biophilic urbanism, and it's honestly shocking how much they're able to compress it since these conversations can go on for volumes.
Being an essay collection, it does kind of repeat itself often, which is just slightly annoying. I also noticed that they want to come at all of these issues from the perspective of responding to climate change and deviating from our hyper-consumption economy, but then they usually forget halfway through the essay and then they loop it back literally in the last paragraph almost every time.
I think it's funny that the last few chapters are dedicated to glazing Christopher Alexander (rightfully so) and then the back has a review from the Big CA where he's like "Wow, these guys here are pretty clever."
Anyway, if you've finished some of Alexander's works and want these theories expanded and updated, this is a fantastic place to start.

[Kartikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opener book

A must book for all those who want to have a correct vision of seeing the short comings of modern architecture.