Relational architecture : how can ecological-relational principles inform architecture?

This research aims to investigate how an understanding of ecological behaviour in certain living systems can inform the design of the built environment. The main hypothesis that this research raises is that an understanding of living systems' organisation and behaviour can contribute to further development of the sustainable design discourse. It is therefore within the scope of this research to offer an analysis and appropriation of ecological principles into the design field, with a specific focus on the built environment. The research commences with an overview of some ecological principles, as they are manifested in natural living systems, continues with an evaluation of current sustainable architecture discourse and its possible drawbacks, and concludes with a suggestive application of the ecological principles into architectural design. It is assumed that by being exposed to ecological principles of behaviour, architects and designers may begin to appreciate their importance and relevance to the design disciplines, and especially to architecture, which functions as a built, environmental interface between natural and behavioural processes, and for this reason - should arguably be able to reflect both. This research aims to provide a methodology for the application of certain ecological principles into the built environment by viewing architectural principles as an interface between people and nature. Therefore, the ecological principles will be applied to the relationships between already existing natural processes on site and the people that interact with them ('the users'). The architectural system, then, becomes a platform on which these relationships are manifested.