Committee on the Environment

In addition to Nathaniel McCormick's recommendation of wonderful books, I encourage all to find, and learn from, "Native Genius in Anonymous Architecture" by Sibyl Moholy-Nagy (Horizon Press 1957).  There is much wisdom here, as well as evidence that "sustainable design" is neither new news, nor the sole province of architects.

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Sidney Delson FAIA
East Hampton NY
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This is a great conversation, with some good references- thanks to Susan Parrish for the great article! I second Sidney's recommendation of Sibyl Moholy-Nagy's book. Another I've found quite insightful is Ecohouse: A Design Guide, by Sue Roaf, Manuel Fuentes and Stephanie Thomas.

While this is another hot-arid climate solution, I am fascinated with the evaporative cooling concept of the African zeer pot, which is similar in strategy to the Spanish botijo. Are you aware of any examples where this is used at the building scale, rather than just at the food vessel scale? (I am not, yet.)

What other passive, vernacular strategies have you come across?

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Cory Trembath AIA
Building Conservation Associates, Inc.
Boston MA
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