Giving expression to the potential harmony of man-nature : a habitable space designed with nature in the city of Boston, Massachusetts

Abstract

Human beings are part of the ecosystem. They are interrelated with nature. But in the past few generations, the environment has lost its intrinsic fitness for ecosystems, organisms, and land uses; partially due to the fact that contemporary built forms have often denied the place of nature in their designs. Presently, the human population at large is alienated from nature, their wellbeings are degraded, and they are living less meaningfully than before. This thesis is to propose a new set of design principles in which built forms will once again recognize the place of nature. It is hoped that through the built environment, the harmony of man-nature will be augmented. This document is not to merely reinforce what many other contemporaries have already brought out. It will also take a concrete example to demonstrate how the knowledge may be applied to an actual environment -- because what this generation needs is not a better view on ecology, but a better working method. There are five parts to this document: an introduction; a discussion of my personal view on the relationship between man, nature, and the built environment; a set of design principles to augment the harmony of man-nature through the built environment; a design project applying those principles to an actual site; and finally, a conclusion retrospecting to the thesis process as well as envisioning the future.