1. ARCH 5351
ECOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE &URBANISM
CONTACT HOURS: 4 HOURS / WEEK
TOTAL CREDITS: 05
MAXIMUM MARKS: INTERNAL ASSESSMENT: 50%
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION: 50%
NAME OF FACULTY: Days Email Id:
Ar. Gagan Jain TUESDAY & FRIDAY nims.gaganjain@gmail.com
2. COURSE Overview
To provide fundamental knowledge about natural and built
environment.
To introduce the students to fundamental concepts to understand
environmental processes.
The curriculum further incorporates understanding in relation to local
& international context.
An attempt to have a detailed understanding of Ethiopia’s natural
environment and the threats to them.
L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
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3. COURSE OUTCOMEs
To make the students aware about the scientific knowledge and current
debates on the environment at three nested scales, including their interlink
ages –Global, Regional and Local.
To enable the students to understand cause-and-effect relationships
between various human, natural and climatic factors that impinges upon
ecological systems and their linkages. Through its focus on real-life examples
and through the medium of studio exercises, the student learns ways in
which ecological and environmental concerns can be integrated
(synthesis) into Architectural programs.
To be able to be sensitive with global & national environmental issues, the
scale of impacts, important conventions, laws and policies in the field of
biodiversity, and environmental protection.
To develop and integrate higher level studios with that have complex briefs,
including environmental and ecological concerns.
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4. COURSE Contents
Module 1 - Fundamentals of Environment & Ecology
Module 2 - Bio-geographic regions
Module 3 - Environmental Degradation and Human Impacts
Module 4 - Applications of Ecological Methods and Techniques in
Architecture (Techniques and Details)
L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
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6. Importance
When an architect or a town planner plans, he is in
actuality, playing with a ‘living system’.
The intervention can be disastrous if insufficient thought is
given to the effects of development, especially its long-
term consequences on the environment.
The blend between man and nature will not be
harmonious, but there will be imbalance or contradiction
instead.
In the long-run the total environment is bound to
deteriorate.
This is what ecology is all about- the inter-relationship
between living and non-living things and their habitat.
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7. L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
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Ecological Architecture is a type of Urban
Greening, which is about creating green
spaces that promote symbiosis between
urban and natural environment.
As cities around the world become larger
ecological architecture has grown to
promote that symbiosis in new, creative,
aesthetically pleasing ways.
Definition
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Module 1 - Contents
Environment definition, Environmental Segments, Concepts of Ecosystem:
Fundamentals of Ecology and Ecosystem, Components of ecosystem, definition of
Ecology, ecosystem processes in a site, Organisms and the Environment, Habitat
and Niche, Environmental Factors, Ecological Adaptations, Population, Biotic
Community and Succession
Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of different
ecosystems: Forest, Grassland, Desert and Aquatic ecosystem.
Effects of human activities on environment: Agriculture, Housing, Industry, Mining
and Transportation activities,
Cite the known threats to Ethiopia’s & the World’s Biological Diversity
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Definition
The environment may be defined as the
surroundings or conditions in which an organism
lives or operates.
The environment broadly includes living and non
living components.., which are ?
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Components of Environment
Biotic Abiotic
Living organisms including
plants,
Light, climate (humidity and
temperature)
animals, microorganisms
(bacteria,
atmospheric gases, water,
substrata
fungi, protozoa), and human
beings.
(soil, river/sea bed).
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Definition
‘Ecology may be defined as the scientific study of
the relationship of living organisms with each other
and with their environment.’
L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
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Ecology is study of interactions
between
non-living components in the
environment…
light
water
wind
nutrients in soil
heat
solar radiation
atmosphere, etc.
AND…
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Ecosystem
Now you know that earth is
perhaps the only planet in the
solar system that supports life.
The portion of the earth which
sustains life is called biosphere.
Biosphere is very huge and
can not be studied as a single
entity. It is divided into many
distinct functional units called
ecosystem.
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Definition
An ecosystem is a functional
unit of nature encompassing
complex interaction
between its biotic (living)
and abiotic (non-living)
components.
For example- a pond is a
good example of
ecosystem.
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Functions of Ecosystem
Ecosystems are complex dynamic system. They perform certain functions.
These are:-
(i) Energy flow through food chain
(ii) Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
(iii) Ecological succession or ecosystem development
(iv) Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms
Ponds, lakes, meadows, marshlands, grasslands, deserts and forests are
examples of natural ecosystem. Many of you have seen an aquarium; a
garden or a lawn etc. in your neighbourhood. These are man made
ecosystem.
L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
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Types of Ecosystem
Ecosystems can be broadly classified as –
(i) Natural Ecosystems
Totally dependent on solar radiation e.g. forests, grasslands, oceans,
lakes, rivers and deserts. They provide food, fuel, fodder and medicines.
Ecosystems dependent on solar radiation and energy subsidies
(alternative sources) such as wind, rain and tides. e.g tropical rain forests,
tidal estuaries and coral reefs.
(ii) Man-made Ecosystems
Dependent on solar energy-e.g. Agricultural fields and aquaculture
ponds.
Dependent on fossil fuel e.g. urban and industrial ecosystems.
L – 1 Ecological Architecture & Urbanism Ar.Gagan Jain
35. Why we are studying eco system
One of the greatest challenges facing humans and their
civilization is to develop an understanding of the
fundamentals of ecosystem organization, how they
function and how they are structured.
36. Summary
Environment is defined as the surroundings of an organism.
The environment comprises of non living (abiotic)
components like temperature, light, water, humidity etc.
and living or biotic components such as other organisms
sharing those surroundings.
Ecosystems are made up of abiotic (non-living,
environmental) and biotic components.
38. Assignment 1
1. Define Environment, Ecology and its components with
graphical illustrations.
2. What do you mean by Ecosystem? Elaborate Different
kinds of Ecosystem with the help of diagrams.
3. According to you, what is the importance of studying
ecology in Architecture?
