Day Christopher - Living architecture, living cities : soul-nourishing sustainability

The book contains fascinating studies and considerations about complex problems of mutual relations between human habitats and natural environment. The reader is encouraged to rethink and redefine the basic priorities faced by architects in the design processes of settlements and cities in order to reduce the negative environmental impact. The authors drawings and illustrations add great value to the book.

Janusz Rebielak, Faculty of Architecture, Cracow University of Technology, Poland, Chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Town Planning of the Wroclaw Branch of the Polish Academy of Science, Poland

Those constructing homes for the future may be well versed in best sustainability practice and technological solutions to the carbon footprint, but Christopher Day and Julie Gwilliam see little quarter being given to vital and life-sustaining matters of soul and spirit. In this challenging, radical book they argue that without spiritual thinking in the mix we can never have spiritual comfort in our homes.

Angela Neustatter, journalist and author

Christopher Day and Julie Gwilliam write from a profound holistic point of view, with intuitive understanding of the subtle messages of architecture and based on Days deep all-embracing philosophy. With extensive research and a large number of photos and exquisite drawings they provide small and big solutions to our environmental problems, including that of the need to be close to nature within cities, and creating beautiful surroundings and quiet spaces.

Petra Jebens-Zirkel, holistic-organic architect

Based on scores of illustrations from the literature on architecture and urban design, the authors enter a plea for an architecture of the city grounded in the spirit of place. Their call is for humanity and sensitivity in design; sustainability is not a science but a conscience.

Lino Bianco, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta

As a social and political activist Christopher Days science-based insight is my tool to persuade planners and politicians to change the direction of development. This book is a full toolbox of vision backed by solid science. The illustrations offer instant grasp of the principles that turn a hard shell into a breathing skin for social, economic, familial and cultural life to flourish through exceptionally challenging times.

Vicky Moller, charity director, political activist and chair of West Wales town and community forums

Its widely accepted that our environment is in crisis. Less widely recognized is that three quarters of environmental damage is due to cities the places where most of us live. As this powerful new book elucidates, global sustainability is therefore directly dependent on urban design.

In Living Architecture, Living Cities Christopher Day and Julie Gwilliam move beyond the current emphasis on technological change. They argue that eco-technology allows us to continue broadly as before and only defers the impending disaster. In reality, most negative environmental impacts are due to how we live and the things we buy. Such personal choices often result from dissatisfaction with our surroundings. As perceived environment has a direct effect on attitudes and motivations, improving this can achieve more sustainable lifestyles more effectively than drastic building change with its notorious performance-gap limitations. As its in places that our inner feelings and material reality interact, perceived environment is place-based. Ultimately, however, as the root cause of unsustainability is attitude, real change requires moving from the current focus on buildings and technology to an emphasis on the non-material.

Featuring over 400 high quality illustrations, this is essential reading for anyone who believes in the value and power of good design. Christopher Days philosophy will continue to inspire students with an interest in sustainable architecture, urban planning and related fields.

Christopher Day was an eco-architect, self-builder and sculptor. He designed buildings in line with the ecological principles of his books and won several awards. A former visiting professor at Queens University, Belfast, he also designed, consulted, taught and lectured in over 20 countries worldwide, from California to Siberia, Sweden to New Zealand: wide-ranging climates and cultures. He was awarded an MBE for his services to architecture and innovation in the 2016 Queens Birthday Honours list. His previous publications include Places of the Soul 3rd edition, Consensus Design, Environment and Children and Spirit and Place, also available from Routledge.

Sadly, Chris passed away in the spring of 2019 shortly after we completed the final draft of this manuscript. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family and all who knew him. It was a privilege and a joy to have worked with Chris on this project, of which I hope he would have been proud.

Julie Gwilliam is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK, as well as Postgraduate Dean for the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering. For ten years she led the MSc in Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design and she continues to contribute to teaching on the subject of sustainability throughout the school, including the MA in Urban Design.

First published 2020

by Routledge

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and by Routledge

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2020 Christopher Day and Julie Gwilliam

The right of Christopher Day and Julie Gwilliam to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Day, Christopher, 1942- author. | Gwilliam, Julie P.

Title: Living architecture, living cities : soul-nourishing sustainability / Christopher Day ; with Julie Gwilliam.

Description: New York : Routledge, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018056471| ISBN 9781138594807 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781138594821 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780429488559 (e-book : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: ArchitecturePsychological aspects. | Sustainable urban development.

Classification: LCC NA2540 .D33 2019 | DDC 720.1/9dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018056471

ISBN: 978-1-138-59480-7 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-138-59482-1 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-429-48855-9 (ebk)

To my parents, to whom I owe so much. From my mother, I learnt that if somethings worth doing, its worth doing beautifully. From my father, I learnt the purpose of work is service. From both, I learnt to improvise, so nothing is ever impossible. CD

The earth is our mother. What befalls the earth befalls all the sons and daughters of the earth. This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. (Attributed to) Chief Seattle