Ecological Design is the art and science of designing an appropriate fit between the human environment and the natural world. Ecological design begins with the intimate knowledge of a particular place. It is small-scale and direct, responsive to both local conditions and local people. If we are sensitive to the nuances of place, we can inhabit without destroying. Ecological accounting traces the environmental impacts of existing and proposed designs. It is an accounting which links our actions to the health of sometimes distant ecosystems. The information is used to make ecologically sound design decisions. By working with living processes, we respect the needs of all species while meeting our own. Engaging in processes that regenerate rather than deplete, we become more alive. De-natured environments ignore our need and our potential for learning. Making natural cycles and processes visible brings the designed environment back to life. Effective design helps inform us of our place within nature. Listen to every voice in the design process. Everyone is a participant-designer. Honor the special knowledge that each person brings. As people work together to heal their places, they also heal themselves. In their book, Ecological Design, Sim, and his co-author Stuart Cowan, present and explore these five principles in greater detail.
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