Urban area as a part of an ecosystem

Abstract

This study is an attempt to provide a basis for developing a new criteria for architecture and urban design in balance with the natural environment and from aesthetical, energy-saving, and physical and mental health points of view.The necessity of environmental assessment is understood more widely every day and new devices and ideas are developed such as the autonomous house, linear car, use of alternative energies, etc., which can be applied to keep the city climate desirable.Here the city is looked upon as a living organ on earth having to cope with the climatic factors of the ecosystem it belongs to, in order to avoid the destruction of the ecosystem by which its life is sustained. As a reference, a study is made about the adaptation methods of the living creatures as well as traditional architecture to different climates of the world. A new classification of architectural styles based on main divisions of plants of arid and humid areas, namely, xerophytes and hygrophytes is developed.An attempt to keep the urban climate as clean as the greater climate by adapting the above method, not only ensures the physical and mental health of the inhabitants but also makes it possible to have attractive cities with identities and characters distinguished from each other by their specific climatic features.