This is the second quarter of a year-long program which explores the general nature of ecological design and involves students and faculty in the design of real buildings and related projects on and near the Evergreen campus.

The goal is to make a difference to these projects. Areas of needed knowledge include ecology, physical science, visual art and architecture, as well as aspects of community studies, economics, and organizational dynamics. Students need to become grounded enough in these areas to make sound, defensible contributions to real-world design processes.

The general theme for Winter Quarter is Systems and Cycles. Readings, lectures, studio exercises, and projects will emphasize ways in which ecological design must respect interdependence of projects with the rest of this finite planet.

The needed knowledge combines awareness with practice -- seeing, hearing, drawing, making, speaking, calculating, consulting, pondering, and choosing.

A principal task for the program is to investigate the question, "What is ecological design?" One shorthand Fall Quarter answer said: eco-design is sustainable, visible, and responsible. We will pause periodically for people to articulate personal answers to this primary question.

Lecture/Seminar: Background talks, slides, videos, and discussion of key concepts in ecology, applied physics, community studies, and design, including applications to current projects in the United States and abroad. Topics will include: nutrient cycles, behavior of fluids, structure and strength of materials, and economic aspects of design, together with applications to specific eco-design issues and situations. The time commitment is 6-8 hours per week of class time (including a seminar session each week), plus reading and written work (incuding a short piece in advance of each seminar).

Studio: Continuation of introductory design study, organized three-week design cycles (definition, exploration, decision, presentation). Each cycle will consider a major generator of building forms -- structure and materials, sources and places, forces and flows. Students will learn fundamentals of architectural drawing, practice the generation of design possibilities, and assemble well-documented presentations. 6 hours per week of class time, plus considerable out of class preparation.

Project Work -- Making a Difference: All Winter Quarter students will affiliate with one of the "real-world" projects below, as part of a faculty-supervised team. A typical project grows from the needs of an external group, which is the ultimate decision-maker; the Shelter faculty-student team aims to assist this external process through research, design exploration, and participation in decisions. Specific forms of work will differ considerably from project to project. The time commitment will be 4 hour or more per week, including a weekly progress meeting with the faculty supervisor.