Human and nature thrive together

Author: Ouyang Yufeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The concept of "harmonious coexistence between humans and their living environment" primarily focuses on the relationship between humans and their living spaces. The term "human" encompasses both the biological definition and the spiritual and cultural dimensions. "Living space" refers not merely to a small room for shelter, but to a comprehensive scope that includes the relationships between humans and buildings, buildings and buildings, buildings and the environment, micro-environments and macro-environments, and even relationships with unoccupied spaces. It aims to achieve a high-level, large-scale, three-dimensional integration of the universe, the earth, and everything in between.
Therefore, we can adopt a relatively detached perspective, integrating mature scientific knowledge such as astronomy, geography, the history of human civilization (including evolution), environmental arts, landscape planning, architecture, ergonomics, interior design, philosophy, aesthetics, psychology, behavioral science, literature, law, relational studies, humanities and history, traditional architectural theory, and even traditional Chinese medicine, with practical insights to organically combine the universe and the earth within the realm of architecture, thereby better serving humanity.
Humans are the protagonists of architecture because they stand between heaven and earth. Therefore, buying a home is essentially about purchasing the balance of the larger environment. Here, the concept of "balance" is not the average quality of residential complexes, gardens, or layouts as promoted by developers, but rather a higher level of balance, including both the visible, three-dimensional space and the invisible, multi-dimensional space, as well as seemingly unrelated multidisciplinary knowledge.
As a philosopher once said, "It's not about what you do, but how you do it." This book follows this principle, dividing its content into three volumes in sequence: from the universe to the earth, from the distant past to the present, from the environment to architecture, from the material to the spiritual, from three dimensions to multiple dimensions, and from various scientific disciplines to human beings. The book progresses from simple to complex, aiming to comprehensively, deeply, and meticulously interpret these concepts, hoping to inspire readers.
The first volume provides an overview of cosmic space, human development, the theory of yin and yang and the five elements, the surrounding environment of buildings, landscape planning, the layout of mountains, waters, forests, and trees, as well as architectural forms and frameworks. It naturally extends to the scientific selection and consideration of building clusters, entrances, floors, orientations, and residential layouts. From the natural macro-environment to the middle environment of residential complexes, and then from the middle environment of community planning to the micro-environment of residential properties, it ultimately focuses on human emotions and their influence, striving to align objective conditions as closely as possible with one's innate and acquired traits, making life and development more suitable and beneficial.
The second volume emphasizes how to highlight human agency in the renovation and redesign of residential layouts, how to proactively transform and arrange the micro-environment of the home, and how to harmoniously integrate the macro-environment, middle environment, and micro-environment with the key individual. It also discusses how to correctly handle the relationships and renovation principles of entrances, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and balconies, illustrated with examples. This includes technical requirements, dimensions, materials, colors, furniture placement, and an introduction to Feng Shui knowledge, providing a reference for readers during the renovation process. It guides readers step by step to achieve accurate and rational methods, transforming "predestined" in architectural spaces to satisfactory results.
The third volume places greater emphasis on the humanistic aspects of architecture. This includes legal considerations and potential price reductions when selecting residential properties, as well as human relationships and lifestyle cultures to be noted when choosing a home. It also offers a unique perspective to analyze the characteristics of residential complex names, including the future implications hidden in the names of developers, allowing readers to anticipate potential events and outcomes during the process of selecting and purchasing properties, aiming to ensure a life of stability rather than entrapment. Additionally, it explores the true meanings of the names, contents, and forms of famous gardens and landscapes in ancient and modern times, as well as the rise and fall of historical buildings and their associated figures, discussing from one angle the relationship between the environment, architecture, and human development.
Some may ask, "The sun moves across the sky and rivers flow through the earth—what does this have to do with me? The topic seems too broad, distant, and abstract!" A fitting analogy is this: Open a dark room with no windows. The faint light from the door is not enough to see what is in the corner of the wall. However, not seeing something does not mean it doesn't exist, and not seeing it does not mean it doesn't exist either. The combination of the visible and the invisible is one of the key techniques in artistic design and creation. What the naked eye cannot directly see, we temporarily categorize as "the invisible," while what it can directly see, we categorize as "the visible." Since the invisible takes precedence in this combination, please read this book from the perspective of "the invisible" to "the visible."