Some of the first ecologically-conscious design imitated nature. In the 1970s, for example, an ecological aesthetic emerged; buildings were visibly inspired by nature. This was really a reaction to the machine aesthetic that had been practised by Modernists since the 1920s.
For example, the Thorncrown Chapel (1980) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was designed by Fay Jones. In green design it is important that materials are from renewable sources and that they are sourced locally, which reduces the fuel needed for transport. This chapel was built from the trees that were cleared to make way for the building. It demonstrates that timber is a valuable material. It has high-tensile strength, like steel. It has its own colour, grain and texture. It has deep cultural meanings, evoking the forest it came from.
Likewise, the Cooper Memorial Chapel (1988) in Bella Vista, Arkansas was designed by the same architect, Fay Jones. This is curvilinear in form. It is reminiscent of the Gothic style of architecture, which was traditionally used for churches. Gothic was based on natural forms, so this returns Gothic to its origins. It uses the fabric of nature as the primary material.
These buildings were green in the sense that they were inspired by nature. But the ultimate conclusion for ecological thinking is to redefine design as a comprehensive awareness of the relationships between people and the environment. This has led to radical solutions.
