‘This is a wonderful book that should be on the desk of every architect and planner. It shows how

Externalities
: Conventional design external-
izes negative impacts onto nature and society.
Externalities are where a development or system 
imposes collateral damage on society. They are gen
-
erally created by interventions in natural systems (eg 
engineering structures) that remove and/or reduce 
the ecological base.
Expropriations
: Conventional design also inter-
nalizes free resources and benefits from nature and 
society are where resources are extracted from the 
public domain at below replacement cost. This results 
in ‘internalities’ or even unjust enrichment, where a 
private business or organization receives inordinate 
benefits at the expense of the general public.
Closed loop
: Negative impacts are internalized in 
closed loop design, not imposed upon nature. Closed 
loops internalize the impacts of development. They 
could be ‘no loop’, which means the design does not 
produce any waste to begin with (eg buildings that 
provide natural ventilation versus air conditioning.

Closed loop design can achieve relative ‘resource au-

tonomy’. However, this can be essentially recycling. It 
is not re-distributive or net positive in itself.
Net Positive Development
: Positive off and 
on site impacts are generated to increase the eco-
logical base and public estate If a development is net 
positive, the flows through the building contribute 
back to the natural environment (ie buildings increase 
natural capital and eco-services). What comes out of 
a building is healthier than what goes in. In addition, 
however, the total size and health of the ecology is 
improved over what existed before.
Development
or activity
Development
or activity
Development
or activity
Development
or activity

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Positive Development