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

Windscaping considerations
• 
Locating fencing, shrubs and trees to block strong winds and channel breezes into 
buildings.
• 
Reducing existing and potential urban wind tunnels effects through urban building form.
• 
Designing building roof shapes, floor plans, locations of windows and doors, etc to 
protect living areas from winter winds, collect summer breezes and optimize wind 
effects.
Firescaping considerations
• 
Considering flyscreens integrated in pergolas and fences that are moistened with spray 
irrigation from a watertank to reduce bush fire hazards and provide evaporative cooling. 
• 
Considering a water sprinkler on the roof connected to the rainwater tank for use in 
case of bush fire. In bushfire prone areas, link to external fire alarm.
• 
Constructing a brick wall ‘fence’ around slow combustion fireplace to reduce the risk of 
fire escaping and to provide thermal storage of heat from the fireplace.
• 
Follow fire-sensitive design principles for building design and landscaping (eg which 
reduce places for embers to burn on the building).
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Contact with nature in urban areas considerations
• 
Providing outdoor open space, seating and plazas for employees and/or the general 
public.
• 
Ensuring the possibility of integrated food production on-site (eg roofs, balconies, atria).
• 
Providing worm or mushroom composting facilities attached to restaurants and tea 
rooms for on-site gardens.
• 
Designing building forms to provide areas for indoor plants, ponds and fountains.
• 
Using solar landscaping (eg trees for shading and ponds/fountains for cooling).
• 
Allowing private and public areas for gardening (eg roof gardens, balconies and atria).
• 
Integrating indoor/outdoor work areas with gardens where possible.
• 
Including visual amenities such as butterfly sanctuaries.
• 
Creating micro-habitats for flora, fauna and fungi (eg nest areas on solar screens and 
balconies).