Building for People - by Michael Eliason (Paperback)

About the Book

In Building for People, architect and ecodistrict planner Michael Eliason makes the case for low-carbon ecodistricts and presents practical tools for developing these residential and mixed-use communities. As cities turn brownfields into green fields and look to maximize public investment in transit and infrastructure, ecodistricts are the answer. Eliason shows that this type of affordable, climate-adaptive living option is possible anywhere.

Full-color photos and illustrations show what is possible in ecodistricts through examples around the world. Looking at small districts like Steingau in Kirchheim unter Teck, to massive urban redevelopment like Vienna's Sonnwendviertel and Seestadt-Aspern as models, Eliason argues that building regulations and planning processes in the US must change to make these livable neighborhoods possible.

Building for People shows professionals involved in regulating, planning, or designing our communities that high-quality, low-carbon living is within reach.

Book Synopsis

Picture a beautiful, green neighborhood where most of your needs could be met by walking, rolling, or accessing transit. There is a diversity of housing types with abundant affordable and middle-income options. Schools, services, and pedestrianized streets make the neighborhood family friendly. As cities turn brownfields into green fields and look to maximize public investment in transit and infrastructure, ecodistricts are the answer. Eliason shows that this type of affordable, climate-adaptive living option is possible anywhere.

In Building for People, architect and ecodistrict planner Michael Eliason makes the case for low-carbon ecodistricts and presents tools for developing these residential and mixed-use quarters or neighborhoods. Drawing from his experience working in Europe and North America, he shows the potential for new climate-adaptive ecodistricts that directly and equitably address our housing shortages while simultaneously planning for climate change. Eliason explains that to create highly livable places with a low carbon impact, ecodistricts must incorporate ample social housing for a good economic and social mix of residents, invest in open space, create infrastructure that can adapt to a changing climate, and offer car-free or car-light realms. He also looks at how public health, livability, climate adaptation, and quality of life are interconnected.

Full-color photos and illustrations show what is possible in ecodistricts around the world, drawing heavily from examples in German cities.

Building for People shows professionals involved in regulating, planning, or designing our communities that high-quality, low-carbon living is within reach.

Review Quotes

"Building for People shows professionals involved in regulating, planning, or designing our communities that high-quality, low-carbon living is within reach. Of special interest to readers concerned with environmentally sustainable architectural and community design issues, as well as urban land use planning, codes/standards."-- "Midwest Book Review"

"Building for People began life as a guest post in my newsletter. I knew from how fascinating it was there -- and how intensely the audience reacted to it -- that it would make for a fantastic book. Nobody is smarter than Mike about the built sector and how we can do it better."---David Roberts, proprietor of "Volts," a newsletter & podcast about tackling climate change

"Building for People is a vital guide for creating urban spaces where people can truly thrive. Michael Eliason's insights into low-carbon eco-districts align with the principles of happy urban proximity, fostering communities that are both sustainable and deeply connected. Through real-world examples, he demonstrates how we can build neighborhoods that prioritize human well-being and environmental resilience, making cities more livable for all."---Professor Carlos Moreno, Paris1 Sorbonne University - IAE, creator of the 15-Minute Concept

"This book offers an invitation to imagining the powerful possibilities to be found between the denial and inertia of contemporary planning and the dreary insubstantiality of utopian urban dreams. Districts are very likely to be where the future gets built."---Alex Steffen, award- winning writer and one of the world's leading practitioners of climate foresight

About the Author

Michael Eliason is an architect and founder of Larch Lab--part architecture and urbanism studio, part "think and do" tank focusing on research and policy, decarbonized low-energy buildings, and climate adaptive urbanism. Michael is also a writer, and an award-winning architect specializing in mass timber, social housing, baugruppen (urban cohousing), and ecodistricts. His career has been dedicated to advancing innovation and broadening the discourse on sustainable development, passivhaus, non-market housing, and decarbonized construction. He serves on the board of Seattle's new Passivhaus Social Housing Developer PDA. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and became a Passivhaus consultant in 2010. His professional experience includes work in both the Pacific Northwest, and Germany. He has been a guest critic and lecturer at several institutions and has presented internationally.