Introduction

The fifth International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature (Eco-Architecture 2014) follows the four successful meetings which started in the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute of Technology, in 2006; and continued in the Algarve (2008); A Coruña (2010) and the island of Kos (2012).

Eco-Architecture implies a new approach to the design process intended to harmonise its products with nature. This involves ideas such as minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, taking into account the amount required during the extraction and transportation of materials, their fabrication, assembly, building erection, maintenance and eventual future recycling. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and long time honoured samples of traditional constructions.

The conference will deal with topics such as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from many different places around the world. The list of topics gives an idea of the scope of the meeting; papers on other topics relating to the conference objectives are welcome.

Eco-Architecture is very multi-disciplinary by definition, attracting, in addition to architects, many other professionals. In that regard the conference participants, as well as architects, are expected to be engineers, planners, physical scientists, sociologists and economists, providing all of them an opportunity to share information and ideas with their colleagues from different regions around the world.