Summary

The most essential theme of the 21st century would be to sustain the earth environment. We began to work for the "Sustainable Communities" in which to conserve the forest and water environment, to make circulatory societies, to cut down CO2 and other harmful gasses in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, and to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel by the development of new energy. In 2005, the World Exposition "Ai Chiyuhaku" is held at Nagakute-cho in Aichi prefecture. It attracted wide attention and, in effect, 121 nations are taking part in the fair. It proposes to solve the problems from a global point of view, to materialize the sustainable communities and, for us, to grow to be the global citizen. In the past when we used the term "environmental design" in meant comfortableness, convenience, and forms and shapes simply good to the eye. Now we are asked to consider the earth environment for the future. A wider view is required, which is to be extended from mountains and woods to institutions, from rural areas to cities. But if we are still after the economic development, the reduction of time by using fast transportations, and the stable life, we may continue to destroy the environment. So the role of environmental design is now greater than ever before. It must satisfy these desires natural to humanity and keep the earth environment at the same time. The works in this Environmental Design Best Library are a collection of the best designs done by refined and trained designers. All of them are meant to contribute to the theme to sustain society and to live together. It is expected that the ideal environmental designs are found here.