When it comes to the future of sustainable architecture, the natural inclination is to turn to emerging technologies as tools to reduce our environmental impact. Julia Watson, who coined the Lo-Tek movement, believes that in order to move forward, we need to look back to the multi-generational wisdom of Indigenous peoples. By embracing the vernacular, she argues, we can not only resist the idea that Indigenous practices are primitive but also harness the benefits of place-based design that works with rather than against its context. Four chapters hone in on different climates — mountains, forests, deserts and wetlands — highlighting case studies from 18 countries across the world, from the rice terraces of Bali and the Philippines to the underground aqueducts of Iran.

What if health was the basis for judging every public space and building? This is the question at the core of architect (and Human/Nature conference speaker) Tye Farrow’s book. With the understanding that buildings communicate to their users, and as such have the ability to improve (or worsen) their mental and physical health, Farrow approaches the design of architecture through a scientific lens. After an extensive theoretical overview, he unpacks tangible examples of salubrious design strategies at the scale of cities, single-family homes, educational buildings and healthcare spaces. And if this tome didn’t offer enough in the way of reading material, he closes with a recommendation of 50 books for additional exploration.

Mass timber has been positioned as a panacea for the highly carbon-intensive construction industry. But as founding principal of Mattaforma and Human/Nature conference speaker Lindsey Wikstrom explains in the introduction of her debut book, “mass timber has the potential to be non-extractive, but is not inevitably so.” In subsequent chapters, she explores how we can use timber in a responsible way and the challenges of doing so. Tracing the supply chain from the forest to the construction site, she debunks common myths about building with wood, including its fire performance and strength. “Buildings should be seen in less linear ways — extract, build, demolish — and more like material banks that are continuously traded between the forest and the city,” she proposes.