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Example: The Straw Bale Happening was an event that allowed us to invite manyof our family and friends to join us in the process of building thi s house. Because ofthis experience they now have a greater awareness of the vast potential for this typeof construction. The house warming party was also designed to allow as manypeople as possible to see the beautiful results, ask questions, and experi ence thepotential in action. As well, we have initiated what we plan on making an annualevent we call the SunFest to celebrate the sun that provides us with our energy andinspiration throughout the year.7. FlexibilityExample: The need to provide for the individual preferences and view points ofthe four people in our own family, as well as Colin, Martin and others in the designteam, necessitated some flexibility in these principles in order to support the overallvision. For Leigh, this meant a larger house than might be optimal for pureefficiency. For Martin, this meant some aesthetically pleasing design features likeangled walls, reveal moldings and zinc roofing, and these features increased costs.For Colin, this has meant some simplifications in the design to make theconstruction process more efficient.At some point during one of the first few design reviews, I provided Martin withsome drawings that Leigh and I had sketch ed during a vacation in the DominicanRepublic. My purpose was to help Martin understand some of the key features Iwanted, such as locating the kitchen in the southeast portion of the house in orderto get the great morning sunrises that have inspired me through the years. Thekitchen has always played a central role in our home activities. A bright beautifulplace for morning breakfasts on the south east section seemed important to me aswell. Another important feature for me was placing the l iving room and work areaon the southwest area of the house to maximize the daytime sunlight and to enjoythe magnificent sunsets.The design stage required many review sessions. This process of review, decisionmaking and changes necessitated a willingness to compromise, look for creativesolutions in order to adhere to principles, and finally, come to agreement as a group.Designing with NatureThe method for solving these complex problems, like the ones th at power theearths atmosphere, can be found in a new natural design process. The new design220