Arch 82 Planning | Instructor: Archt Marcelino Dumpa

The Five Elements of

Ekistics

Five (5) Ekistic Elements

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

NATURE
ANTHROPOS
SOCIETY
SHELLS
NETWORKS
SYNTHESIS

1. NATURE

1. NATURE
Represents the ecosystem within which
man and society operate and cities and
settlements are placed.

It involves a number of component

processes including the hydrologic cycle,
biosystems, airsheds, climatic zones, etc.
Archaeological studies show that even
primitive man with limited tools made
profound changes in natural systems.

2. Anthropos

2. ANTHROPOS
In

other words, man is also

constantly adapting and changing.
Studies have shown that certain
physical and psychological diseases
are directly associated with
urbanization. These include obesity,
respiratory ailments and alienation
(anomie).

3. SOCIETY

3. SOCIETY
Deals

with people and their

interaction with population trends,
group behavior, social customs,
occupation, income, and
government. Of increasing
importance is the preservation of
values inherent in small communities
after they have been absorbed by
larger settlements.

4. Shells

4. Shells
The

generic term for all buildings

and structures, is the traditional
domain of the architectural and
engineering professions. Here a
central problem is how massproduced, anonymous housing can
cater for the needs of very diverse
individuals and family groupings.

5. Networks

5. Networks
For

transportation, communication
and utilities support the settlements
and tie them together with their
organization and structure. Their
changes profoundly affect urban
patterns and often developments in
networks have been portending new
developments in cities and societies.

6. Synthesis
Arises

from a consideration of the

interactions of all the ekistic elements
in terms of a single ekistic unit.
for example, the interactions of
Nature, Man, Society, Shells and
Networks may be considered in terms
of

6. Synthesis
megalopolis--a

very large, heavily

populated city or urban complex..
Rather than creating a super-science
through accumulation of every
discipline, one shall concentrate on
each disciplines aspects related to
settlements and bring them together
in an interdisciplinary approach.