How does one build in a natural landscape without destroying it? Concerned architects, landscape designers, urban planners, homeowners and builders are rethinking detrimental construction methods and have adopted the term "nature's envelope" to mean the natural landscape intended to envelop a new structure or community. Simple, cost-effective, and ecologically responsible, the envelope is becoming more widely accepted and used each year. This book presents the concept of nature's envelope, showing not only how construction can be managed in harmony with it, but also how homeowners and builders can save money while preserving natural resources.