Ralph Lewis Knowles | |
|---|---|
 Knowles and his Heliodon | |
| Born | December 9, 1928 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 2024 (aged 95) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Known for | Solar Envelopes, Design for Natural Forces |
| Title | Professor Emeritus |
| Spouse | Mary Elizabeth Rogers Knowles |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Architecture, Building Science |
| Institutions | Auburn University, University of Southern California |
Ralph Lewis Knowles (December 9, 1928 – August 23, 2024) was an American academic who was a professor emeritus of architecture and a leading theorist of solar access design. He created the concept of the "solar envelope" and championed solar access planning. The solar envelope has influenced many city design and planning documents. He was a fellow of the American Solar Energy Society and an ACSA Distinguished Professor.[1] He received the prestigious AIA Medal for research in 1974. [2]