As a contribution to the development of ecological architecture from the point of view of theoretical physics, we discuss two lines of approach founded on nonequilibrium thermodynamics with controls: one is exemplified by a dissipative dynamical system with feedback controls; the other is exemplified by a dissipative dynamical system with feedback plus adaptive controls. In both cases no energy source is implied, only the natural geophysical energy flows are considered. Understanding of the theory should hopefully open the mind to appreciation of new ideas in technology.