The recent postings on "rediscovered" lessons from historic architecture made me think of a wonderful book (with a frightening title) that was first published in the 1960s:
Architecture Without Architects by Bernard Rudofsky, which illustrates examples of regional architecture from all over the world. In addition to showing a rich variety of images of human ingenuity, there are environmental lessons to glean from many of these places, such as the underground dwellings in China or the houses in a Pakistan village that have tilted, awning-like screens on the roofs intended to funnel cooling afternoon winds through the dwelling. Clearly, these strategies will differ regionally, but I agree with the notion of identifying and evaluating such features as a preface to mechanical solutions.
In looking for the book on Amazon, I saw two other titles with which I was not familiar, but which seemed to share the same message:
Buildings Without Architects by John May, and
Dwellings by Paul Oliver. Wouldn't it be a delightful irony if it were architects who brought these fundamental strategies back to people?
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Nathaniel McCormick AIA
Architect
Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority
Norfolk VA
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