In 'How Buildings Learn,' Stewart Brand explores the fascinating relationship between architecture and adaptability, revealing how structures evolve over time. He challenges the notion of buildings as static creations, illustrating how they respond to the needs of their occupants and the changing environment. Through striking examples and insightful analysis, Brand uncovers the inherent adaptability of great design. This thought-provoking journey invites readers to reevaluate their perceptions of architecture and reimagine the potential of our built surroundings. Discover how the passage of time can transform buildings into living entities.
By Stewart Brand
Published: 1995
""Buildings are not just static structures; they are living entities that evolve with time, use, and the whims of humanity.""
Buildings have often been studies whole in space, but never before have they been studied whole in time. How Buildings Learn is a masterful new synthesis that proposes that buildings adapt best when constantly refined and reshaped by their occupants, and that architects can mature from being artists of space to becoming artists of time. From the connected farmhouses of New England to I.M. Pei's Media Lab, from "satisficing" to "form follows funding," from the evolution of bungalows to the invention of Santa Fe Style, from Low Road military surplus buildings to a High Road English classic like Chatsworth—this is a far-ranging survey of unexplored essential territory. More than any other human artifacts, buildings improve with time—if they're allowed to. How Buildings Learn shows how to work with time rather than against it.
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“"Buildings are not just static structures; they are living entities that evolve with time, use, and the whims of humanity."”
How Buildings Learn
By Stewart Brand
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Stewart Brand is an influential American writer, best known for his work in the fields of technology, environment, and culture. Born on December 14, 1938, he gained prominence as the creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, a counterculture publication that epitomized the 1960s and 1970s. Brand's notable works include 'How Buildings Learn,' 'The Clock of the Long Now,' and 'Whole Earth Discipline,' where he explores themes of sustainability, design, and long-term thinking. His writing style is characterized by its blend of intellectual rigor and accessibility, often drawing connections between complex ideas and practical applications. Throughout his career, Brand has championed the importance of ecological awareness and innovative technologies.
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