Local Architecture: Building Place, Craft, and Community

by Brian Mackay-Lyons

In architecture, as in food, local is an idea whose time has come. Of course, the idea of an architecture that responds to site; draws on local building traditions, materials, and crafts; and strives to create a sense of community is not recent. Yet, the way it has evolved in the past few years in the hands of some of the world's most accomplished architects is indeed defining a new movement. From the rammed-earth houses of Rick Joy and Pacific Northwest timber houses of Tom Kundig, to the community-built structures of Rural Studio and Francis Kéré, designers everywhere are championing an architecture that exists from, in, and for a specific place. The stunning projects, presented here in the first book to examine this global shift, were featured at the thirteenth and final Ghost conference held in 2011, organized by Nova Scotia architect, educator, and local practitioner Brian MacKay-Lyons. The result is the most complete collection of contemporary regionalist architecture available, with essays by early proponents of the movement, including Kenneth Frampton, Juhani Pallasmaa, and Pritzker Prize–winning architect Glenn Murcutt.

Genres: Architecture

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2013

Reviews

[DJ Yossarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book out of the library because it featured the firm of Keré Architecture, recent winner of the Pritzker, and I enjoyed the short section devoted to their work. I found a few other firms whose work appealed to me, but many of the entries were unremarkable. I would have preferred more detail than just a paragraph or two about Diébéde Francis Keré and, for instance, Richard Kroeker Design, Rural Studio, and Patkau Architects, but overall I’m grateful for their inclusion in the first place.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder.

Not how we practice, but how we should.
We may not be able to execute well crafted details with clear vertical grain doug fir on every job, however the impetus is clear. Our work must be of a place. Our work must be well detailed, constructed with care and rigor. And finally, our work must engage a community beyond itself*.

The essays at the end were very compelling to read - particularly the Murcutt and Buchanan pieces. Thankful for a culture of architects committed to designing, building, and teaching against the grain of digital mass production. This is a call for slowness, consideration, and belief. That architecture can in fact change the world for the better.

* One could argue that most work shown in this book does not engage or embrace the community - they are single family residences - which are beautiful, but not public.

[Alhamdamar Mudafiq · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘… architecture has been an apprenticeship-based discipline for far longer than it has been a university-trained profession.’ Well, that’s it! That I couldn’t agree more.
So, be responsible! Train your employees, your designers. It doesn’t matter with the degree or something embedded by university as it proves nothing—in architectural discipline. Look inside the person, his or her capability to the profession, the relevance, etc. is our responsibility as design principal. — Alhamdamar Mudafiq; design principal. Mudafiq Architectural Design studio (MADs+Partner)

[Rian Widagdo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title : 3/5
Cover : 2/5
Opening : 3/5
Contents : 3/5
Language/Pictures : 3/5
Closing : 3/5
Blurb : 4/5
Recommendation : 3/5

Total : 3/5