Pro Domo

by Yona Friedman

Yona Friedman presents a personal selection of half a century of his work. In 1958 Yona Friedman published his first manifesto on 'mobile architecture' and founded GEAM (Groupe d'Etude d'Architecture Mobile), which proposed different strategies and actions geared to the adaptation of architectural creation to modern user requirements concerning social and physical mobility. In this initial manifesto, Friedman points out that architectural knowledge cannot be the exclusive property of professionals and specialists, and suggests writing guides ('manuals'), which explain topics related to architecture and urban planning in clear and simple terms. Following some recent publications that have reasserted the importance of Friedman's work, Pro Domo is 'a collection of fragments of scattered topics', a set of 'milestones' selected by the author himself. In his words, these highlights are not meant as a testament nor do they, form a coherent whole.' Instead, they form a personal selection chosen according to their sentimental value and span fifty-year period of production dating from the foundation of GEAM. The book includes building structure studies, urban design theories, observations on regional development, as well as design manuals for self-construction and competition projects.

Genres: Architecture

390 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Kajetan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly edited summary of over 5o years' of Friedman's priceless contribution into development and profound understanding of modern architecture and urban planning in the context of sustainable society. The book embraces the most important projects, essays and thorough research by the passionate architect, scholar, social activist and UN counsellor.

Yona Friedman emerges deeply into scientific analysis of the processes shaping the global society and building industry, realized during transition from the world's nations rebuilding and expanding after WWII into the modern model of XXIst century. His substantial studies, both academic and experimental, show many ways in which our civilization thrives towards sustainability and balance of social conditions with the growing demands of changing natural environment and world economy, scarcity of resources and introduction of the renewable energy sources on a mass scale.

Architects, as well as socially-oriented urban plannists and activists, should be highly satisfied with Yona Friedman - Pro Domo. That is not only due to the contained Friedman's visionary insights into a sustainable shape of future building industry, energy and resources production, as well as social cooperation and communication with all regards towards the individual freedom of future citizens.
Pro Domo provides the genuine records of utilizing upcycled and mobile dwellings in social endeavours, where locals were creating well-performing sustainable structures with recycled scraps of building materials and without any specialistic knowledge of the industry (e.g. Museum of Simple Technology). On the other hand, Friedman's theoretical projects presented in this anthology provide a vast help in explanation and understanding of many important contemporary topics, including megastructures, prefabrication, modular construction, mobility, adaptability and participatory design.
Attached excerpts from analytical documents for UN, written in 1970s (like Critical Group Size or The Quaternary Sector) constitute the 'other side' of this wonderful sourcebook, allowing to re-shape the reader's viewpoint on modern world's economy and development of its social conditions.
Whole the book is cleverly backed up graphically by the hand-made, simple illustrations of the author, along with photographs of Friedman's realized projects, sculptures and even the interior of his living and working spaces.

Well balanced mixture of the aforementioned components makes this precious compilation coherent and complete. Everything in one allows the work of Friedman to be admired and legible for everyone, not only for building industry experts. I am highly recommending this position to anyone interested in sustainable development of the contemporary and future society and building industry.

[Rubí · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dont believe i had heard of Friedman before but so happy to stumble across this. Love his idea of accessible, soft architecture and incorporation of nature. Definitely ahead of his time and his passion is tangible and infectious. A great book.