I read “Borderwall as Architecture" by my friend and former colleague, Ronald Rael, at an interesting point in U.S. History, as well as my own. I had just arrived at UC Berkeley to each disaster/resilience stuff, and Trump had just dialed the border rhetoric up to 11. Like most people, I think, I assumed that the book was a reaction to that rhetoric. That was the first notion that Rael disabused me of when I interviewed him for Social Design Insights. The book had actually been taking shape for a long time, and that made it somehow even more brilliant that it already was.
One of the book's greatest strengths is how Rael skillfully articulates the physical, social, and cultural implications of the United States-Mexico border wall. Through his extensive research and personal experiences, Rael provides an in-depth understanding of how the wall has impacted not only the physical landscape of the region, but also the lives of the people who live along the border. He raises important questions about the wall's effectiveness as a barrier, its impact on migration patterns, and the cultural and psychological effects of its presence.
What sets "Borderwall as Architecture" apart from other books on the subject is the way Rael presents alternative design proposals that challenge our understanding of what a border wall can be. He proposes a range of creative and thought-provoking designs that aim to transform the wall into a site of cultural exchange and cooperation, rather than division. These proposals serve as what all great architecture must: a provocation. They make you think.
I also appreciate how accessible this book is to non-architects. His use of diagrams, photographs, and personal anecdotes makes the book highly visual and enjoyable to read.
"Borderwall as Architecture" is an amazing book for anyone interested in the intersection of design, politics, and culture, as well as being important contribution to the conversation about how design can be used to create positive social change. If you like it, check out the rest of Ronald’s practice – he and his wife Virginia collaborate and are on the cutting edge of a number of architectural issues.
An important and powerful book for anyone seeking purpose in their lives, and their work. Banks’ retelling of his own journey sounded a lot like my own. Stops, starts, pitfalls, detours. Purpose (and the search for it) animates this autobiography/memoir/adventure novel that follows Banks’ work throughout the developing world. An important followup to his last book, Rise of the Reluctant Innovator, this one is a lot more personal, and delves into Banks’s personal history, family and so forth to set the context for how he found his own purpose. For me, this was key. When someone does great work, we often assume that they fell out of the sky. But everyone starts somewhere, and everyone gets knocked around along the way. Purpose, if you find it, can be the North Star that guides that journey. I hope that young social entrepreneurs take a moment to read this book - it will definitely help them in finding their own paths.
I’m often conflicted about the ways in which indigenous cultures are commodified and consecrated by contemporary designers. There’s a real fine line between admiration & learning and just turning your subject into a caricature. I think there’s a lot of wisdom to be gained from studying indigenous practices, but rather than trying to emulate the ancient practices of ancient peoples that were living under very different circumstances, a better question is: how would those ideas navigate these circumstances, in this time?
Julia Watson strikes the balance well, drawing the reader into sincere appreciation for the beauty and wisdom of indigenous practices, without resorting to hagiography and oversimplification.
If you care about the environment and want to learn about cool ways that indigenous communities are using technology to live in harmony with nature, "Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism" by Julia Watson is a great resource for you.
Watson did tons of research, and it shows in her insights. She takes the reader on a tour around the world, to show how people are using ancient techniques to build sustainable houses, grow food, and manage water. The diagrams and the visuals offer clear compliments to the text, and make the book accessible for the non-designers in your life.
I always thought ‘living in harmony with nature’ was a misguided phrase. Humans are part of nature. Nature is us, too. A lot of the ideas captured in Watson’s book remind me of that: the imperative to live in harmony with ourselves and each other. Check it out.
As an architect/humanitarian aid worker/design Cassandra, I found "Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention" by K.S. Kavi Kumar to be a thought-provoking and insightful read. I first read it years ago, and had occasion to pick it up again recently. The book presents a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of natural disasters, particularly in developing countries, and the importance of effective prevention measures in reducing the impact of all kinds of disasters. A lot of these books feel like the always end up stating the obvious. And Kumar does delve into that territory. But in the disaster field, you get used to repeating the obvious: ‘prepare for disasters so disasters don’t become disasters’, basically.
Kumar elaborates:
Disasters aren’t ‘natural.’ So-called ‘Natural disasters’ are not always the root cause of the disasters themselves, but often stem from human-made factors such as poor planning, inadequate infrastructure, and weak governance. A storm, or a flood, or a fire, is never a disaster if you’re adequately prepared for it. The book provides a detailed analysis of the various economics of natural disasters, including both direct and indirect costs, which I appreciated.
What I appreciated most about this book is its emphasis on the importance of taking a holistic approach to disaster management that considers not only the immediate response to disasters but also prevention and preparedness measures. Seems like we’re going to have to pound on that message for a few more decades until governments get it. Kavi Kumar provides a range of case studies from across the globe that demonstrate the effectiveness of such an approach in reducing the impact of natural disasters.
I would recommend "Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention" to anyone interested in disaster risk management, particularly in the context of developing countries. This book provides valuable insights for architects and humanitarian aid workers, as well as policymakers and anyone else involved in disaster response and preparedness efforts. It is an important read for anyone interested in making our world more resilient to natural disasters.
I really appreciated this book, mostly as someone who has been arguing for decades that ‘design thinking’ is useful. Perhaps, the most useful thing. Unless you’ve been trained as an architect, or practiced as an architect, it can be difficult to fully understand all of what that means. Typically, it’s equally difficult for architects themselves to explain what they do, and why it’s valuable and important.
Deutsch does an admirable job, and speaks eloquently about what’s going on in the head of an architect, and how they think through problems. It’s definitely equally valuable, I would think, for designers and non-designers.
If you’re an architect and looking for a little guidance, check it out. If you have an architect in your life, and occasionally find them baffling, also check it out ;-)
As an architect with a focus on post-disaster reconstruction, I was thrilled to read "Humanitarian Architecture: 15 stories of architects working after disaster" by Esther Charlesworth. This book is a valuable addition to the field of humanitarian architecture, as it offers a lot of deep insight into the unique challenges and opportunities involved in designing and building in post-disaster contexts. And I’m not just saying that because Esther is a friend, or because I am featured in the book. Really, this is a great book.
The book features interviews and profiles with some of the most talented and innovative designers in the field. Going through the pages, I found so many of the social impact designers that I admire, and some that I’ve met in the field. Even though I was familiar with a lot of their work, it was a nice way to learn about the thought processes and design strategies they used to create that work.
The case studies presented in the book were varied and engaging, with each project presenting its own set of challenges and solutions. I especially appreciated the author's ability to convey the human stories behind each project, and to highlight the important role that architecture can play in shaping the lives of people affected by disaster. And the fact that she was thoughtful enough to include yours truly.
"Humanitarian Architecture: 15 stories of architects working after disaster" is a must-read for anyone interested in the field of humanitarian architecture. Oh, and there’s a sequel . . . coming soon.
I’d like to recommend a book that I’ve read several times, and has shaped a lot of my thinking on disaster futurism: "The Long Emergency" by James Howard Kunstler. While this book was published over a decade ago, its insights into the global energy crisis seem even more prescient today.
Kunstler implores architects, designers, and policymakers to rethink our global energy paradigm and transition to a more sustainable, resilient future. He argues that our dependence on fossil fuels is unsustainable, and that we must urgently shift towards renewable energy sources in order to avoid social collapse. All pretty obvious, right? What I like is how he paints a vivid picture of what the future could look like if we fail to take action, including increasing levels of political and social instability, as well as the collapse of many of the systems that underpin our current way of life. Basically, all the things I’m always telling people right before they tell me that I’m being paranoid.
He hits my two favorite topics:
the urgent need for us to create more resilient and adaptive communities, which are capable of weathering natural disasters, energy shortages, and other crises.
The importance of a unified commitment to sustainable design in our built environment.
Overall, I highly recommend "The Long Emergency" to architects, designers, non-designers, climate fatalists, and anyone else who is interested in disaster, resilience, and sustainable design. While Kunstler's predictions may be bleak for some readers, his book is an important wake-up call to the urgent need for us to rethink our buildings, cities, indeed our whole way of life.
In "The Resilience Dividend", Rodin draws on her experience as the president of the Rockefeller Foundation to provide real-world examples of resilience in action. Although I haven’t always supported every Rockefeller approach, she offers what’s probably the most salient and workable definition of resilience currently in circulation. She argues that resilience is not just about preparing for and responding to emergencies, but also about building stronger, more adaptable systems that can withstand and recover from a range of shocks and stresses. She identifies four key qualities of resilience - robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity – I really liked the simplicity of the framework, because I believe that one of the biggest challenges we have in addressing resilience is communicating what it is and why it’s important.
I dig that "The Resilience Dividend" is written for the layman. Rodin uses clear language and real-world examples to illustrate the four key qualities and other ideas. She also provides practical tools and strategies that can be applied by anyone, from businesses to non-profit organizations to individual households.
As an educator, I found "The Resilience Dividend" to be particularly valuable. Rodin writes in a way that’s highly accessible, from undergrads on up.
Do you think resilience is important but not really sure how to define it? “The Resilience Dividend” is a good place to start.
As an architect with a passion for socially-impactful architecture, I highly recommend the book "Resilience for All: Striving for Equity Through Community-Driven Design" by Barbara Brown Wilson is a great all-around survey into the variety of community-based practices that are out there. Wilson profiles several other social impact designers, which I am also huge fans of, as well as a few more that I was learning about for the first time.
The book weaves together personal stories, case studies, and academic research to create a vivid picture of the challenges facing marginalized communities and the inspiring ways in which designers and community members are coming together to address them. Overall, it kinda functions as a love letter to community-based design, which I adored.
Each story highlights the creativity and resourcefulness of communities that are often overlooked in traditional AEC design processes.
If you’re interested in how design can be used as a tool for social change and community empowerment, pick up a copy
Another oldie but goodie is "Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement.". The book came out at a time when social impact design was really moving onto a main stage, and people were figuring out what it could do. It was books like these, among others, that turned the lights on for social impact design. showcases a collection of small-scale architectural projects from all over the world that have had a significant impact on the communities they serve.
Defining ‘small scale’ is always a point of curiosity for me. The ‘small scale’ too often refers to the budget, or the footprint. I believe that something can cost $100 million and still be ‘small scale’ if it’s limited and meaningless in its impact. If it meaningfully changes people’s lives, then maybe the size of the budget doesn’t matter. Maybe, we should redefine what we mean when we call a project ‘small scale’ to reflect our values, instead of its monetary value. At least, that’s what I took away from this book: that something which makes big change might legitimately considered ‘large scale,’ no matter what it’s budget is. Not sure if that’s what Bergdoll intended, but I’m sticking with it.
What struck me most about "Design for Good" is the level of human detail in the stories presented. There’s a lot of books on PID out there at this point, but Cary’s book stands out for the human dimension that he brings to the design stories. Cary's writing captures the personal experiences and emotions of the people whose lives are impacted by public interest design, which is a refreshing departure of all those stories told about PID through the mouths of the designers who made them. Through his engaging storytelling, he makes it clear that design is not just about creating beautiful buildings; it is about solving real-world problems and improving people's lives. I also appreciated the depth of the stories. It’s a real contrast to the way that beneficiaries are typically included in their own stories, which is to say, just barely.
The stunning photography compliments the stories. It beautifully showcases the projects and people involved in public interest design. The images bring the successes of public interest design to life and help the reader understand the impact of these projects on the communities they serve.
I have long been an advocate of adaptive reuse as a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to building design. Personally, I think it’s the wave of the future. Everyone’s always trying to create the greenest possible new building, while they throw the old building in the landfill. I think if architects want to stay relevant, they’ve got to start thinking about how to reuse existing building stocks and their already-captured carbon. "Adaptive Reuse: Extending the Lives of Buildings" is a good place to start.
One of the things I really liked about this book is its comprehensive approach to adaptive reuse itself. It discusses AR in a wide range of building types and contexts, from historic buildings in urban centers to industrial structures in rural areas. The case studies and examples provided throughout the book demonstrate the potential for adaptive reuse to create innovative and impactful design solutions that are both socially and environmentally sustainable.
I also like the thoroughness of it. Wong goes into detail on the history, theory, and practice of adaptive reuse, making it really good for students, especially.
I would recommend that everyone get a copy of "Adaptive Reuse: Extending the Lives of Buildings” And start to skill up on AR. The book provides a thoughtful and inspiring examination of the potential for adaptive reuse to help us create a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.
Dr. Cornel West teaches us that "Justice is what love looks like in public." Design with Love: At Home in America shows us what that looks like in built form. Every designer who strives to make the world a better place will find comfort and wisdom in these pages. Swenson deftly assembles moving stories of architects who went into communities not their own, and used their design skills to co-create homes, parks and playgrounds which stand as living testaments to what design can do, when you set aside ego, profit, and vanity.
I've admired the work of the Rose Fellows for many years, and this book brings their stories to life with thoughtful prose and stunning photography. Throughout, the central message of the book rings again and again: any building, especially a house, can be more than a building - it can be the ultimate expression of that love we choose to put out into the world.