Overview

More than 90 per cent of the world's buildings, including some 800 million homes, constitute architecture of ordinary people. Dwellings is about the vast range of types of vernacular houses around the world. It documents the form of traditional buildings that are self-built by their owner-occupiers or built by members of a community, recording the means of construction and decoration of the house across a spectrum of different cultures. First published by Phaidon in 1987, Dwellings - in its new updated, revised and expanded format - assimilates new scholarship in the field, including the author's own research, and traces theoretical developments in the spheres of cultural geography, gender studies, sociology and anthropology. It is not only a fascinating reference work on domestic buildings, but also a useful survey for understanding how diverse communities cope with issues of climate, migration, mass development and, in turn, how this brings to life symbolic and cultural meaning in architecture.

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9780714847931

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Reviews

'Phaidoni'1/2s ground-breaking 55 series once again fulfils its self-set brief, by bringing us articulate and tempting introductions to the work of two photographers whose work is not very well-known in the UK.' Simon James, Royal Photographic Society Journal 'In a brave attempt to match Penguini'1/2s success in finding a new market for fiction in the 1930s, Phaidon have put together boxed sets with themes including i'1/2Experimentali'1/2, i'1/2Mastersi'1/2, i'1/25 Great Documentary Photographersi'1/2, and of course i'1/2Pioneersi'1/2 i'1/2 Phaidon have come up with a great new concept for the photography book; and as a series of skilfully-produced, pocket-sized books [i'1/2] they do attempt to address key moments in photographic history and innovation.' PLUK (Photography in London and the UK)

To have steered a clear path through so many types of architecture, without flagging and without repetition, is a remarkable achievement, and the many photographs in this book are mostly of the highest quality, and superbly reproduced...an attractive, valuable and provocative book.' (Architectural Review) 'Don't miss Dwellings...beautiful.' (Herald Sun, Australia) 'Fascinating, informative and wonderfully illustrated book...a thought-provoking and humbling look at how other cultures live and survive.' (The Advocate, Australia)

Author Information

Paul Oliver is the Chair of the Master's course in International Studies in Vernacular Architecture at the School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University.

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