Greening Modernism
Preservation, Sustainability, and the Modern Movement
Carl Stein (Author, Elemental Architecture LLC)
Greening Modernism addresses the interrelationships between sustainability, architectural preservation, and the Modern movement and places these issues into historical perspective.
For the past quarter-century, mainstream architecture has proceeded on
the underlying belief that we have the resources to build whatever and as
much as we want and that technology can overcome any problems we create
for ourselves through our building activities. The serious shortages that
now confront us demand a thorough reevaluation of this premise.
Carl Stein, nationally recognized for his contributions to the field of sustainable
design, connects the impact of individual building design decisions to
the global energy and environmental crises. He sets out the argument for
sustainability inherent in Modern design, identifying tenets that are intrinsic
to contemporary ecological thinking, and he provides the nuts-and-bolts
information to assist practitioners and students of architecture, engineering,
planning, and environmentalism in specific building-upgrade projects. While not a how-to handbook, Greening Modernism provides quantitative
data and describes the environmental benefits from the continued use of the vast inventory of modern buildings,
including reduced demand for energy and other finite resources and reduced need for waste processing.
Greening Modernism explains the relationships between design and technology in the pre-petroleum, early-petroleum,
and late-petroleum eras and goes on to suggest opportunities for architecture in a post-petroleum
world.
Book Details
- Hardcover
- November 2010
-
ISBN 978-0-393-73283-2
- 8.9 × 10.3 in
/ 296 pages
- Territory Rights: Worldwide
Endorsements & Reviews
“The book rings clear with the sentiment that through understanding the environmental importance of their decisions, architects can continue their practice while doing their part to save the planet.” — Form: Pioneering Design
“Carl Stein has produced an elegant piece of work...In this highly accessible book, replete with lucid conceptual explanations and practical case studies, Mr. Stein drives home the point that with a little more art and a good understanding of the science, his profession can do its part in saving the planet.” — Kevin J. Healy, partner and environmental lawyer with Bryan Cave, LLP
“In his examination of the nexus of modern architecture, sustainability, and preservation, Carl Stein has presented a timely, thoughtful, and compelling argument for the reintegration of these movements. He argues most persuasively in favor of adaptive reuse of buildings as a leading sustainability strategy. As he makes his case, we come to more fully understand the central role of energy–both operating and embodied–as the ultimate common currency for real estate decision-making.” — Hillary Brown, FAIA, professor, City College of the City University of New York
“[A]
beautiful book.... reading Greening Modernism will be time well spent....
[P]resents a way forward where sustainable design becomes more than just
about efficiency and quantitative analysis...” — Sensing Architecture
“This book, which is accessible to architects and nonprofessionals alike, makes clear that the values of sustainability are not limited to complete buildings, but include the responsible consumption of finite resources going into their construction.” — Hamilton Smith, FAIA, partner, Marcel Breuer and Associates
“A crisp, radical, and luminous book. Stein's writing and selection and sequence of images offer an inspiring crystallization of the integrity of architecture and sustainability rooted in the principles of the Modern movement.” — Diane Lewis, AIA, FAAR, principal, Diane Lewis Architect PC, professor of architecture, Cooper Union
“[A]n excellent introductory text for undergraduate architecture students outlining the scale of our energy problems and a path to socially-responsible building methods.” — Alan Michelson, ARLIS/NA Reviews
“[W]ell illustrated and visually attractive...” — RIAS Quarterly
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