Architecture is on the brink. It is a discipline in crisis. Over the last two decades; architectural debate has diversified to the point of fragmentation and exhaustion. What is called for is an overarching argument or set of criteria on which to approach the design and construction of the built environment. Here; the internationally renowned architect and educator Michael Hensel advocates an entirely different way of thinking about architecture. By favouring a new focus on performance; he rejects longstanding conventions in design and the built environment. This not only bridges the gap between academia and practice; but; even more significantly; the treatment of form and function in design. It also has a far-reaching impact on knowledge production and development; placing an important emphasis on design research in architecture and the value of an interdisciplinary approach. Though lsquo;performancersquo; first evolved as a concept in the humanities in the 1940s and 1950s; it has never previously been systematically applied in architecture in an inclusive manner. Here Michael Hensel offers Performance-Orientated Architecture as an integrative approach to architectural design; the built environment and questions of sustainability. He highlights how core concepts and specific traits; such as climate; material performance and settlement patterns; can put architecture in the service of the natural environment. A wide range of examples are cited to support his argument; from traditional sustainable buildings; such as the Kahju Bridge in Isfahan and the Topkapiacute; Palace in Istanbul to more contemporary works by Cloud 9; Foreign Office Architects; Steven Holl and OCEAN.
#4561763 in eBooks 2013-05-23 2013-05-23File Name: B00CY92TV8
Review
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful. diary of a teenage girlBy CustomerThis is like a diary of a teenage girl. Very personal and very shallow. In this book you will find a lot of nothing about tango. Waste of time.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Tangled TangosBy Gator DreamsPaper Tangos is an odd book. Id give it 2 and a half stars. Its supposed to be a ballet dancer/anthropologist giving us her unique perspective on Tango on paper. An ambitious sounding goal and one which oftenfalls short. As someone who is a social dancer and having taken a few classes withnative Argentines; I was disappointed there was so little information about the form/structure of the body during the dance. As much experience as the author has had with Tango; its clear she hasnt done much other social dancing. She describes how women dancers frequently talk to each other and point out leaders whoare difficult to dance with; who rudely correct woman dancers. This type of thing happens with both men and womenat social dances often; its not unique to tango. In my opinion what sets Tango apart from other dances is its essential requirement for the dancer(s) to bephysically and mentally present. Since unlike other dances where there is an emphasis on steps/routines/patterns;Tangos foundation rests upon improvisation. So to seriously study tango entails a close to "spiritual" presence.Because it also requires intense balance and partnering skills; learning tango can easily enhance any othersocial dancing skills. It was also hard to follow the stilted style in which the book is written. Convoluted sentences which are difficult tounderstand even upon rereading. Poor grammmar..."They were disappeared." If youve been to Argentina and want to know more about the political violence there; its history and effect onmany people; this might be worth a read. Id recommend; if possible; to read a few pages; before buying this one. If you want to learn more about tango; check videos on line; or watch Tango a film by Carlos Saura or Assassination Tango(at the end of the film and in the extras; there is some finedancing.) Both films are worth watching for the dancing; the plots; no so much.6 of 8 people found the following review helpful. It all depends on the color of the glass one is looking throughBy AtalivarJudging on somebodys personal experience is not reviewing the work of that person.To review a book; one must have a working understanding of the subject matter; the time and the circumstances.Anybody familiar with the multiple layers of the tango world in Buenos Aires might understand that many dimensions coexist in the same temporal space without ever intersecting or even come close to share the same circumstances. Thus; the authors confessional style of writing describes her experience among a particular group of left wing militants who happen to make a living teaching tango far away from the mainstream. Add to that the fact that the author carries the deep scar of a sexual abuse perpetrated upon her at an earlier age; and her take on what she experiences in her tango journey is definitely tinted by feelings that most people cant relate to.The book reveals the experience of a group of people connected with each other at a certain moment in time by their acquaintance with the author. Her purpose is fulfilled as she expresses her experiences in an entertaining narrative. To see more than that; to try to patch a history of tango in any way; shape or form; to extrapolate one persons life tribulations into inspirational mantra for anybody embarking on his or her own journey or to consider this book as anything else as the personal experience of the author; would be mistaking substance with symbolism because tango is a very personal matter which should not be used as a prop but as ones own way of life.