See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built (Paperback)

by Stewart Brand (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


3 used from £24.99
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover Order it used
Paperback (Reprint) 11 used & new from £15.00

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

by Christopher Alexander
4.8 out of 5 stars (20)  £35.09
Bad Science

Bad Science

by Ben Goldacre
4.6 out of 5 stars (145)  £3.60
The Clock Of The Long Now: Time and Responsibility

The Clock Of The Long Now: Time and Responsibility

by Stewart Brand
4.7 out of 5 stars (3) 
Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle

by Michael Braungart
4.7 out of 5 stars (14)  £7.19
Towards a New Architecture

Towards a New Architecture

by Le Corbusier
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £8.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; New edition edition (9 Jun 1997)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0753800500
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753800508
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 142,217 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description
Stewart Brand puts forward the radical proposal adapt best when constantly refined and reshaped by their occupants, and that architects can mature from being artists of time.

From the Author
The best version of the book
The British edition of my HOW BUILDINGS LEARN is much the best, because it is so well printed, and the 250 photographs read very well. Critical remarks about buildings by Richard Rogers, however, were censored out of this edition, thanks to legal threats by Mr. Rogers. They are intact in the American editions. The BBC did a fine 6-part TV series based on the book.

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
See all 2 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A call for "adaptable architecture", 20 Feb 2004
This review is from: How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built (Paperback)
We assume a building is permanent when it's built and will pretty much remain the same. But the reality is that buildings are dynamic, they constantly change, as the owners or occupiers make small or large scale alterations. Brand's book highlights the fact that no building is permanent in its present condition, all buildings must change to adapt, buildings that cease to change, cease to function and are abandoned.

This is a theory backed up by real examples, drawn mainly from the USA, but also from Europe. Using photos from archives Brand records the changes individual buildings go through and the diverse results these demands create. We get to see how the appearance and function of individual buildings change in many real life examples.

The book shows the reader how time adds to a building. He recognises the different pressures for change for different types of buildings: Commercial, residential and institutional buildings, go through.

The author is not an architect, which explains why it is so refreshing, enjoyable and easily read. It has a clear message to all those involved in architecture and building design, that we must be able to build structures that are adaptable. We are given examples of "high road" or signature architecture that can not be changed, and since it can't adapt it is causing real difficulties for its users.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly fascinating read..., 22 April 2000
By A Customer
I first read this book when I borrowed the American edition from the local library; I was so impressed that I bought the British edition shortly afterwards.

It really makes you think about the nature of buildings and how they can change/adapt over time. Some great photographs too, especially the sets of photographs of the same building over a period of years, illustrating just how fundamentally the appearance/use of a building can change over the course of its lifetime.

Top marks, Mr. Brand! Hope you've got something just as good in the pipeline.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An excelent study of how time and people shape Buildings, 4 Jan 2001
By A Customer
I read the book about 4 years ago as a sixth Year student of Architect in the UK. Its is excelent and some of the simple diagrams in it influenced my sixth year disertation. As an Architect it is sometimes difficult to read Brands valid criticism of over specific design, but having done so i would recommend it to anyone, particularly Architects.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it love it love it
If you love books which are heavy in images and text than this is it - Fastinating look into how buildings are adapted over time.
Published on 25 Jul 2006 by T. Cain

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

›Shop the Powerball store

  

Up to 75% off Shoes

Shoe Clearance - 75% off Shoes
Save up to 75% on shoes for the whole family.

›Shop clearance shoes

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates