Learning from the Local: Designing responsively for people, climate and culture

Architecture struggles with the 'local'.

As the move towards globalisation falters, the question of how a building might relate to its place in a meaningful manner has never been more pressing. 

The sourcing and use of local materials has increasingly become an expectation in contemporary architecture. But what does local mean in this context? Should we use Cotswold stone in the Cotswolds forever - even if this necessitates using imitation stone? In rural areas, must we design traditional barns or farms with pitched roofs regardless of their sustainability?

Learning from the Local explodes the myth that vernacular style and national identity are the only design routes for place-specific architecture. The book is not a plea to return to pre-industrial times, but an attempt to understand the origins of the local in a global culture. Through a myriad of global case studies, it explores how geology, geography, material experimentation, waste, ecology, social issues, self-build and community engagement are heralding a new age. This sets the stage for a rich and evolving era of locally responsive architecture that is both low carbon and a true reflection of the circumstances of its production.