A ROUGH GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY.By Brian Edwards with Paul Hyett. London: RIBA RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects Publications. 2001. [pound]12 As a student, I remember looking down on books written specially for us. Apart from books that condensed con·dense v. con·densed, con·dens·ing, con·dens·es v.tr. 1. To reduce the volume or compass of. 2. To make more concise; abridge or shorten. 3. Physics a. to understandable proportion specialized fields such as structural design and honourable honourable or US honorable Adjective 1. principled 2. worthy of respect or esteem honourably adv Honourable Adjective exceptions such as Hertzberger's Lessons for Students in Architecture, which was somehow irresistible, books for students just weren't the real thing. The back cover of this guide advertises the book as a no-nonsense student primer, but maybe because Brian Edwards is a teacher, it avoids a patronizing tone and reads in a way that should be attractive to a wide readership. It manages in only about a hundred small pages (plus small illustrations that are too small, unfortunately) to explain the basic facts of sustainability. It covers its history and the various protocols that have marked its development (including Bush's latest hiccup hiccup or hiccough, involuntary spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm followed by a sharp intake of air, which is abruptly stopped by a sudden, involuntary closing of the glottis (opening between the vocal cords); the consequent blocking of air ), why architects have an important role to play, how we can design responsibly, what methods there are for measuring success. It touches on the details of green design, a brave effort in such a short guide, but its concise bullet-pointed text somehow succeeds to get over the basic facts and the message. And if the message that both Edwards and Hyett convey in their more passionate moments sounds like a student lecture, that's too bad "That's Too Bad" is the debut single by Tubeway Army, the band which provided the initial musical vehicle for Gary Numan. It was released in February 1978 by independent London record label Beggars Banquet. -- we all need to hear it loud and clear. |
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