The Environmental Tradition: Studies in the Architecture of Environment.

Dean Hawkes is now Professor of Architecture at Cardiff and this book can be seen as a summary of an era of thought at Cambridge over the second half of the twentieth century.

The thought embraces a historical outline of theory starting with Vitruvius and running throughout almost to the present but stopping short of the LT Method developed by his colleagues at Cambridge. The theory deals with heat, light and sound as science and considers the relationship of science and precedent or stereotypes in architecture.

Hawkes makes the point that it is difficult to invent a building form and that most designs are based on some previous example of building with a similar purpose to the current one. He is both academic and a practitioner and has built more buildings than are described in his book. His argument that the science of acoustics cannot generate or even distinguish between the main shapes of auditoria is based on slightly out-of-date acoustics. Every designer must agree that the initial synthesis of a problem as a building shape is not an analytical process.

In order to supplement the theory, the book has a series of case studies of buildings which should be a part of every building designer's baggage. The case studies describe the buildings and give an outline of measured performance. I have never seen such good information on Wallasey School where all the references are given.

Hawkes' notable contribution at Netley Abbey School is covered with a cool and self-critical appraisal. Arup Associates' two notable contributions - CEGB Bedminster Down and Gateway 2 for Wiggins Teape at Basingstoke - give evidence of the benefits of multi-disciplinary working. St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight, by Ahrends Burton & Koralek with Bedminster Design, support my view that rooflighting provides the most effective kind of natural light but of course it is only available on the top floor. There is a discussion of buildings where the strategy for natural light should be somewhat restrictive. This book describes the theory of environmental design and backs it up with a series of case studies.

The Environmental Tradition should be read by all architects and engineers interested in designing buildings with an environmental bias. MAX FORDHAM