More than 90 per cent of the world's buildings, including some 800 million homes, constitute architecture of ordinary people. "Dwellings" is about the vast range of types of vernacular houses around the world. It documents the form of traditional buildings that are self-built by their owner-occupiers or built by members of a community, recording the means of construction and decoration of the house across a spectrum of different cultures. First published by Phaidon in 1987, "Dwellings" - in its new updated, revised and expanded format - assimilates new scholarship in the field, including the author's own research, and traces theoretical developments in the spheres of cultural geography, gender studies, sociology and anthropology. It is not only a fascinating reference work on domestic buildings, but also a useful survey for understanding how diverse communities cope with issues of climate, migration, mass development and, in turn, how this brings to life symbolic and cultural meaning in architecture.
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To have steered a clear path through so many types of architecture, without flagging and without repetition, is a remarkable achievement, and the many photographs in this book are mostly of the highest quality, and superbly reproduced...an attractive, valuable and provocative book.' (Architectural Review) 'Don't miss Dwellings...beautiful.' (Herald Sun, Australia) 'Fascinating, informative and wonderfully illustrated book...a thought-provoking and humbling look at how other cultures live and survive.' (The Advocate, Australia)
About the Author
Paul Oliver is the Chair of the Master's course in International Studies in Vernacular Architecture at the School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Book on Handmade Houses,
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This review is from: Dwellings (Hardcover)
Paul Oliver is a scholar with soul. In the early '70s, he published Shelter and Society, a wonderful book on indigenous building. He was formerly head of the Graduate School at the Architectural Association in London and is now Chair of the Master's Course in International Studies in Vernacular Architecture at Oxford Brookes University in Devon, England. Dwellings is about handmade buildings by indigenous people of the world, some of whom still thrive, others whose traditional ways of life are threatened. The photos, mostly by the author, are terrific, and the accompanying text is perceptive and informative.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Photographs-Weaker Text,
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This review is from: Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide (Paperback)
It is estimated that over 90% of the world's buildings were constructed without the services of an architect. Most of these buildings are owner or commuity constructed using traditional building technologies. They are part of a building tradition known as "vernacular" architecture.There are hundreds of millions of these traditional dwellings throughout the world and as Westerners we have a need to better understand these buildings by breaking them up into discrete and easily understood categories. There is probably no one in the world more knowledgeable about vernacular architecture than Professor Paul Oliver of Oxford and "Dwelings" is his attempt to classify these buildings into better understood categories. The strength of this book is in the many interesting photographs of vernacular buildings througout the world. They show the wide array of ingenious solutions people have come up with to shelter themselves from the elements. Of further value is Paul Oliver's broad categories into which he groups vernacular buildings. Unfortunately, in order to justify his categories, Paul Oliver turns to summarizing numerous academic articles on vernacular architecture. This need to summarize other people's work turns the text into an episodic and sometimes tedious narrative. "Dwellings" is a good jumping off point for the study of vernacular architecture. However, in depth knowledge of vernacular architecture will have to be found somewhere else.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
an inclusive view to see architecture,
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This review is from: Dwellings (Hardcover)
when we are looking for a new perspective to see architecture. this book is the one.paul oliver offers an inclusive, and balance view to see architecture. no more from western point of view. i think, this is in tune with rudofsky's 'architecture without architect'. i recommend those books to my coleagues as great and a must be read book!
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