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How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built Paperback – October 1, 1995

by Stewart Brand (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 248 ratings
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A captivating exploration of the ever-evolving world of architecture and the untold stories buildings tell. 

When a building is finished being built, that isn’t the end of its story. More than any other human artifacts, buildings improve with time—if they’re allowed to. Buildings adapt by being constantly refined and reshaped by their occupants, and in that way, architects can become artists of time rather than simply artists of space. 

From the connected farmhouses of New England to I.M. Pei’s Media Lab, from the evolution of bungalows to the invention of Santa Fe Style, from Low Road military surplus buildings to a High Road English classic like Chatsworth—this is a far-ranging survey of unexplored essential territory.

Discover how structures become living organisms, shaped by the people who inhabit them, and learn how architects can harness the power of time to create enduring works of art through the interconnected worlds of design, function, and human ingenuity.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    10.76 x 0.7 x 8.41 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140139966
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140139969
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's about time somebody wrote this book. This quirky, thoughtful volume, bursting with curiosity and intelligence, may make our everyday world more visible to more Americans. Architecture is too important to be left to architects alone."
—Mixed Media

"A stunning exploration of the design of design … How Buildings Learn will irrevocably alter yor sense of place, space, and the artifacts that shape them."
—Michael Shrage, Wired

"Penetratingly original."
—Philip Morrison, Scientific American

"An extremely attractive volume that will forever alter the way we respond to the buildings around us. We may also hope it will alter the way architects design buildings."
—Harold Gilliam, San Francisco Chronicle

"A fascinating and indefinable book … How Buildings Learn is a hymn to entropy, a witty, heterodox book dedicated to kicking the stuffing out of the proposition that architecture is permanent and that buildings cannot adapt."
—Stephen Bayley, The Times (London)

"The book's diagnosis is clear and to the poiny, and its illustrations of how buildings change are both fascinating and instructive. This is, in short, one of the rare books that every architect should read."
—Thomas Fisher, editor, Progressive Architecture

"A book of good sound-bites and laser-sharp insight … No architecture students should complete their preliminary studies without reading it from cover to cover."
—Patric Hannay, The Architects' Journal

About the Author

Though honored as a writer—with the National Book Award for the Whole Earth Catalog, Eliot Montroll Award for The Media Lab, Golden Gadfly Award for his years as editor of CoEvolution Quarterly—Steward Brand is primarily an inventor/designer. Trained as a biologist and army officer, he was an early multimedia artist. He has created a number of lasting institutions, including New Games Tournaments, the Hackers Conference, and The WELL, a bellwether computer conference system. He is co-founder of Global Business Network, a futurist research organization fostering "the art of the long view."

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (October 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140139966
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140139969
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.83 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.76 x 0.7 x 8.41 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 248 ratings

About the author

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Stewart Brand

Stewart Brand

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All 73 years is here:

http://sb.longnow.org/SB_homepage/Bio.html

--SB

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
248 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the content very informative, perfectly illustrated, and well-written. They also describe the writing style as witty, insightful, and down-to-earth. Overall, customers say the book treats a meaningful topic with grace and humor.

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ContentVisualsWriting style
19 customers mention "Content"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative, insightful, and entertaining. They say it sustains interest, perfectly logical, and perfectly illustrated. Readers also mention that the author is very smart and his premise is interesting. They also say the book does a fairly good job at covering all aspects of this topic.

"...This book is an extremely engaging read, and also serves as an excellent introduction to other key literature on architectural programming,..." Read more

"...Brand makes some really excellent observations. The chapter on low road architecture and buildings is worth the price of the book." Read more

"...Stewart Brand is thorough and observant, and he has a fascinating perspective on the built world as it relates to time...." Read more

"...There aren't any brand-new ideas here, but there are many powerful methods and ways of thinking from other disciplines that Brand has brought to..." Read more

6 customers mention "Visuals"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the visuals in the book perfectly illustrated, with fantastic insight into the world of architecture. They also appreciate the numerous excellent before-and-after photos.

"...To me the book speaks beautifully about architecture and how our built environment evolves, but that's not its real appeal to me...." Read more

"Numerous excellent before-and-after photos. Lots of discussion about how architecture and construction goes wrong...." Read more

"...extensive descriptions, critiques and histrories with many illustrative photos in each chapter on a vast array of subjects." Read more

"...It's clever, sustains interest, perfectly logical and perfectly illustrated. A meaningful topic, treated with grace and humor--a work of genius...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style well written, insightful, and down to earth. They also say the topic is meaningful and treated with grace and humor.

"...A meaningful topic, treated with grace and humor--a work of genius...." Read more

"HAD TO BUY THIS BOOK FOR A COLLEGE CLASS... WHAT A SURPRISE...WITTY, INSIGHTFUL ,DOWN TO EARTH, ENTERTAINING....NOW THAT THE CLASS IS OVER, THE BOOK..." Read more

"Well written.You should have a copy of this book.Nice book its so full of content.I like it." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Chip Sams
5.0 out of 5 stars essential reading for anyone involved in facility planning or operation
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2008
Verified Purchase
I am an acoustical and systems design consultant who specializes in worship and performing arts facilities, and use this book regularly in my practice. I have found no better resource for introducing the facility planning "layperson" to the enormous blind-spot that many in the architectural design and construction profession have regarding the relevance of buildings to the functional needs that should define their design, as well as the ongoing process of maintaining this relevance over time.

While highly specialized rooms such as auditoria do not usually lend themselves to significant modification over time, or to strategies such as "loose fit," Brand's advice about the risk of architectural experimentation in the fundamental form of most buildings is spot on. This book is an extremely engaging read, and also serves as an excellent introduction to other key literature on architectural programming, scenario planning, the evolution of the architectural profession, and so forth.

As other reviewers have suggested, anyone who lives or works in a building can profit from reading this book. I would add that anyone who works in the construction or facility management industries, or who expects to be involved in planning a building project from the perspective of the owner or user, has a duty to seek out the sort of education that this book provides.
11 people found this helpful
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RecDep
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Expected
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
I knew about this book for a long time, but I finally got around to reading it. Brand makes some really excellent observations. The chapter on low road architecture and buildings is worth the price of the book.
4 people found this helpful
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FozzieBear
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on software architecture (to say nothing of real architecture) I've ever read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
Amazing that a book published in the mid-nineties is still garnering regular reviews - this says something about the enduring appeal and quality of Brand's work. I first bought a copy of this book in the mid-nineties, and I've been handing them out to colleagues ever since. To me the book speaks beautifully about architecture and how our built environment evolves, but that's not its real appeal to me. As a computer scientist, I'm fascinated by the more general lessons that can be drawn from this book about complex systems, the interplay between their temporal layers, and how understanding this can lead to better systems designs in a host of fields. I've applied these lessons in areas from software engineering to organisational and cultural change, and my sense is that this book's importance -- like Alexander's Timeless Way of Building -- extends far beyond architecture. If you're involved in evolving organisations, software, towns or buildings, you'll not regret taking the time to read it.
20 people found this helpful
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citizen fact checker
5.0 out of 5 stars EVEN ORDINARY HOMEOWNERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS BOOK
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2010
Verified Purchase
I live in the deep south where, even today, kitchens in newly-built houses are generally very small. Most southerners that I know do not know why or even care that their kitchens are so small. I happen to live in a house with a large kitchen, a huge front porch, and a small back porch. I don't know the how or why the original builder of the house decided to include a very large kitchen, but I, being a Yankee, love having a large kitchen.

Kitchens in the south were the domain of domestic help, and the cultural norm was not to provide a great deal of space for the help. That tells us something about cultural attitudes even though most of us no longer can afford to employ domestic help. I would conclude the obvious then, that buildings do not learn on their own: They need to be nudged to catch up with current realities--just like school kids who want to skip school.

At present, I am trying to figure out what to do with my front porch that just collects garden furniture laden with dust. I don't need an extra room and have no desire at this time to screen the porch in. Screening is too obvious. What to do?

The small back porch has already been enclosed and has "learned" to be a mud room for our two pet canines when it's too hot or cold for them to stay outside or when it's raining.

Perhaps by the time I have finished reading this wonderful book, I'll know what to do about the idiot front porch.

I love this book and highly recommend it.
7 people found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Buildings + Time. Read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
I checked this book out at the library a long time ago and it completely changed the way I look at houses. Read it and you'll understand why old houses are always more interesting than new ones.

In my case, I bought this book again because I'm planning to build my house in a couple of months and I don't want it to be yet another house that falls apart in 20-30 years because it's useless and/or ugly.

Stewart Brand is thorough and observant, and he has a fascinating perspective on the built world as it relates to time. I will be reading more of his work as soon as I have the time.
9 people found this helpful
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J. Wharton
4.0 out of 5 stars Visionary
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2010
Verified Purchase
Stewart Brand has a well-deserved reputation as a visionary iconoclast. The founder of the Whole Earth Catalog has been challenging our preconceptions for many, many years. With "How Buildings Learn" he turns his finely-honed analytical and futurist abilities on architecture and construction.

This book is primarily synthetic in its focus. There aren't any brand-new ideas here, but there are many powerful methods and ways of thinking from other disciplines that Brand has brought to bear on the problem of making buildings that stand the test of time. Those whose backgrounds are not as diverse as Brand's (and whose is, really?), will be exposed to many unconventional ways of thinking about buildings. The reader will come away with a powerful sense of possibility and a deeper understanding of the built environment.

Whether you're an expert or simply have an interest in the structures we build around ourselves, you'll find much to admire in this thought-provoking exploration of buildings through time. It's every bit as relevant and ground-breaking today as it was when it was published.
3 people found this helpful
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BW
5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for people in construction, real estate developers, architects.
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Numerous excellent before-and-after photos. Lots of discussion about how architecture and construction goes wrong. People in those industries tend to be short-sighted, and make some stupid decisions that cause frustration for building occupants for years to come. This book refocuses the reader on a longer-term view of what makes a good building.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary book. Good printing and binding. Clear illustrations.
Reviewed in India on January 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book is legendary amongst designers, architects and software engineers. This is right up there with The Design of Everyday Things, and The Timeless Way of Building. The printing and binding is great. The book has a ton of illustrations, all of which are clear. Highly recommended.
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Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
Reviewed in Germany on December 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great book to learn something useful about real estate and also a good read in itself. I am not an architect or designer so can't comment on the technical accuracy or the "philosophy". However, if you have a passing interest in buildings, for whatever reason, this book will give you better lenses to see what is around you. Very few books do that in my experience.
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Robyn K
5.0 out of 5 stars Written about buildings, but can translate to computers!
Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book was actually recommended to me by a computer science teacher. Read it as the architecture of a computer system (the site), the hardware (the structure), the software and customizations (the skin/services) and the users and data (space plan, stuff), and it makes sense! Gave me a whole new appreciation of computer systems AND architecture. I will never look at either the same. Like other reviewers, I refer back to this book often, and take time when I am travelling to notice how buildings have learned.
2 people found this helpful
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evelyne stringer
5.0 out of 5 stars lecteur satisfait !
Reviewed in France on May 29, 2012
Verified Purchase
Ouvrage reçu en excellent état. C'est un livre fort intéressant,dans une belle édition , format agréable à l'oeil et à manipuler ;. Décidémment un auteur passionnant , auteur du "LONG MAINTENANT " enfin traduit en Français .
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AK
5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be a manifesto to lead the architectural profession out of its bankruptcy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2010
Verified Purchase
If you have ever lived or worked - and suffered - in a building designed by a star architect (or a wannabe - the differences in habitability between them tend to be slight), Brand's book is a must read. Not being an architect himself, he looks primarily at the functional aspects of buildings, as places of habitation and places of work. The book then proceeds to examine how the demands for buildings change over time and what buildings adapt best / what approaches to use to make the adaptation process easiest for the inhabitants.

Brand calls for adaptable and liveable architecture, for buildings which can easily be repurposed to suit the ever changing needs of the inhabitants and which can grow appropriately and sensibly. The focus is also on functionality in the sense that it needs to take precedence over stylistic concerns - especially those, which are achieved at the cost of buildings being functionally impoverished as a result. In keeping with the title not only extensions and remodelling are covered in great detail, the author also devotes sufficient attention to upkeep, maintenance and appropriate design to incorporate those aspects at the construction stage already.

In addition to being a very well illustrated (myriad of evolutionary pictures of the same buildings over time) and easy to read book, one can in many instances use it as a framework as well as a practical guide when making building decisions oneself. It might not tell you specifically what material and design solution is best for each circumstance - even if it often does provide sound advice - but more importantly, it lays down some very sound fundamentals that need to be followed by your architect, if you want a building that will work well, and continue working well for its users over a long period of time.

Returning to the opening statement, I very much hope that something along the lines of this book makes it into the core curriculum of architectural education - the profession would go a long way towards redeeming itself, if the practitioners were generally knowledgeable about the holistic way of looking at buildings, including over time, as prescribed by Brand here. As for the star architects, I wish they were forced to learn the contects by heart, from cover to cover, before being allowed to design as much as an outhouse ever again.
5 people found this helpful
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