N.J. Habraken – författare

First translated in English ten years after its original Dutch publication in 1962, this book has inspired practitioners for generations. It’s proposal to distinguish the infill from the support - what users can individually decide in a housing process from what users share - has turned out to be feasible in practice. The Natural Relation - the interaction of people with their immediate environment and the central concept of the book - is the result of that distinction. It is essential to the well-being of everyday environment regardless of function or available resources.

First translated in English ten years after its original Dutch publication in 1962, this book has inspired practitioners for generations. It’s proposal to distinguish the infill from the support - what users can individually decide in a housing process from what users share - has turned out to be feasible in practice. The Natural Relation - the interaction of people with their immediate environment and the central concept of the book - is the result of that distinction. It is essential to the well-being of everyday environment regardless of function or available resources.

Originally published in 1985 this book explores, in four interwoven essays, the many ways human life and built form interact and the place that professional designing takes in this interaction. Together, the essays touch on a number of ideas: the idea that our position in space relative to the thing we are designing determines the methods we apply when designing it; the idea that designing is about making proposals, and is therefore a social act first of all; and the idea that agreements, consensus and above all conventions shape the act of designing things independent of their creative qualities.

Originally published in 1985 this book explores, in four interwoven essays, the many ways human life and built form interact and the place that professional designing takes in this interaction. Together, the essays touch on a number of ideas: the idea that our position in space relative to the thing we are designing determines the methods we apply when designing it; the idea that designing is about making proposals, and is therefore a social act first of all; and the idea that agreements, consensus and above all conventions shape the act of designing things independent of their creative qualities.

Based on many years of personal observation, Palladio''s Children critically examines the role of the architect as a professional descendent of Palladio, and as an heir to his architectural legacy. Seven innovative and carefully crafted essays explore the widening ideological schism between today’s architects whose core values, identity and education remain rooted in the Renaissance legacy of creating artful ‘masterpieces’, and the practical demands on a profession which acts within an evolving, ubiquitous and autonomous built environment or ‘field’.

Clearly written yet expressing complex, evolving ideas, this extended argument opens a new forum of debate across design theory, professional practice and academic issues. Moving the subject on from a historical perspective, Habraken shows how architects are increasingly involved in the design of everyday buildings. This must lead to a reassessment of architects’ identities, values and education, and the contribution of the architect in the shaping of the built environment.