Tradition Today: Continuity in Architecture & Society
Author(s): Robert Adam and Matthew Hardy
- Publisher: WIT Press
- Publication Date: 20 Mar. 2008
- Edition: illustrated edition
- Language: English
- Print length: 160 pages
- ISBN-10: 1845640667
- ISBN-13: 9781845640668
Book Description
In January 2002, after a two year gestation period, the International Network for Traditional Buildings, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU) was launched. To celebrate the launch, a conference was held to debate the place of tradition in modern society. While INTBAU was specifically concerned with building and urbanism, if tradition was indeed relevant then it must have a place throughout society. The conference forms the basis of this book. It is an important feature of traditions that they adapt and change. So, while change accelerates so should the adaptation of traditions. If we rely on tradition for the transmission of culture, then the adaptation of traditions is a matter of importance to all of us. If change occurs without the transmission of culture, then culture itself dies; culture cannot be created anew every day. The evolutionary nature of tradition is something often ignored by supporters and opponents alike. It is important that history – that which measures our distance from the past – is not confused with tradition – the past living through us. The papers presented in this book discuss these points and many others are a fascinating miscellany. With contributions ranging from the practical to the academic these papers can leave no doubt about the continued role and significance of tradition, the passion of those who understand its relevance and the dangers inherent in its denial.
Editorial Reviews
Review
A unique collection of authoritative essays on the nature and essence of tradition has been published by INTBAU, the International Network for Traditional Building Architecture and Urbanism. With an Introduction by its Patron, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, this innovative book has been written by an international range of experts who highlight the effects of tradition on an inter-disciplinary collection of themes. The range of the subjects is original and impressive but so is the authors’ art in forging links as they explore the meaning of tradition from within their individual disciplines. These span architecture, design and building to the fields of linguistics, religion, philosophy, law and gastronomy.
Tradition is shown as not only bestowing a source of stability within society but in the words of INTBAU’s Patron, “a fundamental sense of humanity and harmony.” Far from being immutable or stultifying, the chapters on religion and law illustrate clearly that tradition is a force of nature sufficiently confident within itself to allow for social adaptation and evolution. In other words, tradition owes its endurance and survival to an inherent flexibility when it is required.
The book shows clearly that tradition is far removed from the clichés of being orthodox and archaic. Far from being strangulated by ancient practices, traditional methodology is being embraced as the way of the future. For example, in the 21st century we have begun to tire of the packed supermarkets and frozen and prepared foods that are so nutritionally barren. Increasingly people prefer to return to more established patterns of gastronomy: eating local, organic foods that are prepared in their own kitchens. In fact, the whole ecology movement, so a la mode today, is a return to the life styles and ways of our forefathers.
Traditional building has endured for thousands of years and appears to be a part of the human psyche. Robert Adams cites research from The Popular Housing Group that shows only 1.5% of the consumers interviewed actually liked modern housing most people likening them to ‘nuclear power stations’ and ‘factories’ The population wants aesthetic and ecologically friendly homes, turning their backs on harsh styles of seemingly mass produced buildings constructed from composite materials that lack character, an expression of locale or sustainability.
Tradition Today rings with an upbeat and positive message. Andrew Clegg, an expert on building owns Scotland’s oldest brick factory. He is convinced that the traditional Scottish brick will endure and prosper ‘until doomsday’ because of its thermal conductivity and insulating qualities, aesthetic lustre, durability and ecological capabilities all learned from the Romans 2000 years ago. His confidence is infectious and anyone reading this erudite and compelling book will be similarly convinced. — INTBAU Book Reviews, 11 March 2008 by Genevieve Muinzer
From the Back Cover
Tradition Today: Continuity in Architecture & Society
Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales
Essays by:
Robert Adam
Khaled Azzam
Lynne Chatterton
Andrew Clegg
Clive Erricker
Richard Kindersley
Hans Kolstad
Léon Krier
Michael Lobban
Cesare Poppi
Alexander Stoddart
Viktor M. Zhivov
Edited by Robert Adam and Matthew Hardy
INTBAU logo
Tradition today brings together essays on the meaning of tradition from a diverse range of sources including architecture, Islamic art, gastronomy, brick-making, religion, letter-cutting, philosophy, urbanism, law, sociology, sculpture and language. This first publication of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism is an engaging book for anyone interested in the way we live today.
“it [is] terrific to see people from so many points of view united together by tradition”
Christine G. H. Franck, Board of Directors, Institute for Classical Architecture & Classical America
About the Author
Robert Adam trained at the University of Westminster and won a Rome Scholarship. He has practiced in the city of Winchester since 1977 and co-founded Winchester Design in 1986, which became known as Robert Adam Architects in 2000. He works closely with clients on a diverse range of projects including major private houses, extensions to historic buildings and public and commercial buildings. He has 20 years experience in masterplanning and has pioneered objective coding.
Robert Adam’s contribution to the classical tradition is internationally acknowledged, both as a scholar and as a designer of traditional and progressive classical architecture. He is also a designer of classical furniture.
He founded the Popular Housing Forum in 1995 as a result of his long involvement with speculative housing and masterplanning. He was also one of the founders of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU) in 2000.
Robert Adam’s work is widely published, broadcast and exhibited. He writes, lectures and broadcasts on a variety of subjects including classical architecture, masterplanning, housing, countryside issues, heritage and globalisation. He has also undertaken lecture tours of the USA and Russia.
Dr Matthew Hardy RAIA is Secretary of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU). He has lectured and published widely in support of INTBAU, and has taught widely on both course work and summer programmes and as a Visiting Professor with the University of Notre Dame. He has also maintained a practice in architecture and urban design since registering in South Australia in 1983. Dr Hardy holds a PhD in Architectural History from the University of Wales and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Adelaide and is an Alumnus of The Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture. He has lectured and published widely in support of INTBAU.
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