Context - Architecture And The Genius Of Place Ad Primer

The contemporary definition of context in architectural theory and practice has been a focus for debate since the 1980s. Aldo Rossi, Ken Frampton, Colin Rowe, Peter Eisenman and more recent texts address, from different positions, the formal agenda. However, Context looks beyond this aspect to the fundamentals that give a new social and cultural perspective to this very important point of departure for designers. It turns the urban statistician’s telescopic focus on global trends inside out to develop an understanding of the cultural and physical conditions that allow us to speak of such archetypes as the Parisian Cafe, the London High Street, the Baltic City Square or the Mumbai Market.

The five chapters evolve from the fundamentals of the ground beneath our feet: Pavements (Chapter 1); to the importance of orientation, Horizon (Chapter 2); the dialogue of parts within a whole, Simultaneity (Chapter 4); the sequential understanding of urban space, Kinetics (Chapter 4); landscape and the city, Artifice (Chapter 5)

The contemporary definition of context in architectural theory and practice has been a focus for debate since the 1980s. Aldo Rossi, Ken Frampton, Colin Rowe, Peter Eisenman and more recent texts address, from different positions, the formal agenda. However, Context looks beyond this aspect to the fundamentals that give a new social and cultural perspective to this very important point of departure for designers. It turns the urban statistician’s telescopic focus on global trends inside out to develop an understanding of the cultural and physical conditions that allow us to speak of such archetypes as the Parisian Cafe, the London High Street, the Baltic City Square or the Mumbai Market.

The five chapters evolve from the fundamentals of the ground beneath our feet: Pavements (Chapter 1); to the importance of orientation, Horizon (Chapter 2); the dialogue of parts within a whole, Simultaneity (Chapter 4); the sequential understanding of urban space, Kinetics (Chapter 4); landscape and the city, Artifice (Chapter 5)

Eric Parry leads one of London's most eminent practices, Eric Parry Architects, which is renowned for delivering beautifully crafted and well-considered buildings. He is a Royal Academician (RA) and is on the Royal Academy Architecture Committee. He is also on the Mayor's Design Advisory Panel. In addition to his work in architectural practice, Eric has held a number of distinguished positions, including President of the Architectural Association. He has in the past served on the Arts Council of England's Visual Arts and Architecture panel and chaired the RIBA Awards Group. His contribution to academia includes a number of years as Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Cambridge and lectureships at the Graduate Design School, Harvard University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Eric speaks at conferences worldwide and lectures internationally.