New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave

by David Pearson. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 2001. 223 pages, paperback $35, hardcover $60

New Organic Architecturehonors its subject through a dazzling tribute to its leading current practitioners. David Pearson’s book centers around eight key themes that define organic architecture: “building as nature,” “continuous present,” “form follows flow,” “of the people,” “of the hill,” “of the materials,” “youthful and unexpected,” and “living music.” Pearson develops these themes through an engaging but basic overview of the discipline. Though he doesn’t claim that organic forms are inherently sustainable, Pearson does argue that the organic aesthetic is an essential aspect of ecological design.

The better part of the book, in quality and quantity, consists of statements from 30 contemporary architects from around the world and images of their work. An inspiring representation of organic architecture, the book would be best viewed as accompaniment to a more thorough survey of the movement, such as James Wines’

Green Architecture (see

EBN

Vol. 10, No. 5).

– JB