Critical Practices in Architecture (The Arts, Design and Culture in Cities)

This book embraces the idea that in todays complex world, multiple, emerging perspectives are critical to the design fields, the environment, and society. It also brings authors into conversation to focus on the built environment from the perspective of critical practice. The authors take as a starting point Jane Rendells ground-breaking work, which defines critical spatial practice as self-reflective modes of thought that seek to change the world. In opposition to conventional conceptions of architectural education and work, this book reflects how socially engaged architects, landscape architects, designers, urbanists, and artists take up critical spatial practice. Bridging ideas from multiple countries and approaches to design scholarship, each chapter seeks to find places of convergence for the multiple strands that form around themes of practice, equality, methods, theory, ethics, pedagogy, and representation. Rendells foreword and postscript provide context for these themes and suggest a way forward in todays challenging, changing times.