Stephen H. Kendall, Ph.D., R.A. is Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Ball State University and co-founder and vice president of the Council on Open Building. Dr. Kendall’s career in architectural practice, research and education spans more than 40 years. His research focuses on the Open Building approach needed to make buildings more adaptable, easier to customize to meet changing preferences and thus more sustainable. His work recognizes the increasing size and complexity of projects and the dynamics of living environments, the workplace and the marketplace where design must go beyond short-term uses and where control is distributed not only during initial planning but also over time.
The book gives a comprehensive and up-dated international overview of the current state of affairs in Open Building. This is very useful for professionals interested in the subject. The angle of attack (open building) is unusual on many important topics. And that makes it even more interesting for professionals, especially architects, that are not familiar with this philosophy. At the same time, it also makes it clear how difficult it is to change our ingrained habits that we love so much. Indeed, we are still too much connected with short term thinking that forms the basis for the conventional approach and functionalism in architecture. The book offers important theories that go far beyond the usual literature on architecture that only deals with projects and practical decisions. Frank Bijdendijk, Former Managing Director of the Housing Association Het Oosten (later Stadgenoot) in Amsterdam. Founder and President, National Renovation Platform in the Netherlands.