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Architecture Depends

Architecture Depends presents an original thesis that brings social theory, including that of Zygmunt Bauman and Bruno Latour, to bear on architectural theory and practice. Drawing on theories of critical pedagogy, contingency, and reflective practice, it presents a new paradigm for architectural thinking, recognised by the 2009 RIBA President’s Award for Research (prize for outstanding university-based research). Reviews include Blueprint, Architects’ Journal; the Times Higher Education Book of the Week; features on Nightwaves (BBC R3), Thinking Allowed (BBC R4). International recognition includes the invitation to present key ideas from the book as the Jeffrey Cook Memorial Lecturer

Double-weighting is proposed on the basis of the scale of research and the scope of its argument. The book was developed during a year’s sabbatical and drew on Till’s extensive previous research in the areas of architectural education (twice awarded the EAAE Prize for writing on education, 1995 and 2004), sustainable design (RIBA Sustainability prize 2004) and philosophy. This substantial research investment is reflected in the broad scope of the book, which, as the Times Higher Education reviewer noted, “revives long-dead connections between architecture and the social sciences” by bringing together previously disparate aspects of social, philosophical and architectural theory.