Architecture Without Architects：A Short Introduction to Non-Pedigreed Architecture

Inthisbook,BernardRudofskystepsoutsidethenarrowlydefineddisciplinethathasgovernedoursenseofarchitecturalhistoryanddiscussestheartofbuildingasauniversalphenomenon.Heintroducesthereadertocommunalarchitecture--architectureproducednotbyspecialistsbutbythespontaneousandcontinuingactivityofawholepeoplewithacommonheritage,actingwithinacommunityexperience.AprehistorictheaterdistrictforahundredthousandspectatorsontheAmericancontinentandundergroundtownsandvillages(completewithschools,offices,andfactories)inhabitedbymillionsofpeopleareamongtheunexpectedphenomenahebringstolight.Thebeautyof"primitive"architecturehasoftenbeendismissedasaccidental,buttodaywerecognizeinitanartformthathasresultedfromhumanintelligenceappliedtouniquelyhumanmodesoflife.Indeed,Rudofskyseesthephilosophyandpracticalknowledgeoftheuntutoredbuildersasuntappedsourcesofinspirationforindustrialmantrappedinhischaoticcities.