The Nature of Place by Friedman, Avi

ISBN: 9781616890384

Princeton Architectural Press | 02 November 2011

Paperback | 192 pages

The book is about a search for good places authentic ones and wondering about the disappearance of others. While visiting sixteen unique spots around the world, Friedman wondered what made strolling through, sitting in, dining at, or simply being there memorable. He reflected on the design of markets when he stumbled onto one at the crack of dawn in Dalian, China. He thought about the disappearance of folk art from neighborhoods when walking into a collection of life-sized sculptures in the Canadian arctic. He considered the relationship between cities and their natural environments when visiting Fargo, North Dakota, on a frigid day. Editorial Reviews About the Author Avi Friedman received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, his master of Architecture degree from McGill University, and his Ph.D. from the Universite de Montreal. He co-founded the Affordable Homes Program at the McGill School of Architecture, where he is an Associate Professor. Avi Friedman is the author of the books "The Grow Home" and "Planning the New Suburbia: Flexibility by Design." He has written extensively on subjects ranging from prefabrication and construction technology to suburban planning and space management. Dr. Friedman has worked as the head of design for a home building firm in Montreal. He has designed housing prototypes that were constructed by homebuilders in the private sector. The "Grow Home, " a narrow-front row-house, received immense media attention and has since been built in communities across North America. The "Next Home, " also the subject of much media scrutiny, is a flexible and affordable housing type. Dr. Friedman's design work and projects have been covered extensively on TV shows such as ABC's "Good Morning America, Dream Builders, " and Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" (British Broadcasting Corporation), in magazines such as "Popular Science, Architecture, " and "Home, " and in newspapers including "The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, " and "San Francisco Examiner." Avi Friedman has been a speaker at meetings of government officials, development authorities, university faculties and students, home-builders, architects, and planners. He has received numerous awards for his research, design, and teaching, including the American Institute of Architects Education Honors, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Creative Achievement Award, the Progressive Architecture Research Award, the Manning Award for Technological Innovation, and the United Nations World Habitat Award. He is also "Wallpaper's" designation as one of the 10 people who will change the way we live--an award shared by noted architect Rem Koolhaas, Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Ikea, and Sven Mattisson, co-developer of the Bluetooth microchip.