Building A Process

Sociologist Lucius Burckhardt and architect Walter Maria Förderer may seem an unlikely pair, yet their 1968 book Building as a Process reveals a shared vision: architecture as an ongoing, political, and cultural negotiation. By shifting attention to the phases before construction and after completion, they challenge the idea of new buildings as “clean solutions” and highlight flexibility, conflict, and user agency. In ten concise chapters, they question preservation dogmas and argue for hybrid, adaptable architectures. This renewed edition underscores their lasting insight: the future of sustainability lies in cultivating a culture of transformation. For the first time, the book is now available in English.

• A plea for the long-term use of buildings
• Strategies for utilization that begin at the planning stage
• Pathways to sustainably leverage existing potential

Lucius Burckhardt (1925–2003), founder of strollology, was professor of socio-economics of urban systems at the University of Kassel.

Walter Maria Förderer (1928–2006) was a Swiss architect, sculptor, university professor, and politician. His architectural works include the Rosenberg Campus of the University of St. Gallen and the Church of St. Nicolas in the Valais.