Dreams of Disconnection (Paperback)

Fanny Lopez

ISBN 10: 1526146894 / ISBN 13: 9781526146892

Published by Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2021

About this Item

Paperback. Why must we live in homes and in communities built around a shared grid for our needs? For over a century, creative architects and urbanists have dreamed of self-sufficient living, whether to cut themselves off from society or in preparation for some external threat, be it climate change or nuclear war.This book tells the story of this strand of design and planning, from its pioneers in the late nineteenth century to those applying similar ideas to tomorrow's technology two hundred years later. Lopez takes in many a utopian visionary in her tour of dreamers of disconnection, from theorists and architects to industrialists and engineers. Technology and design are the centre-pieces for these projects, and their complexity, particularly around sustainable supplies of energy, food and water, so often find solutions in aesthetics. The book demonstrates that whether these dreams were based around single homes or whole cities, there is much to be learnt and marvelled at in the history of self-sufficient design. This book offers a history of energy autonomy and small infrastructures in the field of architecture and urbanism from the end of the 19th century to the present day. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781526146892

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Dreams of Disconnection (Paperback)
• Publisher: Manchester University Press, Manchester
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1526146894
• ISBN 13: 9781526146892
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Why do we live in homes and communities built around the century-old industrial model of large service networks that use polluting resources? For more than a century, creative architects and planners have dreamed of decentralisation and self-sufficient living, not to cut themselves off from society, but to invent new modes of consumption and to rethink collective public services around common environmental values.

In a time of climate crisis, changing society means changing energy infrastructures. Dreams of disconnection tells the story of this strand of design and planning, from its pioneers in the late nineteenth century to those applying similar ideas to tomorrow’s technology two hundred years later. Lopez takes in many a utopian visionary in her tour of dreamers of disconnection, from theorists and architects to industrialists and engineers. Technology and design are the centrepieces for these projects, and their complexity, particularly around sustainable supplies of energy, food and water, so often find solutions in aesthetics.

Whether these models were based around single homes or whole cities, Dreams of disconnection reveals that there is much to be learnt and marvelled at in the history of self-sufficient design.
This book is relevant to both United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 11, Affordable and clean energy and Sustainable cities and communities

About the Author

Fanny Lopez is Associate Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at the School of Architecture Paris-Est, University Gustave Eiffel