Monthly Report for February 2019 by Brian Carter, Building Types, Architecture Article
Monthly Report for February 2019 by Brian Carter
Architectural Design & Buildings Discussion – article by Brian Carter, Buffalo, NY, USA
Mar 15, 2019
Monthly Report for February 2019 by Brian Carter
Buffalo Calling
February was defined by a Polar Vortex, hazardous wind warnings, frozen roads, unusually hot days in London, a week of record winter heat in the UK and an ice tsunami – extreme events that closed public schools and university campuses, lifted off roofs, stalled public transport and emptied cities into parks.
At times like these an architect?s thoughts turn, perhaps inevitably, to buildings. Considerations and anxieties about how they are designed extend to speculations about appropriate sitings, the selection of materials, decisions regarding systems of detailing, assemblies and chosen methods of construction. Questions of whether buildings can withstand or recover from increasingly extreme weather as well as unpredictable conditions highlight not only the complexities of design but also the vulnerabilities of communities worldwide. Concerns regarding food supply and security extend globally while increasing dependence on food banks, community pantries and soup kitchens highlights local stresses. And after years of austerity, the hollowing out of public services and decline of community health and care have simultaneously prompted new needs for shelter and supp...