A Natural History of Architecture
How Climate, Epidemics, and Energy Have Shaped Cities and Buildings
Rahm(Author)
Actar Publishers
Will be published approx. on 1. September 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-63840-203-9 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, architect Philippe Rahm reframes the evolution of architecture through the lens of climate, biology, and energy, revealing how natural forces have shaped our built environment.
How did the human need to maintain a body temperature of 37°C lead to the emergence of architecture? How did a simple grain store become a city? Why did oil cause the urbanization of deserts?
In this book, architect Philippe Rahm highlights the physical, biological, climatic, and health factors that have influenced architectural history and led to the emergence of its various forms, from prehistory to the present day. Re-reading the history of architecture from the perspective of these natural factors, long ignored by 20th-century historiography, enables us to tackle the major environmental challenges of our century and to build better in the face of the climate emergency.
How did the human need to maintain a body temperature of 37°C lead to the emergence of architecture? How did a simple grain store become a city? Why did oil cause the urbanization of deserts?
In this book, architect Philippe Rahm highlights the physical, biological, climatic, and health factors that have influenced architectural history and led to the emergence of its various forms, from prehistory to the present day. Re-reading the history of architecture from the perspective of these natural factors, long ignored by 20th-century historiography, enables us to tackle the major environmental challenges of our century and to build better in the face of the climate emergency.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 169 mm
Width: 109 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-63840-203-9 (9781638402039)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Philippe Rahm is a Swiss architect with a master degree from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and a Ph.D from the Université de Paris-Saclay, whose practice of PHILIPPE RAHM ARCHITECTES is based in Paris. His work, from the physiological to the meteorological, has received an international audience in the context of sustainability. His projects include the Taichung Central Park in Taiwan, inaugurated in 2020 (with Mosbach paysagistes). In 2023, he authored the books Histoire naturelle de l’architecture, Climatic architecture and The Anthropocene Style. He has taught at Harvard, Princeton and Columbia universities, HEAD – Geneva and ENSA Versailles.