Towards an everyday utopia
The whole earth catalog and architectural practice in American counterculture communes, 1968-1971
X. Zhang (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Rachel Lee – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
This thesis explores the impact of the Whole Earth Catalog on architecture practices in communes during the late 1960s and early 1970s, focusing on the relationship between people and the built environment. By analyzing the Catalog's contents, the real self-build works in communities, and the critiques it received, this study reveals the Catalog's rich heritage for sustainable architecture today, including passive design and the promotion of new energies. In addition, the anthropological approach of the Catalog, which emphasized the connection between architecture and people's daily life, is highlighted as a valuable perspective for architecture today. This study argues that the Catalog's approach provides a framework for seeing architecture as an ongoing process shaped by interactions with other realms, challenging the traditional relationship between designers, users, and architecture. By involving amateur builders and urging an insider perspective, the Catalog's approach could bridge the gap between designers and users and enable a more comprehensive architecture practice.