Cultural Aspects of Design

The Cultural Aspects of Design Network has as its aim to further the understanding of the inter-relationships between cultures and the physical environment, to improve knowledge of the impact of cultural and social factors on environmental design and planning, and to expand consciousness of the myriad of ways in which environments play a role in, and affect, the lives of people and other living beings. Members of this network are interested in research leading to culturally appropriate and responsive design. Current research interests include vernacular architecture, domestic space, housing, public space, cross-cultural variation in design, religion, migration of people and adjustments related to design, workplace design, native cultures, modern and hybrid cultures, power issues in design, symbolism, meaning, socio-cultural context of design. On the pragmatic side, members are interested in consultancy, policy, designing and planning communities with special consideration of culture, and in culturally appropriate, responsive and responsible design.

Environment vs. Preservation?

Cities face wrecking ball to meet carbon targets

From: The Times

By: Rebecca O’Connor, Property Correspondent

Huge expanses of British town and city centres built in the Sixties and Seventies may have to be torn down to meet carbon emission standards for buildings.

In an interview with The Times, the Government’s new chief construction adviser said that there may be no choice but to demolish buildings put up in those decades because it is impossible to refurbish them to a sufficiently high standard.

Paul Morrell, who took up his new post at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills at the end of November last year, said: “In the Sixties, everything was built cheaper, faster and nastier. If you are going to try to fix buildings, then really you won’t have too many problems with anything built earlier than the Fifties or after the Eighties.

Network website and listserv established

the Cultural Aspects of Design Network hosts its own website at http://www.seweb.uci.edu/cadn.html
and a listserv at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You are welcome to participate on each.

Network Chairs

Sanjoy Mazumdar (co-chair)
University of California
School of Social Ecology
Irvine, CA 92697-7075
Fax: 949-824-8566
mazumdar@uci.edu

David G. Saile (co-chair)
School of Architecture, University of Cincinnati
P.O. Box 210016
Cincinnai, OH 45221-0016
Telephone: 513-556-3415
Fax: 513-556-3288
sailed@email.uc.edu