Safe as Houses: The More-Than-Human Home (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781848225145)

This book examines the notion of the home in the context of the pandemic and lockdown, as they relate to environmental concerns and how we live with viruses and bacteria. It argues that, in order to decrease our vulnerability to infective agents, we need to acknowledge the link between people, space, daily routines, and microbes and explore how the predominantly benign microbial world might be harnessed to combat and boost out immunity to future pathogens. Suggesting more than environmental home improvements, it explores new innovations and new materials which incorporate microbes for more ecological designs, such as ceramic tiles, concrete bio-receptive surfaces, building skins, fabrics, waste management, and alternative energy supplies. A series of drawings which reveal the evolution of microbial technologies, infrastructures, spaces, dwellings, and architectures sets out a prototype for an ecological home for post pandemic times. Identifying the lessons that COVID-19 has brought us, the book highlights the need for humans to consider and take microbes into account in future built environments.

Author: Rachel Armstrong
ISBN-10: 1848225148
ISBN-13: 9781848225145
Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
Language: English
Published: 07/21/2022
Pages: 144
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs

Review Citation(s):
Choice 05/01/2023