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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 18h

Not so far it isn't. We're still full on fossil fuelism.

Reposted by Barnabas Calder

Ian Hunt @ianhunt.bsky.social · 1d

This summary piece of Barnabas Calder's thinking about energy and architecture (in Dezeen, form 2023) is a blast of sense. There's mention too of Yasmeen Lari's important work. #architecture

Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 1d

I offered a dissenting voice in this article about "beauty" in #architecture, though little of it got in. Essentially, I can't see why style wars should wang on self-promotingly through a climate emergency.
www.ft.com/content/fd8a...
I put the case here too:
www.dezeen.com/2023/01/12/a...

Who should decide what makes a building beautiful?

Everyone agrees that we need more homes, and fast — and that we want them to look good. But who should be the judge: architects, governments or the general public?

www.ft.com

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 1d

Yes. And the really troubling thing about beauty BS is that it's another weapon in the armoury for those arguing for endless demolition and replacement. Who cares if an existing building isn't in the style you happen to cling to sentimentally? It's tens of thousands of tonnes of CO2 to replace it.

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 1d

I offered a dissenting voice in this article about "beauty" in #architecture, though little of it got in. Essentially, I can't see why style wars should wang on self-promotingly through a climate emergency.
www.ft.com/content/fd8a...
I put the case here too:
www.dezeen.com/2023/01/12/a...

Who should decide what makes a building beautiful?

Everyone agrees that we need more homes, and fast — and that we want them to look good. But who should be the judge: architects, governments or the general public?

www.ft.com

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks Lloyd - I'm so glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. @florianurban.bsky.social's data sets are amazing, aren't they!

Reposted by Barnabas Calder

Lloyd Alter @lloydalter.bsky.social · 2d

on the plane home from conferences on #sufficiency and #passivhaus I read "Form Follows Fuel" by Florian Urban and @barnabascalder.bsky.social. It has remarkable relevance to both, a brilliant book demonstrating that we cannot get a real grip on upfront carbon without embracing sufficiency.

A tale of two conferences and a book, "Form Follows Fuel"

I attend a Sufficiency conference in Edinburgh and a Passivhaus conference in Belfast, and read a new book relevant to both.

lloydalter.substack.com

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 6d

This will be really interesting and fun if you can get to Chester this weekend: learning to build medieval gothic vaults from very accurate foam replicas. I can't wait!
chestercathedral.com/events/event...
#architecture #medievalarchitecture #vaulting #chester

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 14d

Such an important question. Is it possible to boil down some key findings as a thread for all of us who can't read Danish? I hope you get an English publisher.

Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 17d

Ooh! I don't know it. Your sketch is hugely recognisable though.

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 17d

I don't know but I like it!

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

Prince Architect @princearchitect.bsky.social · 17d

In a slightly abstract twist, where were we yesterday?!

Single line pen sketch of a mystery building...

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

Florian Urban @florianurban.bsky.social · 19d

#architectureandenergy Thanks to the 100+ people who joined our book launch event last night at the Glasgow School of Art! Well done Chloe and Kieran @architectsdeclare.bsky.social for organising this event, and thanks to @barnabascalder.bsky.social and www.instagram.com/john_joseph_...

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you. Yes, architecture is a great place to look at the intersections between it all, isn't it?

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 20d

Very impressive! Yes it is!

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 20d

Yep! On the right.

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you so much. That is unbelievably heart-warming and generous. I'm with Florian now after the Edinburgh launch, and we're both delighted with your kind words.

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

ｅｒｄｊｏｈａｎｎ @erdjohann.bsky.social · 20d

@barnabascalder.bsky.social @florianurban.bsky.social amazing job, this should be required reading for any history class!

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

ｅｒｄｊｏｈａｎｎ @erdjohann.bsky.social · 20d

if you only buy one book about architecture or history this year make sure it's form follows fuel! 14 buildings from 4 millennia show how energy has shaped human housing, sustainability and climate through history, and its topical and informative interdisciplinary approach make this a must read!

form follows fuel: 14 buildings from antiquity to the oil age by florian urban and barnabas calder. a detailed drawing of the church-like chhatrapati shivaji maharaj terminus in mumbai on the cover

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 20d

I love going by train. Recognise these roofs?
#whatbuilding

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

The Victorian Society @thevicsoc.bsky.social · 22d

St Agnes, Grade I, J L Pearson - Toxteth. We placed its Vicarage and Hall by Norman Shaw on our Top Ten Endangered Buildings list in 2024 - both have now been sold we believe. www.victoriansociety.org.uk/endangered-b... Thanks Barnabas.

Endangered building - Liverpool vicarage and hall on Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2024 - The Victorian Society

Liverpool vicarage and hall on Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2024 is on our list of endangered buildings. The Victorian Society - Campaigning for Victorian and Edwardian Built ...

www.victoriansociety.org.uk

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 22d

That's the first review we've had, and what a lovely one! Thank you so much!

I hope the second half of the book remains as interesting even if more anxiety-inducing.

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

ｅｒｄｊｏｈａｎｎ @erdjohann.bsky.social · 22d

just finished the pre-fossil chapters, very hard to put the book down for the night as it is both an extremely informative and entertaining read! great choice of examples too, serving the focus on energy and sustainability in architecture just wonderfully! fantastic book, highly recommended!

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Reposted by Barnabas Calder

ｅｒｄｊｏｈａｎｎ @erdjohann.bsky.social · 23d

going in 🔥 @barnabascalder.bsky.social @florianurban.bsky.social very much hyped to finally have this

form follows fuel von florian urban und barnabas calder, auf dem cover eine sehr detaillierte zeichnung eines kirchengebäudes

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 22d

I hope it lives up to your expectations. We'd welcome feedback once you've had a look.

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Barnabas Calder @barnabascalder.bsky.social · 24d

Well played!

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