Books like How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand

Jane Jacobs’ seminal work argues that diverse, vibrant street life sustains cities, challenging conventional plans that favor large developments and uniformity.

Christopher Alexander offers a revolutionary theory that links architecture to an ancient, timeless process rooted in human perception and social order.

In The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, McLennan outlines the major ideas and issues that have emerged in the growing movement of green architecture and sustainable design over the last thirty years. This book is intended as a starting point for anyone involved in the building industry on a journey to learn how they can build more responsibly. The book is rooted in practical knowledge but rather than being a ‘how to book’ asks individuals to understand how the philosophy of sustainable design can affect their own work. Part Sustainable Design 101 and part manifesto this book lays the groundwork and philosophical basis for more technical study. McLennan relies on his extensive experience with sustainable design having consulted to dozens of projects and design teams all over the country. Tapping into the work of many pioneers and ‘green design philosophers’ McLennan clearly presents a framework for practitioners and students to understand sustainable design and how ultimately it will become the future of architecture and design.

An authority on architectural drawing explains the materials and techniques of sketching buildings of many styles.