Street-by-Street Retrofit: A Future for Architecture

For many years, it has been recognised that improving the energy performance of the existing housing stock is vital if energy demand is to be reduced to combat climate change. The art of retrofit is posited as a way forward beyond todays weak pseudo-Modernist architecture all that is left the final echo of Modernisms original utopian impulse.

Central to the book is the presentation of domestic street-by-street retrofit as an issue with technical, financial and societal dimensions. A holistic view of the complex, interacting factors that have held back any advance is interspersed with a historical account of retrofits faltering progress over the last 20 years. The crucial challenges that have been encountered are described, including the technological and human factors that urgently need to be addressed. It is suggested that the utopian instincts that propelled early Modernism can be redeployed in finding an approach to retrofit that will pave the way towards a politically engaged architecture of social purpose.

Street-by-Street Retrofits goal is to involve the creative imagination of designers and form an alliance with policymakers and many others in the business of urban improvement; it is intended for all these audiences.