Building For South Asia: An Architectural Autobiography

From the Jacket:

Architect Polk believes that words about buildings are always secondary to the buildings themselves. In architectural presentation, buildings themselves are the central facts, and he sees that this is true in his own architectural autobiography.

Nevertheless, along with the many plates that in some measure illustrate this work, Polk has included observations on diverse and unreconciled situations that help explain the special cases of the artistry of space structure, and form in his designs. He never "handed down" abstract form, and he would say that the words of his book - or indeed any critique - do not alter the buildings. They are neither more nor less because of the written word.

All the buildings in this architectural autobiography are Polk's personal designs and belong to his practice in south Asia, 1952-1964.

About the Author:

Benjamin Polk is an American architect who made India his home. He writes: "There is a focusing of mind and body and of heart on Place-on human geography. This is the frame of the design encounter. It has not changed since the Pyramide were built."

The spirit of the place to which he invariably addresses himself is perceived in micro-geography and microclimate and in social history, local history, and local convictions and faith, and it also emerges in the economics of structure. Each building is its own special case; and taken together they comprise his architectural autobiography, Building for South Asia.