Practice with Purpose - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Practice with Purpose is about designing buildings beyond their property lines to address some of society's most urgent challenges: the climate emergency, racial and ethnic injustice, chronic homelessness, educational crises, and the preservation of the embodied carbon and culture of existing buildings.

To successfully contend with these ecological and societal emergencies, the design values and practice of architecture must be rapidly transformed within the next decade. Architects must become creative agents of change, providing the vision and skill to lead our communities toward an equitable, climate-positive future for all.

Twenty years ago, San Francisco-based Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects rededicated its practice to focus on these urgent issues. Its mission-driven designs not only address the critical concerns of twenty-first century architecture, but also bring clients and users into the dialogue. LMSa's award-winning works show the creative potential of building a practice with purpose.

In this book, LMSa shares its experience and insight as a call to action to the architecture profession. Through case studies, data-driven essays, user testimonials, and thought-provoking questions, LMSa offers design strategies to architects who want to make an environmental and social impact.

Review Quotes

"This volume borrows from the standard monograph structure and is richly illustrated with drawings and project photography. The projects and essays included clearly present a philosophy of practice, rather than standard marketing text. LMSA has evolved from what Carter described as "constructed intention" in his earlier monograph. In addition to describing each project's design features and materials, the book also includes anecdotes linking the project history to the firm's principles. These include community-based tales, such as collective memories about a schoolyard, the impact of a tomato harvester on an agricultural campus, and the legacy of a Filipino performing arts theater." --Metropolis Magazine

"This book is a call to action for the profession to "design beyond the property lines." It features 15 case studies showing how architects can become creative agents of change, with designs that not only address the critical concerns of 21-century architecture, but also bing clients and users into dialogue." --Architectural Record