Introduction: Reframing the Discourse - Reinstating Person- Environment Epistemologies

In academic and professional worlds captivated by monumental projects and large-scale urban transformations, how can we sustain human values within architectural discourse? Person-environment perspectives re-ground our focus on context, lived experience, empathy, and socio-cultural relevance." In a rapidly growing field where design and planning practices and large-scale projects often capture the spotlight, the subtle act and art of critical writing and knowledge generated from research findings can sometimes be overlooked. The discipline of architecture and urban design is driven by the act of building, but the written word equally shapes it, emanates from it, or instigates it. Books, journal articles, and essays have long served as the foundational texts of architectural discourse. While book reviews have long been an established form of critical commentary, their role has evolved. In recent decades, they have increasingly served as concise, impactful instruments that distil complex ideas and debates into accessible short critiques. This book, 100+ Books That Shaped Our Understanding of People-Place Dialectics, gathers more than 100 book reviews written by final year Master students and postgraduate researchers in architecture enrolled in the course: Cultural and Behavioural Factors in Architecture and Urbanism, delivered in the second semester during the period ...

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