Jet Streams (winds)

Suddenly – everywhere -  architecture that is cutting edge is regional and sustainable.  ‘Sustainable’ means that the architecture is related to the climate, or the weather, of the region.  As weather has taken on major significance, hMa will dedicate part of their blog to 'the weather'.  To commemorate the new posting, we reference writings from Vitruvius and John Cage.

Weather satellite view of the US Atlantic Coast

Vitruvius wrote the first discovered treatise on architecture:  De architectura.  In Book 1, on the 'siting of a City', Vitruvius takes pains to note the importance of the weather in choosing building sites:  ‘The choice of a heathy site (is paramount and related to prevailing winds).’

Coastal advection fog

Updating Vitruvius, hMa references John Cage's 'Lecture on the Weather' performed in 1989:  'Twelve performers simultaneously read texts taken by chance operations from Henry David Thoreau's writings…  Types of wind, rain and thunder (and lightning) are played.  This … is not about the weather; it is weather.'  (Perloff John Cage:  Composed in America).

Lightning strikes

For more about John Cage, watch hMa's new blog, Cultural Conversations – where we will post excerpts from John Cage's Mud Book:  How to Make Pies and Cakes.  For more about the weather, watch the hMa blog for regular 'weather' updates.

A thunderstorm above New York City