Allan Shearer
Mid-Twentieth Century Modernism and the Invention of Microclimate: Contributions of James Marston Fitch and Helmut Landsberg to Building-Body Relationships
Professor Shearer will examine the emergence and rapid adoption of “microclimate” in design theory and practice in mid-twentieth century America. During this time, relationships between site and sense of self were brought closer together through a newly appreciated ability to alter the localized climate in and around the home. While many individuals participated in this widespread effort, two individuals were especially important in this environmental design movement: the architectural critic, journal editor, and preservationist James Marston Fitch and the climatologist Helmut Landsberg.
From American Building and the Environmental Forces that Shaped It, by James Marston Fitch.