Transform: Promising Places, Second Chances, and the Architecture of Transformational Change

Berke (House Rules), founder of Deborah Berke Partners and dean of the Yale School of Architecture, and De Monchaux, an architectural critic, present the philosophy behind Berke’s reuse of old buildings, an approach intended to “celebrate—and conserve—lived and inherited experience” by balancing architectural elements from past and present. The objective, Berke writes, is to create “inherently pluralistic” spaces that “resonate... with the diverse identities and dignities of all people who use [them].” De Monchaux interviewed Berke’s firm’s design principals about 12 projects, including the redesign of the International Law Center at Harvard University, which replaced an “understated concrete-and-single-paned-glass” style with features like glass walls and atria that turned the space into a “nonhierarchical space of encounter,” and the transformation of former factories into the NXTHVN community artists’ workshop in New Haven, Conn., which included opening windows to the basement studios to make the structure less “fortress-like.” Also included are two essays by Berke, one of which sees her reflecting on how her mother’s “Yankee frugality” led her to repurpose ordinary clothes into wholly unique pieces, influencing Berke’s appreciation for reuse and remaking. Beautifully presented and accompanied by abundant photographs and plan diagrams, the entry masterfully explores Berke’s modernist inclinations, her minimalist style, and her firm’s savvy handling of spaces and materials. Architectural students and practitioners will find much to appreciate. (June)