The Living House An Anthropology of Architecture in South East Asia

This book draws on many sources of information, from both architects and anthropologists, as well as the author's own first-hand research. As it probes into the centrally significant role of houses within South-East Asian social systems, it reveals new insights into kinship systems, gender symbolism, and cosmological ideas, ultimately uncovering basic themes concerning the idea of life and processes themselves. A picture is produced of how people shape buildings and buildings shape people, as rules about layout and the uses of space are shown to have a remarkable impact on social relationships. The book concludes with a consideration of some present day processes of change as these affect the fate of indigenous architectures. Although intended first and foremost as a work of anthropology, this book will also appeal to architects, scholars specializing in South-East Asia, and the interested general reader.