The empirical tradition is the result of ‘learning by doing’. Literally, empirical means: “based on observation rather than theory or pure logic”. Many buildings in the past were designed and built on the basis of precedent, experience and intuition. This combined doing what had been done before (conservative and risk averse) and trying something new (innovative and risky). Learning what worked and what didn’t often led to a sophisticated response to local conditions. A rediscovery of the empirical tradition is relevant to the design of our low carbon future.

Brian Ford is an architect and environmental design consultant, with experience in inter-disciplinary practice, teaching and research. As an architect and consultant he has worked on projects in Europe, USA, India, Australia and China. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham, and is currently collaborating with Mario Cucinella in ‘Building Green Futures’ (www.buildinggreenfutures.org)

The empirical tradition is the result of ‘learning by doing’. Literally, empirical means: “based on observation rather than theory or pure logic”. Many buildings in the past were designed and built on the basis of precedent, experience and intuition. This combined doing what had been done before (conservative and risk averse) and trying something new (innovative and risky). Learning what worked and what didn’t often led to a sophisticated response to local conditions. A rediscovery of the empirical tradition is relevant to the design of our low carbon future.

Brian Ford is an architect and environmental design consultant, with experience in inter-disciplinary practice, teaching and research. As an architect and consultant he has worked on projects in Europe, USA, India, Australia and China. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham, and is currently collaborating with Mario Cucinella in ‘Building Green Futures’ (www.buildinggreenfutures.org)

The empirical tradition is the result of ‘learning by doing’. Literally, empirical means: “based on observation rather than theory or pure logic”. Many buildings in the past were designed and built on the basis of precedent, experience and intuition. This combined doing what had been done before (conservative and risk averse) and trying something new (innovative and risky). Learning what worked and what didn’t often led to a sophisticated response to local conditions. A rediscovery of the empirical tradition is relevant to the design of our low carbon future.

Brian Ford is an architect and environmental design consultant, with experience in inter-disciplinary practice, teaching and research. As an architect and consultant he has worked on projects in Europe, USA, India, Australia and China. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham, and is currently collaborating with Mario Cucinella in ‘Building Green Futures’ (www.buildinggreenfutures.org)