Dwellings

Paul Oliver surveys vernacular housing across the world, focusing on buildings created by communities rather than formally trained designers. The book examines climate, materials, family structure, belief, economy, geography, and local knowledge as forces shaping the home. Its updated scholarship draws from architecture, anthropology, sociology, and cultural geography to show how ordinary dwellings answer human needs in remarkably varied ways. It is a substantial academic reference on housing as a global cultural record.