The Mary Rose Museum (Center for Environmental Structure, Vol 8)

Rating:
Summary: A superb rethink of the whole architectural process
Review: The book tells the story of Alexander's et al design for the museum to house the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's ship raised from the sea. The design process was interesting and very consistent with previous works, and has not been executed yet. What was mind bending for me was the total rethink on money and construction budgeting. Like a Pattern Language the budget and the construction schedule become part of the Architect's services, not just something that has to be dealt with after everything has been drawn. Alexander proposed that his group would serve as the general contractor for the benefit of the project. The owner's payments would be slightly in advance of completed work, instead of crunching contractor's and subs time and money. The architects would have authority to reallocate time and money to make the building better, not the contractor's pockets fatter. All to make the building live!