This is the title of a rather interesting book by Steward Brand, the creator of The Whole Earth Catalog.
I initially was introduced to this book by a blog that had a post on creative uses of shipping containers as housing and for other types of buildings. While I appreciate the beauty and functionality of high end renovations I am also very attracted to simple solutions to accommodation needs.
The chapter in this book "Nobody Cares What You Do in There: The Low Road" is quite fascinating. A quote:
"Low Road buildings are low-visibility, low-rent, no-style, high-turnover. Most of the world's work is done in Low Road buildings, and even in rich societies, the most inventive creativity, especially youthful creativity, will be found in Low Road buildings taking full advantage of the to try things."
Brand uses examples like the garages of Silicon Valley (Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard) and MIT's legendary Building 20.
I hope for everyone's sake New Orleans isn't just rebuilt for the rich and becomes a theme park with gambling. Let's hope the powers that be try to create innovative housing for the disadvantaged as well so they could return if they want to.
