Repair: Sustainable design futures edited by Markus Berger and Kate Irvin and published 2022 by Routledge.
With the increased interest in repair as a means to increase
the longevity of material goods, this book, written by researchers in the arts,
built environment, and engineering disciplines, provides an academic study into the
topic. The chapters draw on ethnographic, design and social theories and are
written in the creative arts genre
Following the introduction by the editors, the book follows
into a series of chapters, organised into 4 sections. Chapters vary in length
and most contain photos to provide examples and support concepts.
The first section ‘reparative thinking broken worlds’ has 7
chapters.
These introduce the many ways ‘repair’ can be understood.
Metaphors and frameworks/models are the lenses used to cast light on the many
shapes ‘repair’ can take.
Section two ‘Reparative practices, wounds, sutures, and
scars’ has another 7 chapters.
These chapters, provide examples of how ‘repair’ is actioned
through creative arts. Various contexts are explored and the accompanying mix
of research methodologies and ways to ‘report’ the ‘findings’ provide for an eclectic
mix of chapters.
The third section ‘Reparative thinking - alternative ways’ 7
chapters.
These chapters have more of an discussive slant, challenging
the ‘status quo’ and introducing many other ways to view ‘repair’.
The last section ‘Reparative practice- patched and
reassembled’ has 8 chapters.
Here, the chapters report on studies which have more descriptive
foundations across a range of contexts.
An epilogue by the editors and a lexicon of repair closes
the book.
