Dwelling on Earth

A sweeping history of humanitys most fundamental creationthe homeand its effects on the land, cities, and people themselves.From tiny pithouses in the Levant and Mesoamerica thousands of years ago to soaring skyscrapers in Dubai, New York, and Shanghai today, Dwelling on Earth takes readers on a swift and absorbing tour of the evolution of human habitation. Architectural historian and urban planner Stefan Al weaves together archaeology, engineering, social history, and environmental science to explain how our homesthe spaces in which we spend half our livesdeveloped through the ages and how they shaped civilization. Whisking readers from ancient Pompeii to contemporary Hong Kong, industrialage Liverpool to postwar Levittown, Al shows how our choices in housing have both reflected and affected ideas about gender roles, privacy, and comfort. He explores architectural developmentslike doorknockers, corridors, and insulationand details how the quest for housing has had severe consequences for the environment. Finally, he examines the myths and reality of future housing, including 3Dprinted homes and space architecture built by robots.