Ken Isaacs: How to Build Your Own Living Structures reproduces Isaacs' 1974 manual in full, returning one of the most distinctive DIY design documents of the twentieth century to active circulation — a matrix-based modular system as relevant now as it was then.
About This Book
Ken Isaacs (1927–2016) spent his career developing a design philosophy centred on the "matrix" — a structural grid logic that anyone could use to build their own living environments from modular components. This full-scale facsimile reproduction of his 1974 manual is far more than an archival curiosity. It is a practical guide to constructing furniture, shelters, and spatial structures, paired with an essay by Susan Snodgrass that situates Isaacs within the broader context of 1970s alternative design culture. At a moment when questions of self-sufficiency, modular construction, and democratic access to design remain urgent, Isaacs' thinking reads as prescient rather than dated.
Key Features
- 152 pages of instructional diagrams, construction drawings, and original 1974 text reproduced at full scale
- Essay by Susan Snodgrass, critic and teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago
- Edited by Pierre Hourquet and Christophe Daviet-Thery
- Published by Christophe Daviet-Thery, 2016
What You'll Discover
- Isaacs' matrix concept — a modular grid system that underpins a broad range of self-built living structures, from furniture to spatial enclosures
- The DIY ethos of 1970s alternative design and how it intersects with contemporary interests in maker culture and open-source construction
- Susan Snodgrass' critical recontextualisation of Isaacs' work within the design and countercultural movements of his era
- A philosophy of design that prioritises user agency, adaptability, and material economy over professional mediation
About the Author
Ken Isaacs (1927–2016) was an American designer and architect whose matrix-based modular system became an emblematic contribution to participatory and self-build design culture. This edition is edited by Pierre Hourquet and Christophe Daviet-Thery, with a critical essay by Susan Snodgrass, critic and teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Specifications
- Format: Softcover
- Pages: 152
- Dimensions: 30 x 21 cm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9782490844067
- Publisher: Christophe Daviet-Thery
- Publication Date: 2016
Perfect For: Architects, designers, and students interested in self-build culture, modular construction systems, and the history of participatory design; researchers exploring 1970s alternative design movements.