Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings by Altenhof, Tim
Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings by Altenhof, Tim

Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings

An illuminating account of how new knowledge about human respiration impacted architectural design in the early twentieth...
$45.60 USD
$45.60 USD
Please hurry! Only 54 left in stock
Author: Tim Altenhof
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: $45.60
Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings by Altenhof, Tim

Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings

$45.60
Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings by Altenhof, Tim

Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings

$45.60
Author: Tim Altenhof
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Description

An illuminating account of how new knowledge about human respiration impacted architectural design in the early twentieth century

Breathing Space is a compelling and wide-ranging analysis of pneumatic phenomena in modern culture. Architect and historian Tim Altenhof brilliantly explores the physiology of breathing and its reciprocal relationship to bodies and buildings, both of which share a common atmosphere. Because breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and cannot be willfully overridden, it takes place unconsciously and involuntarily--most of the time. However, beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, attitudes toward breathing changed significantly. Breathing became a widely investigated cultural and physiological phenomenon and was the basis for techniques and bodily practices that heightened pulmonary awareness. New understandings of air pollution and disease stimulated a widespread preoccupation with ventilation, impacting architecture in countless ways. Altenhof's close readings of built structures show how the science of breathing was incorporated into architecture, whether in the design of factories, residences, or medical facilities. The lungs form a major part of the respiratory system and like no other organ tie the living body directly to its surroundings. Yet the role of lungs also poses a topological problem: engaging in atmospheric transfer, they dissolve the division between inside and outside, and despite being an internal organ, they sustain a permanent and living connection to the external world. This ambiguity and permeability constitute the spatial dimension of breathing.

Author: Tim Altenhof
Publisher: Zone Books
Published: 03/10/2026
Pages: 248
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781945861116


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/05/2026

About the Author
Tim Altenhof is an architect and senior scientist in the Department for Architectural Theory and History at the University of Innsbruck.
Shipping & Return

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Review