Building on the Internet

Given the high ratio of academics on the Internet, discussions of anything art-related on the mailing lists and Usenet groups generally supply some fine intellectual banter. This theory holds true for the architecture groups as well.

Within the “Art and Architecture” mailing list you’ll find a discussion dedicated to basic and applied design. The messages focus on architectural history, theory and scientific methods. All the design masters are dissected, along with such practical questions as paper versus computer. A recent hot topic was R. Buckminster Fuller’s landmark geodesic dome that was the U.S. Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal.

To join this list send e-mail to listserv@psuvm.bitnet. In the topic/subject of your letter type: subscribe . In the body put: subscribe design-l ( your name ).

For discussions pertaining to particular topics, be sure to check out the Internet Usenet groups. The two best architecture forums are alt.architecture , which focuses on building design, and alt.architecture.alternative , which talks about non-traditional schemes like pole building construction.

Internet e-mail and Usenet newsgroups are available on TimesLink, Prodigy, CompuServe, America Online and many BBSes.*