Tim Altenhof, "Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings" (Zone Books, 2026)

About this episode

Dr. Tim Altenhof discusses his book on the relationship between breathing and architecture.

Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings (Zone Books, 2026) is a compelling and wide-ranging analysis of pneumatic phenomena in modern culture. Architect and historian Dr. 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. Dr. 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…

People in this episode

Host: Marshall Poe

Guest: Tim Altenhof

Topics covered

• pneumatic phenomena
• architecture
• breathing
• cultural analysis
• ventilation
• physiology

Keywords

• pneumatic beings
• architecture
• breathing
• ventilation
• pulmonary awareness
• air pollution
• modern culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Zone Books

Books & works: Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings

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