J. M. Gerald Gordon

Joseph Moses Gerald Gordon, PhD (14 December 1933 – 11 September 2016) was a South African architect, Professor (1976–1994) at the University of Witwatersrand School of Architecture, and Honorary Research Fellow of that university (1994-2016). He is best known for inventing the "Thin-Skin" building method. He was a practicing architect from 1959 to 2016.

Biography Joseph Moses Gerald Gordon was born 14 December 1933 in Vryheid in Natal, South Africa, to Lithuanian Jewish parents.

In 1976, Gordon returned to South Africa and went back to the University of Witwatersrand, this time as both student and teacher. While teaching design, he also researched architectural history and theory, and debunked some of the fashionable architectural ideas prevalent in Weimar Germany. in 1987, he received his Master's degree (cum laude) for his thesis, Mies van der Rohe: Less is More: More or Less? An Exploration of His Doctrines for the Purpose of Illustrating the Problem of Architectural Pontification. When Gordon's understanding of technology became apparent he was asked to teach Design Using Technology. In 1994, he earned a PhD for his redesign of AutoCAD; his research enhanced the computer-drawing algorithms, and produced a significantly more flexible and powerful design tool.

Works Gordon's papers and drawings are archived at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Architecture & Planning. It is said that he designed hundreds of structures In 2021, the house was commemorated with a Blue Plaque by the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation.

Publications (all self-published, free to download) From Vernacular to Spectacular: The Way To Build, 2010 279 Ways to Use Thin-Skin Construction Design Possibilities with Thin-Skin Construction Changing the Way To Live in the 21st Century Using Thin-Skin Construction Thin-Skin Construction Guide & Complement to Training Accessories After the Fact: Furniture & Accessories for Architectural Design Homes for the Homeless: Downgrade to Upgrade with Thin-Skin Construction The Transformation of Informal Housing Into Permanent Sustainable Settlements, 2004 Conference Paper