Customer Reviews

The Architecture of Multiresidential Buildings

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Most architecture publications devote their attention to commercial and institutional projects or lavish, over-the-top custom homes. This book is rare in that it focuses on a building type that simply doesn't get the attention it deserves, or that is oftentimes falsely dismissed as boring socialist treacle (or worse, designed to be such!) It'd be useful to remember that all that glam mid-century modern stuff promoted by the likes of Wallpaper* and Dwell had its roots in socialist-minded idealism of the 1920s and 30s. How far we've come, from Richard Neutra's Chavez Ravine housing projects to fake Tuscan McMansions in Houston. Bravo.

All that aside, this book admirably shows just how much room this building type affords for beauty, creativity, and finesse for for the Everyman and -Woman who need such stuff the most ... although it may demand of the architect a bit more talent. The architects included herein have pretty much proven their worth since the book's 1997 publication: Josep Llinas Carmona, Herzog & de Meuron, MVRDV, Steven Holl, Wiel Arets, et al. The case studies are extremely well-documented with not only the gorgeous, lush color photos but real visual substance: legible, oftentimes labelled section drawings, site plans, floor-by-floor plans, axons, facade details, etc.

The one omission is the its heavily European slant, but then, the book was simultaneously printed (and probably originated) in Spain... and so one shouldn't fault it that. It isn't aiming to be the World Bible of multi-res, but it does what it can do well.

(This is my first review. I was just going through my own library, couldn't believe this one hasn't gotten any write-up whatsoever, and was spurred to throw in my own two cents.)