Customer Reviews

Big Box Reuse

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The different case studies presented evidences that communities, when working together and involving all those who have a stake in a project, can accomplish what may have been thought of as "beyond reach". It is clear that in each of the case studies, creativity is critical and proves that sometimes dreams can come true. Being familiar with one of the case studies, I can say that the information presented is accurate and a good reflection of the trials and tribulations encountered when making the dream become reality.

As someone who has spent a majority of his career working in the design/architecture press, I was very excited to come across this book as this has always been a subject I've been interested in, especially the "green" aspects of reusing pre-existing structures.
What I found when I dove into this book can only be described as disappointing.
The photography is horrible! Most of the photos look like they were taken with a disposable camera purchased at one of the featured Wal-Marts or K-Marts before they shuttered! Aside from the quality of the photos, the mere selection of photos is a joke. For a book that purports to give the details of "before and after" reuse, there are very few photos that adequately show similar shots of the previous structure and the new, reimagined structure. Also, there was only one project where the floor plans and architectural drawings were featured, a component that I feel is essential if the author and the publisher expect this book to have any real use by students of architecture.
It should be added that in 85% of the cases, the new versions of these big-box shells were hardly an improvement--a flea market? A day-care center with a playground on PAVEMENT? If anything "Big Box Reuse" doesn't so much show innovative ideas and methods for effective architecture rehabilitation as it shows how depressing the state of architecture and design has become in the United States when it's easier to simply reuse an abandoned Wal-Mart--itself, no prize in the world of design--rather than create something from the ground up.
Also, it should be noted that there are other big box stores in the U.S. other than K- and Wal-Marts; what about the abandoned Circuit Citys? Old Sears or Montgomery Ward's? Maybe a previous Linens N Things that was turned into a gym?

"Big Box Reuse" is a wonderful idea for a book; I just wish someone would have tackled this with a broader depth of coverage in terms of the closed stores as well as someone either able to effectively photograph properties or acquire appropriate photographs and other pieces of art to make this what it should've been: An inspiration to future architects, city planners, and designers.

In the meantime, anybody wanna buy a copy of "Big Box Reuse"?

Intersting subject and intersting book but somewhat short on real life examples that might be applicable elsewhere. I was expecting more.

A monumental work on the devious manipulation of the commercial control of development. Now a controlling factor in our own county land use development code.

Harold Seckinger
Architect, FL AR 0002747

Good starting point for anyone interested in finding a secondary use for a vacant and rotting big box.