Customer Reviews

Devil's Workshop:: 25 Years of Jersey Devil Architecture

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

 

 

Steve Badanes came to our school at the beginning of this year, 2003, and gave a lecture on their work. Their work is quite impressive, to begin with. Three unlicensed architects - including Badanes - leave Princeton and go on their own adventure. All they have is a mailbox, and nothing else. Badanes has a trailer, which he drives to the sites and sleeps in meanwhile. Jersey Devil do their design in the site, and build as they design, design as they build. Therefore, their structures become very integrated with the surroundings.

Jersey Devil name their projects with the objects that resemble the building's shape. 'Football House', 'Hoagie House' are among these. When you flip through the pages, you'll see that the 'Aeroplane House' actually looks like an aeroplane.

Their architecture is definitely worthwhile to know about. But, the book is not necessarily as good as their architecture. It does not include a comprehensive review of their projects. Some projects are mentioned only one page with two photos. The introduction, and the general writing is well done. However, as I've said, their specific projects could have been dealt in more detail. I've listened to Badanes in his lecture, and read the book as well. But, the lecture was far more engrossing and interesting.

Nevertheless, for everyone who wants to know about Jersey Devil architecture, this book is the only source to absorb. Purchase it, but do not expect full satisfaction, as the book lacks a lot of details related to projects.

A truly inspirational book that highlights the human side of architecture and design. Not every great building needs to be flashy and 100 stories high. A beautiful place can simply be a bridge to the beach or a house in the desert. Their philosophy and attention to craft is outstanding.

Peace

Lucas Gray

www.talkitect.com

www.byworldofmouth.com

THE FORM LANGUAGE MAY BE INDIOSYNCRATIC BUT THE PRINCIPALS OF THE DESIGN ARE UNIVERSAL. UNIQUELY WELL WRITTEN ESSAY BY THE AUTHOR SUSAN PIEDMONT-PALLADINO. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO CALLS THEM SELF A 21CENTRY ARCHITECT

As a professional with over 25 years in the building trades, i found this short of its billing as being concerned with the design-build approach. I do not know if the author has had any experience in an actual design build process at a significant scale because it seems to me, the author of the essay tried to mask her inexperience with superfluous vocabulary which only reinforces the gap between the view of academics and the professionals who have knowledge through craft. If the wish was to link the trades with the profession of architecture in this text, then it failed.

It did offer some good photography of some airstream trailers, if only more of these were used on site as construction offices.

great book, great architecture. this is exactly what architecture needs. makes most of contemporary architecture look like a self-indulgent foolish waste of time, energy, and resources.