Customer Reviews

Differences: Topographies of Contemporary Architecture (Writing Architecture)

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This collection of essays by Solà-Morales is a very good place to start if you want to understand contempory architectural thought in a wider perspective. Although the author has his own particular viewpoint and refers to the theory and practice of many different architects, artists and philosophers, he always has important points to make in each essay. The structure of the book as autonomous essays with themes which recur throughout the book enable an understanding which does not depend on rigorous knowledge of philosophical lines of thought. In this way the book provides a useful starting point for deeper inquiry into how the modernist project in all disciplines has fragmented. Solà-Morales is comprehensive and far-sighted in his acknowledgement of lines of thought and action such as the radical critique of the 60's and it's significance to architecture. The main premise of the book is a particular way of thinking with which Solà-Morales tries to place architectural works and thought. His enthusiastic reinterpretation of the work of Mies in 'Mies van der Rohe and Minimalism' is remarkable in it's clarity. I found his praise of the work of contempory architects such as Foster, a little too optimistic in relation to the current situation however (High tech, functionalism or rhetoric).

The mediocrity of thought culled in these essays is equal to the quality of the translation. De Sola-Morales was a fine architect and an important theorist. His death was a great loss to the community of minds that comprise our discipline. This collection is far from his best effort. Look elsewhere, particularly his essay in the 2G publication of the Barcelona Pavilion reconstruction which demonstrates the nimble intellect of a cultured man.

Personally, I think that is a good book. Other readers may not buy what the writer thinks but I think that it is really good to know an opinion and to understand his argument. This book inspires me to rethinking about architecture in a deeper and alternative way and help me to know what I want to pursuit in the future. The writer comments on different styles of the contemporary architecture and he implies a new way of future architecture.

i want to see forward in this boo