Customer Reviews

Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture: City, Technology and Society in the Information Age

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This book has an interesting thrust behind it; to understand current ideas of urbanism and architecture theory, don't produce a timeless resource; instead, construct an index committed to the moment, that is destined to begin its obsolescence the second it's printed. It's best quality is its cluttered, jumbled design which floods you with imagery and conceptual points of departure.

Sadly, it seems that 2/3rds of architecture education is deliberate obfuscation; people muddying their waters so as to appear deep. Like much of the worst theory, this operates from a "We're so clever, that what we're saying can't be summarized." viewpoint that complicates simple ideas. If you're not into theoretical hair-splitting you're in for a rough time.

The books worst quality is it's fetishing of neologism. For complete annoyance you could look up these idiotic entries: 'benidorm' or 'mmm.' Other one-line entries for epic concepts that don't even offer fundamentals, are so broad as to be useless; look up 'colours!' (Say... that was useless!). No this isn't the book I'd turn to for a deep understanding of color but why include an entry at all?

At it's worst this is a coy, academic in-joke that worships jargon, in an attempt to influence the lexicon. ('delynneate,' get it? Greg Lynn...). At it's best it's an exhilarating look at ideas that may have a shelf-life of decades or a few months, relievedly free of blob worshipping.

As an architecture student, I have found this book to be a valuable resource in terms of idea generation and development of design concepts. My professor, who practices architecture and makes use of the book on a professional level, recommended it to my classmates and I - I have used it ever since. Not only does it link terms with architectural concepts developed by well known and celebrated designers, it includes a number of interesting colour images. I highly recommend this to design students and professionals in any field, especially architecture. Happy reading!

I read and annotated an uncountable number of pages in this dictionary. Some people would say it is not easy to digest such a book in the literary way : IT IS A DICTIONARY !!! It has so many fresh ideas and concepts, you will never get such a dense concentrate of inspiration by subscribing to any architecture magazine for a year.

It is a massive book, and it is an incredible source of references, it is precious for anyone doing research (theoretical, applied), looking for inspiration to create forms, new relations. It just blew my mind, changed my vision on what architecture, urbanism, social sciences can be. Open any page, you will be surprised and inspired.

The many authors are -for most- radical, restless, passionnated, and they make no compromises with the content, celebrate what is good and promising and attacking the filth. In other publications of ACTAR (maybe the most exciting publisher on the world of architecture today (based in Catalunya Spain)) some contributors developed the philosophy called "Operative Optimism" (OPOP!) (sold on amazon too here :
http://www.amazon.com/Operative-Optimism-Federico-Soriano/dp/8495951606 ) and you can feel in this dictionnary the same constructive and playful energy. I haven't seen the Operative Optimism philosophical influence in enough construction out there, but I believe it is the spirit that underlies a generation of coming architects, entrepeneurs and citizens... Let's do it, organised, innovative, totally fun !

I just love it : it is curious, creative, useful, dense, generous.
I wish I took part of it...
Run, get it !!!