Customer Reviews

Morphosis: Volume IV (Morphosis; Buildings and Projects) (Vol. 4)

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

 

 

this was a good all around book. Morphosis and Thom Mayne's style of architecture is something every person serious about the study of recent developments in modern architecture should have in their collection, no matter how much you buy his theory and approach. The book is very well done, the content level is definitely worth the purchase. Far too many architecture books these days are nothing more than pictures, this book definetely provides one the best balancing acts I've seen thus far.

This is more a review of the books about Morphosis than the works of Morphosis. The first monograph is still essential to my library, and is highly accessible and analytical. Unfortunately, the second monograph was almost incomprehensible. I mean, I literally couldn't make out what I was looking at. The third major monograph from Rizzoli was better in this regard, but of course that snapshot of the from at that time showed a lot of promise but little built work -- yet. So this monograph comes along and a whole lot has happened for Morphosis in the meantime. While the graphics are complex still, often overlapping and vignetted, I can make sense of them. Also, it's just great, really an inspiration to not only see work built, but to see it executed so well.

I would always like to see more detail drawings in these monographs, but with a few exceptions, I've just learned to live without them. It's my one criticism of this book really. The analysis is less, um, didactic than the first monograph, but you do get a certain joy out of figuring some things out for yourself. In the end, while the forms of Morphosis are complex and the high-lines-per-square-inch drawings add to that, ultimately, the process, idea and problems are apparent in the work itself. It's cleverly presented and clear in idea if not simple in execution.

This is truly a must have in any architecutal book collection. 400+ color pages, showing recent projects. I have found this book a great reasource for my studies.

If you are an architect or architecture student, you must have this book. Great price! fast shipping!