Morphosis, Vol. 3: Buildings and Projects, 1993-1997 (v. 3) [Paperback]

Thom Mayne (Author), Anthony Vidler (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1990

One of the few truly visionary architects of large-scale commissions working today, Thom Mayne’s influential firm Morphosis, founded in the early 1970s, has maintained an avant-garde presence among contemporary architecture firms, even as it has garnered high-profile, big-budget commissions from around the world. Since Rizzoli published Volume I of the Morphosis series in 1989, the Los Angeles–based firm has continued to push its intricate modernism into new territories. In the tradition of its four visually groundbreaking predecessors, this fifth volume packs 500 illustrations into a comprehensive tour of Morphosis’s activity. New works covered in Volume V include Cal Trans Headquarters in Los Angeles (2004); the San Francisco Federal Office building (2006); the Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon (2006); and the University of Cincinnati Student Recreation Center (2006). Projects in progress, such as the New Academic Building for the Cooper Union in New York (expected completion 2008) and the Phare Tower for La Defense, France (2012), will also be featured.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thom Mayne is a professor of architecture at UCLA, and one of the founders of the avant-garde institution SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) in Los Angeles. In 1995 he won the Pritzker Prize. Jeffrey Kipnis is an architecture and design curator, critic, and professor at Ohio State University.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli; 1st edition (May 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847820742
• ISBN-13: 978-0847820740
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.5 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,494,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the Faint of Heart, December 12, 1999

By 

David Cabianca - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morphosis, Vol. 3: Buildings and Projects, 1993-1997 (v. 3) (Paperback)

As someone who holds graduate level degrees in both architecture and graphic design I take immense pleasure in participating in a journey of design presented by some of the most talented individuals practicing today. The latest installment in Morphosis' development is by far the most mature of their collected works. Perhaps this is owing to the continued and greater collaboration between architect Thom Mayne and designer+critic Lorraine Wild. To a greater degree than the other two, Volume 3 presents the collection of minds at work at Morphosis. The pages "read" like a piece of architecture, taking us through the visceral experience of space-yet here we are in two dimensions. Literature can at times be difficult, and this book is not an easy experience, but it is worth the time and effort to engage the images, the drawings, the words. Like one of the other revolutionary tomes Ms. Wild has designed-John Hejduk's "Mask of Medusa"-we must pause to think about how to read: The table of contents has been placed in the middle of the book, and we are left to choose our own path through the work, piecing together an understanding which in turn becomes an experience, and that of course, is architecture.

It is visionary like the magazines designer+architect El Lissitzky published, "Vesc Objet Gegenstand," and "ABC." Such visionary books are for inspiration, not illustration, nor are they for the faint of heart.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great drawings, but..., February 16, 2000

By 

Chris Brown (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morphosis, Vol. 3: Buildings and Projects, 1993-1997 (v. 3) (Paperback)

neat drawings, but this book is for hard-core fans of Morphosis. the amount of graphic information enclosed is staggering at first, but once you own it you will get bored with it. there is no meat on these bones. the text, tellingly placed in the back like an afterthought,is meaningless. i doubt anyone without prior experience with Morphosis' projects would really understand what he is up to.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great collection of morp's work for fans, June 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Morphosis, Vol. 3: Buildings and Projects, 1993-1997 (v. 3) (Paperback)

Being an architecture student, I constantly refer to many books, and Morphosis is one of my favourite contemporary architecture firm. This is really a thick and quite a heavy book. Its a compilation of many of Morphosis' work. Their "Best Of.." volume. This marvelous edition is divided into 2 parts. The first part consist of many colourful computer generated views, elevations, plans and 3D computer models etc of their buildings. The 3D models give a good visual understanding of their complicated but exciting buildings. The second part consist of essays by Thom Mayne. The thing about Morphosis is Mayne's writing is clear. He states his intention and theories clearly without getting out of the subject of architecture much. He talks about the difference between a project and a building which is a very good way of looking at architecture today. The graphics and writing provide a very clear understanding of their buildings. The bottom line is, if you like Morphosis, you'll love this book among your collection.