{"id":59358,"date":"2017-04-10T11:47:15","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T11:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/projects\/metropolis-spring-book-recommendation\/"},"modified":"2022-01-21T15:12:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T15:12:24","slug":"metropolis-spring-book-recommendation","status":"publish","type":"metro_viewpoint","link":"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/viewpoints\/metropolis-spring-book-recommendation\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Architecture and Design Books to Read This Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"
From an all-encompassing look at wood structures over the past thousand years to an in-depth analysis of the role of urban spaces in politics, here are 25 books<\/a> Metropolis<\/em> editors recommend for your reading list or book club this spring.<\/p>\n One hundred and seventy structures from the past thousand years are featured in William Hall\u2019s latest book, Wood<\/em>, where work by globally renowned architects from Renzo Piano to Tadao Ando and Peter Zumthor is displayed in a conversation-comparison manner. Accompanying each project, including Piano\u2019s Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre and Le Corbusier\u2019s Mediterranean log cabin Le Cabanon, are a slew of comments, along with analyses and photographs that prompt readers to draw their own conclusions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lost Futures<\/em> is a detailed look at buildings and structures erected between 1945 and 1979 in Britain that, while once reflective of the progressive mindset of the society, have since been demolished or altered beyond recognition. Hopkins details the process of their creation and their eventual destruction in a collection of photo- graphs and research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mobitecture<\/em> is a visual ode to life on the move. Divided into eight chapters, this book thematically explores mobile forms of architecture\u2014 some strange, some practical, and some out of this world. This all encompassing collection looks at the interconnection between art and mobility via more than 250 images of typologies that roll, inflate, unfold, and pop up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In this look at Modernist architecture, Ornament Is Crime<\/em> argues that Modernism need no longer be tied to traditional definitions. It is a predominantly visual piece composed of photos and essays tracing the lineage of modern architecture through canonical works by Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Walter Gropius, as well as work from some of the best architects of the 21st century.<\/p>\n \u201cObjects have personalities and interact in intimate ways\u2014they communicate and embody political agency. As we increasingly occupy the available air on this planet, it seems inevitable that we demand of our volumes, big or small, to not only address function but also evoke new narratives,\u201d writes Florian Idenburg, Jing Liu, and Ilias Papageorgiou of the firm SO-IL, who put forth their conception of architecture in this immersive book. The compilation of essays, texts, and illustrations of the award-winning firm\u2019s built and unbuilt projects gives readers a multidimensional view of its style of architecture.<\/p>\n Cities are a manifestation of many characteristics such as identity, citizenship, and belonging. With intensifying geoeconomic integration, environmental crises, population movements, and waves of protest, Ethics of the Urban<\/em> discusses the role of urban spaces in politics through essays on history, sociology, art, political theory, planning, law, and design practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For a long time there has been a sharp divide between the urban environment and nature. However, as the urban sphere develops, there is a growing trend of integrating nature into the design of buildings and urban outdoor spaces. Making Urban Nature<\/em> surveys nature inclusive design in European cities and offers practical examples and design suggestions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The concept of what is or is not a\u201cpublic space,\u201dand what should be done with it, has been on the minds of architects, designers, and artists for centuries. Public Space? Lost and Found<\/em> considers the role of aesthetic practices within construction, identification, and the critique of public spaces. This book documents a number of recent projects with accompanying essays and texts from theorists and historians alike that open up discussions on ecological catastrophes, underrepresented communities, and ultimately the effects of digital media and the internet on public space.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Rebuild by Design began as a competition to rebuild, innovate, and create more resilient projects to pave the way for future longevity in the urban sphere. This book explores the creative process behind the contest and how participants from different sectors such as government, philanthropy, and academia can lend a hand in the efforts.<\/p>\n Cities and urban centers have long been considered the hubs of culture, while rural areas are often regarded as wastelands of stagnation.But despite how overlooked countrysides are, rural areas are transform- ing just as quickly as urban spheres. Ruralism makes a case for the school of thought that transformation starts from rural spaces and that more research is needed on such innovation, which will in time permeate urban spaces, allowing for the gradual advancement of both.<\/p>\n See Red was a feminist workshop created in London in 1974 by a group of young art students to tackle issues of sexuality, identity, and oppression. In a collection of personal essays, sketches, screen prints, and other documents, See Red Women\u2019s Workshop<\/em> chronicles the struggles, humor, and successes of young women trying to make a change in their society.<\/p>\n B\u00f8rge Mogensen was one of Denmark\u2019s most influential designers, and his trademark was the functionality of his creations. He was a restless thinker who took pages of notes on current and prospective designs, all of which are included in this visual piece, featuring photographs of his furniture, workshop drawings, and other projects.<\/p>\n Kanban were traditional street signs in Japan that merchants used to lure customers. Their function was to engage passersby and mark the unique presence of products and services inside shops. Made from a variety of materials like wood, iron, paper, and cloth, these signs evoked a presence in the chaotic market scenes of 19th- and 20th-century Japan. The book provides insight into the country\u2019s artistic and commercial roots by illustrating the history of these street signs, how they were created, and some of the businesses and trades that used them.<\/p>\n For quite a few decades, industrial and urban innovation has grown to encompass more sustainable and \u201cgreen\u201d ideologies. It is no longer man versus nature but rather man with nature\u2014working together to allow for the continuity and health of both. The Responsible Object<\/em> documents the strides made by environmentalists and designers alike in creating a cooperative environment that is both eco- and people-friendly.<\/p>\n In Sifting the Trash<\/em>, Alice Twemlow discusses how product design criticism either sustains or condemns a product without talking about its usefulness and longevity. The book explores five key moments over the past 60 years in product design in which critics either sifted the trash, assigned value, or tried to detect, diagnose, and treat the sicknesses of a consumer society.<\/p>\n Red is the color of lovers, blood, and anguish, and often signifies intensity. It is no doubt one of the most important colors in our history. Michel Pastoureau examines its significance through a slew of analytical essays and photographs that reveal the complex and, at times, controversial nature of the color and its relation to other hues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Charlotte Perriand, one of the 20th century\u2019s most prominent interior designers, was famous for her carefully crafted furniture, now considered classic, as well as her collaborations with other artists including Serge Mouille, Georges Jouve, and Jean Prouve\u0301. This book,the third in a planned four volume series, covers Perriand\u2019s works from 1956 to 1968, detailing her high-profile projects including branding and designs like Air France\u2019s offices around the world and her renovation of Geneva\u2019s Palais des Nations, as well as revealing her close, yet little known, ties with Brazil.<\/p>\n As awareness of the effect of hospital design on the well-being of patients increases, Sylvia Leydecker shines a light on the interiors of these spaces in Designing the Patient Room. Explaining the different components of design, such as color, light, surface texture, etc.,the book also addresses the impact of hygiene, work flow, and economic viability on a patient\u2019s welfare via ten international projects<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nArchitecture<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Wood<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written and designed by William Hall\nPhaidon, 224 pp., $50\n<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n
Lost Futures: The Disappearing Architecture of Post-War Britain<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Owen Hopkins\nDesigned by Jon Kielty\nRoyal Academy Publications,\n128 pp., $25\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
Mobitecture: Architecture on the Move<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Rebecca Roke\nDesigned by Akiko Kanna\nof StudioKanna\nPhaidon, 320 pp., $25\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
Ornament Is Crime: Modernist Architecture<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Albert Hill\nand Matt Gibberd\nDesigned by Hans Stofregen\nPhaidon, 224 pp., $50\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
Solid Objectives: Order, Edge, Aura<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Florian Idenburg,\nJing Liu, and Ilias Papageorgiou\nDesigned by Geoff Han\nLars Mu\u0308ller Publishers,\n484 pp., $49\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nCities<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ethics of the Urban: The City and the Spaces of the Political<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Edited by Mohsen Mostafavi\nDesigned by Integral Lars Mu\u0308ller\nLars Mu\u0308ller Publishers, 332 pp., $35\n<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Making Urban Nature<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Piet Vollaard\nDesigned by Antenna Men\nnai010 publishers, 256 pp., $50<\/pre>\n
<\/h2>\n
Public Space? Lost and Found<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Gediminas Urbonas,\nAnn Lui, and Lucas Freeman\nDesigned by NODE Berlin Oslo\nMIT Press, 300 pp., $40\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
Rebuild by Design: New Approaches to Climate Change<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Henk Ovink\nand Jelte Boeijenga\nDesigned by Koehorst in \u2019t Veld\nnai010 publishers, 288 pp., $60<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Ruralism: The Future of Villages and Small Towns in an Urbanizing World<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Vanessa Carlow\nDesigned by Susanne Ro\u0308sler\nJOVIS, 296 pp., $45<\/pre>\n
\nDesign<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
See Red Women\u2019s Workshop: Feminist Posters 1974\u20131990<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Prudence Stevenson, Susan Mackie,\nAnne Robinson, Jess Baines, and Sheila Rowbotham\nDesigned by Claire Mason\nFour Corners Books, 184 pp., $40\n<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
B\u00f8rge Mogensen: Simplicity and Function<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Michael Mu\u0308ller\nDesigned by S\u00f8ren Damstedt,\nTrefold\nHatje Cantz, 240 pp., $75<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
Kanban: Tradition Shop Signs of Japan<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Alan Scott Pate\nDesigned by Jeff Wincapaw\nPrinceton University Press,\n160 pp., $50<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Responsible Object: A History of Design Ideology for the Future<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Marjanne van Helvert\nDesigned by Ruben Pater\nValiz, 288 pp., $29\n\n<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n
Sifting the Trash: A History of Design Criticism<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Alice Twemlow\nDesigned by Marge Encomienda\nMIT Press, 320 pp., $35<\/pre>\n
\nInteriors<\/h2>\n
\n<\/h1>\n
Red: The History of a Color<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Michel Pastoureau\nDesign by Amanda Weiss\nPrinceton University Press, 216 pp., $40\n<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n
Charlotte Perriand: Complete Works, Volume 3: 1956\u20131968<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Jacques Barsac\nDesigned by Delphine Renon\nScheidegger & Spiess,\n528 pp., $130<\/pre>\n
<\/pre>\n
Designing the Patient Room: A New Approach for Healthcare Interiors<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
Written by Sylvia Leydecker\nDesigned by Reinhard Steger,\nProxi\nBirkha\u0308user, 192 pp., $70<\/pre>\n