1 comments about The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful--and Their Architects--Shape the World.

1. It took me some time to figure out what the Edifice Complex meant.
   
   
   I first thought, being an "English Patient" in the realms of
   
   
   English-speaking world, edifice complex meant something like "Sports
   
   
   Complex". Later I found out that it was a derivitive of Oedipus Complex,
   
   
   that there is a psychology in a poweful man, an urge to make a mark, a
   
   
   desire to control, and an ambition to build. To build big and high.
   
   
   
   
   
   I found this book particulary interesting because it focuses on the
   
   
   side of clients, their hidden chambers of obsessions, disguised in
   
   
   the form of political beliefs, orchestrated and realized by the hands
   
   
   of architects. Plenty of different types of influential clients and
   
   
   their episodes are portrayed.
   
   
   
   
   
   Some stories are old (or well known)and some stories are new. To the old
   
   
   stories, like that of Hitler/Mitterrand/Hussein, Sudjic gave a different
   
   
   bent, to the new and lesser knowns, like that of
   
   
   Mao/Rockerfeller/Agnelli/ US Presidents, Sudjic wrote electrifying lines.
   
   
   
   
   
   Another remarkable aspect of the book is the political skills of many
   
   
   past and current star architects. Johnson/ Pei/ Piano/
   
   
   Koolhaas/ Gehry (and many more mentioned in the book) are illustrated as
   
   
   true Machiavellian architects of this century that have tongue and pen to
   
   
   realize the dreams of their Princes.
   
   
   
   
   
   In the conclusion, Sudjic sums up by showing what kind of prevailing
   
   
   architectural garments are out there for different political strategists.
   
   
   The author also kindly guides us to the further readings that pertain to
   
   
   the subject matter of the book.
   
   
   
   
   
   One thing that made my head skew: Why are Blair and Libeskind beaten
   
   
   when, in contrast, following French President and English Architect
   
   
   mentioned in the book are promoted? Does it explain Sudjic's political
   
   
   stance and his allies? Just a thought...

No comments about Fundamentals of Transportation Systems Analysis, Volume 1: Basic Concepts (Transportation Studies).

3 comments about Principles of Urban Structure (Design/science/planning).

1. I first read Nikos Salingaros many years ago via his web site and was very moved by his work. In this book he presents valuable and important information to help us create better urban spaces and buildings. The key here is that the information is practical and useable. This is in contrast with most architectural theory work, which are more about the intellectual journey of the authors than architecture as medium to serve people. Salingaros presents design principles and ideas grounded in actual needs of human beings rather than ego based artistic pretensions.



2. The most relevant and significant ideas pertaining to planning and design today. Salingaros discusses concepts that are necessarily fundamental to a successful and responsible structure of the urban form. His work establishes guidelines that are progressive but highly rational and that I wish my own formal planning and design education focused more on rather than on principles that now seem out of date. Principles of Urban Structure sets the frame of mind from which any student or professional should approach their work.



3. Nikos Salingaros is moving the field of urbanism to a new and more complete understanding of the urban landscape. The articles in this book present clear ideas of complex issues in a manner that is accessible to anyone that has ever read anything on urban theory. The concepts can and should be employed by anyone concerned with the planning, design, and management of an urban landscape. Highly recommended to students, professors, and practitioners in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, and planning.

No comments about Architects Without Frontiers: War, Reconstruction and Design Responsibility.

No comments about Pamphlet Architecture 22: Other Plans: University of Chicago Studies, 1998-2000.

No comments about Constructing place: Mind and the Matter of Place-Making.

No comments about Making the Invisible Visible: A Multicultural Planning History (California Studies in Critical Human Geography , No 2).

No comments about The City, Seen as a Garden of Ideas.

No comments about Courtyard Housing: Past, Present, Future.

No comments about Power: Producing the Contemporary City.