Figures: Essays on Contemporary Architecture

The essays consider the contemporary architectural scene from a variety of perspectives in theory and practice. They include seminal pieces that framed important debates in the field, such as the introduction to the exhibition catalogue Monolithic Architecture, as well as observations on buildings and practices from around the world, from Santiago, to Beirut and Beijing. Together, the polemical provocations and interpretive insights construct a critical panorama of a global architectural landscape in rapid transformation since the 1990s. The book is divided into there parts. "Polemics" addresses broad issues and trends with essays that claim a position in current debates. "Agents" examines the oeuvres of particular architects, with pieces that situate their work in relation to such debates. "Artifacts" takes on single buildings, instances where ideas are sedimented into form to situate current architectural discussions in concrete objects.