- Paperback: 200 pages
- Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press (1 Jun 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1568981511
- ISBN-13: 978-1568981512
- Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 24.7 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,072,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This text raises questions about the form of the city by examining various configurations of urban space, analyzing them in ways that blur the traditional response between figure and ground. It serves as a visual lexicon of the formal properties of American urbanism - fabric, void, grid, wall - that reveal the hidden structure of New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, New Haven, Des Moines and Atlantic City. Mario Gandelsona's drawings, from pen-and-ink to coloured computer renderings, are reproduced in the text.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Both eloquently and clearly, X-Urbanism explores the historical and continuing development of the American City through the lens of an eye opening thesis: fantasy and desire have been pivotal factors in the shaping of Urban Space. As the author illustrates, the implications of this point of departure reach far beyond the conventional boundaries of urban studies to include a wealth of other disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and popular culture. Through the course of this book, the affects of fantasy on the Renaissance City, the Baroque City, the Modern City, and the Post-modern City are charted. Without being dogmatic or judgmental, Mr. Gandelsonas frames the City as a simultaneous object and subject that is influenced by the desires of architects while also influencing its inhabitants with its own wishes.
After reading the text and viewing the drawings that conclude this book it was as though I was walking around an object that until now I had only understood from a stationary position.
This book is a must read for anyone who lives inside or outside of a city.
Format:Paperback
When I picked up this book I was truly impressed. It is extremely high quality, ambitious and far reaching which makes it all the more sinister that the numerous emerging architects whose drawings comprise the most interesting aspect of this book, remain (perhaps strategically?) anonymous. Amazon's own description of the book is a perfect example of how easily the uncredited drawings can be misinterpreted as the work of Mr. Gandelsonas. If this were a purposeful issue of anonymity, I could possibly understand. However, Mies, Corbu and the likes are happily credited throughout the book. So what gives?
As a reader, book collector and architecture enthusiast, I like to use my books on the subject of design as reference material. Unfortunately, I am a little uncomfortable with the deliberate name omissions in X-Urbanism.
I would not recommend purchasing this book unless a massive erratum is installed in every single copy.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
An inspired analysis of the city's marriage to fantasy.
28 July 1999
Format:Paperback
Both eloquently and clearly, X-Urbanism explores the historical and continuing development of the American City through the lens of an eye opening thesis: fantasy and desire have been pivotal factors in the shaping of Urban Space. As the author illustrates, the implications of this point of departure reach far beyond the conventional boundaries of urban studies to include a wealth of other disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and popular culture. Through the course of this book, the affects of fantasy on the Renaissance City, the Baroque City, the Modern City, and the Post-modern City are charted. Without being dogmatic or judgmental, Mr. Gandelsonas frames the City as a simultaneous object and subject that is influenced by the desires of architects while also influencing its inhabitants with its own wishes.
After reading the text and viewing the drawings that conclude this book it was as though I was walking around an object that until now I had only understood from a stationary position.
This book is a must read for anyone who lives inside or outside of a city.
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Well done.
14 Sep 1999
Format:Paperback
It is a rare moment when text and image collaborate to tell a story that could be told by neither alone. X-Urbanism is one of these moments. The dialog between the writing and drawings in this book is brilliant. The ultimate result of the conversation between the two is a nuanced understanding of the relationship that cities have with the subconscious of their inhabitants.
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