A book launch of architect, verb The New Language of Building by Reinier de Graaf
Leading architect Reinier de Graaf punctures the myths behind the debates on contemporary architecture with wit and devastating honesty. Architecture, it seems, has become too important to leave to architects. No longer does it suffice to judge a building solely by its look and feel, it must be measured and certified. What remains of a discipline once it is reduced to ticking boxes of ‘excellence’, ‘sustainability’, ‘well-being’, ‘liveability’, ‘placemaking’, ‘creativity’, ‘beauty’ and ‘innovation’?
In architect, verb., De Graaf dryly skewers the doublespeak and hot air of an industry in search of an identity in the 21st century. Who determines how to measure a ‘green building’? Why is Vancouver more ‘liveable’ than Vienna? How do developers get away with advertising their buildings as promoting ‘well-being’? Why did Silicon Valley become so obsessed with devising ‘creative’ spaces or developing code that replaces architects? How much revenue can be attributed to the design of public space? Who gets to set these criteria, and what do they actually mean for the future of our homes, cities, planet?
Purchase the book here: https://aabookshop.net/?wpsc-product=architect-verb
