The Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture: City, Technology and Society in the Information Age

by Susanna Cros (Editor)

In the format of a selective dictionary of cross-referenced terms, Metapolis identifies a new architectural will within the contemporary social and cultural panorama. It contributes to a global vision of the emerging new architectural action that participates in "advanced culture" and visual art disciplines and technology. The book speaks of an architecture inscribed in the information society and influenced by the new technologies, the new economy, environmental concerns and individual interests. The diversity of authors and works is invaluable for the generational intersections in theory discourse. Featuring Manuel Gausa, Vicente Guallart, Willy Müller, Federico Soriano, José Morales, Fernando Porras, Iñaki Ábalos y Juan Herreros, José Alfonso Ballesteros, Xavier Costa, Enric Ruiz-Geli, Alejandro Zaera Polo.

Genres: Architecture, Reference

624 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2003

Reviews

[Leandro Llorente · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book on architectural semantics where one word can have multiple meaning when viewed by different architects.

[engkiat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to get ideas from, it sadly glosses over the deeper philosophical underpinings that so much of the concepts are based upon. Written in the style of Rem Koolhaas' S,M,L,XL, the inclusion of irrelevant entries can sometimes be irritating to the serious reader. Then again, the book was never meant to be read cover-to-cover; it might not be a rigourously researched 'dictionary', but the contents will no doubt serve to inspire, and if all else fails, serve as a useful swag to display proudly on your bookshelf.

For example, under entries like Plastic , one hoping to see discussions on Bauhaus neo-plasticity instead sees a page showing the manufacture of, surprise surprise, plastic. The rest of the book is very much like this entry: taken seriously, it offers little in intellectual depth, but if tackled with a lighthearted attitude, there are a surprising amount of ideas that spring forth from within.

[Alireza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of Architecture concepts for your projects if you like conceptual designing.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little red box that helps thinking outside of it. Inventive, if not totally accurate, and very inspiring.