Light Construction: A Museum of Modern Art Book

Rating:
Summary: Mainstream Read
Review: This book complements an exhibition with the same title held at MoMA, NYC between 21st September 1995 to 2nd January 1996. It commences with an introductory essay about how light is perceived in architecture, how technology has advanced to the point that certain ideals can now be reached, how light is interpreted from its initial functional purpose in buildings into something totally metaphorical & abstract aligned with art, pondering what is in store for us in the foreseeable future. Subsequently, it moves into the "Projects" section. The picks are quite international, ranging from Philip Johnson, Steven Holl to Herzog & Mueron, Zumthor, Ren Koolhaas, Sir Norman Foster to Renzo Piano to Toyo Ito, Sejima. Please be mindful that the projects are not necessarily buildings but prototypes which might never be realised in large scale. Anyhow, the projects are accompanied by pictures, occasional elevation plans, projects layout plans. It is a book that is fitting to flip through but not something that we would study in detail. The book finishes with project information, photograph credits and lastly the list of trustees of MoMA. A definite reference material but not something for keep permanently or as a cherished treasure on your coffee table. Last but not least, architecture can be deemed as a timely subject. As the projects covered here are almost a decade old, we might have come across something more avantgarde since.

Rating:
Summary: Mainstream Read
Review: This book complements an exhibition with the same title held at MoMA, NYC between 21st September 1995 to 2nd January 1996. It commences with an introductory essay about how light is perceived in architecture, how technology has advanced to the point that certain ideals can now be reached, how light is interpreted from its initial functional purpose in buildings into something totally metaphorical & abstract aligned with art, pondering what is in store for us in the foreseeable future. Subsequently, it moves into the "Projects" section. The picks are quite international, ranging from Philip Johnson, Steven Holl to Herzog & Mueron, Zumthor, Ren Koolhaas, Sir Norman Foster to Renzo Piano to Toyo Ito, Sejima. Please be mindful that the projects are not necessarily buildings but prototypes which might never be realised in large scale. Anyhow, the projects are accompanied by pictures, occasional elevation plans, projects layout plans. It is a book that is fitting to flip through but not something that we would study in detail. The book finishes with project information, photograph credits and lastly the list of trustees of MoMA. A definite reference material but not something for keep permanently or as a cherished treasure on your coffee table. Last but not least, architecture can be deemed as a timely subject. As the projects covered here are almost a decade old, we might have come across something more avantgarde since.