Log in to track your reading progress.
Overview
In The Emerald City, Dan Willis takes us on a flight of imagination that paradoxically never strays far from the most tangible, even intimate subjects. His essays range from the Tower of Babel to the Wizard of Oz, from Christo to Christmas trees, from the "lightness of being" to the "weight of architecture." This ultimately optimistic book suggests that architecture is as vital as ever: "It is tempting to say that our present cultural situation...has rendered architecture nearly impossible if not unnecessary. But it is also possible to look to what our lives, at the turn of the millennium, typically lack-fulfillment, spirituality, a sense of belonging, weight-and to conclude that the ground for architecture has never been more fertile. The texts-intelligent and readable-draw equally from literary sources, architectural practice, philosophical analyses, pop culture, and everyday experiences. Willis's perspective as a writer, architect, artist, and teacher informs his work; his texts are at once reflective and proactive, as they challenge readers to rethink their participation in the built environment. Accompanying the text are the author's original illustrations, which link the forms and forces surrounding architecture at the end of the twentieth century in novel, thought-provoking ways.Editorials
Adele Weder
…Willis argues quite effectively for architecture to encompass more than the material fact of the building, since it affects an entire range of human activities, from construction jobs to the activities of its inhabitants, long before and long after the mayor has snipped the red ribbon.— The National Post, September 9th, 1999Book Details
Published
June 1, 1999
Publisher
Princeton Architectural Press
Pages
320
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781568981741