Four Walls and a Roof the Complex Nature of a Simple Profession Review

4 Walls and a Roof: The Complex Nature of a Simple Profession

Profile Image for Sandro.

xxx reviews

September 25, 2020

I time, I found myself laughing at 3 am in my bed reading ane of the essays in this book. The other time, I would be and then occupied digesting historical facts, socio-economic and political complexities of some renown and 'not so well-known' important projects that marked the turning points of the development of cities and urban areas across the globe that have afterward changed the mural of the profession, and of course, the contemporary challenges that OMA/AMO had to deal with every bit an architectural practice in detail through the writer's personal view. I retrieve thinking, 'How can an architecture book exist so funny and entertaining yet information technology has so much depth and rigorous quality at the same time?' That, in my opinion, speaks how underrated Reinier de Graaf is. He is naturally a very eloquent author, and just as well happens to be one of the most brilliant thinkers in the architectural scene today, and this volume seals that.

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Profile Image for Brandon Young.

6 reviews 1 follower

Feb 14, 2019

Found it to be entertaining and an accurate representation of the changing land of the profession, the difficulties we can all relate to, and the complexity of dealing with the developers, public officials, general public, etc. Although I can relate moreso from beingness in urban design, I wish the volume focused more on the recurring themes that occur on everyday projects--delays, deadlines, contractor / possessor / architect relationships, working through the CA process (modify orders, cost complications, etc.) and less on instance studies. Best book i've read on Architecture in a long time. Wasn't certain whether to celebrate my profession or await for a new one at the end.

    Profile Image for Nataliia Lunio.

    39 reviews iv followers

    August 31, 2021

    Рейнір де Ґрааф говорить про все й ні про що: суть архітектурної роботи, девелопмент, як стилі архітектури корелюють з політичними віяннями, про росіян, диктаторів, соціальне житло, лімінальний простір аеропортів, модульну архітектуру, окремі райони/проєкти Лондона, Нью-Йорка й Східної Німеччини, про секс у парку, нерівність і ще про мільйон речей, які я вже встигла забути, поки півтора роки з великими перервами читала цю книжку.

    І якщо на початку здається, що книжка буде дуже абстрактним чтивом про високі матерії (чим є абсолютно кожна будівля як не коробкою?, питає й відразу ж відповідає автор), то в якийсь момент ти грузнеш у деталях одного з проєктів, над яким працював де Ґрааф і думаєш: для чого мені це все знати? Я схильна вважати, що це зроблено дуже свідомо й теоретичні роздуми про кінець історії й _роль_ архітектора недарма перемежовані майже веселими іронічними байками із жизні.

      February 27, 2021

      literally a waste product of time and coin...

        December 26, 2019

        I began reading this volume with the promise of gaining a piddling bit of insight into the professional world of compages and the culture of OMA, one of the near impressive firms of the last few decades. While I was certainly not disappointed with the content concerning those topics, I was even more than interested in the essays apropos soviet Russia, modernistic political tension, liberalism, modernism, the rise of populism, and urban planning through the lens of a very accomplished and well-informed architect. I'g not quite certain what to brand of this volume, every bit information technology'southward essay topics span and so broad a range that I take difficulty recommending information technology to anyone likewise my most intellectually curious friends, but I couldn't really put it down. de Graaf is a fantastic writer with a hilarious, fatalistic voice, the human being has quite a wide range of talents.

          Profile Image for Tasos Antonopoulos.

          ane review

          Apr 11, 2022

          Reinier de Graaf spills the beans on the backside the scenes piece of work of OMA/AMO through a series of essays and by doing and then honestly contributes to the wider field of architecture. The book tin exist used to bridge the gap between academia and practice. Specifically, theoretical work can exist informed and recalibrated from all the insights presented in the volume; insights non necessarily used at confront value merely with further elaborations and speculations.

          My favourite essay and a must read is the one discussing the prefabricated panels made in the DDR and reused to make houses such as the one in the frontpage (I remember it's the sixth essay but can be mistaken). I empathize this gezellig essay every bit the manifesto behind the book project. It shakes up architectural history, theory, aesthetics, stylistic movements, alles altogether... hinting at the necessity and the ability of spilling the beans.

          Empirical and honest writing by very experienced practitioners is rare and very significant, it is worth our attention. One of the near of import architecture books of our time but sadly not talked nearly enough!

            January 8, 2020

            Through the lens of architecture, this volume is actually much more of a deliberation of the challenges of our fourth dimension, of the collapse of the public sector and the subsequent thriving of individual developments in the spaces nosotros inhabit. Thoughtful and elegant prose takes us from London to Moscow to Due east Germany to Rio de Janeiro to New York, laying open the eerie similarities in such differently perceived places and calling into question the increasing influence of "management speak" and market forces in the built environment. It is definitely one of the more thought-provoking books I accept read in recent years. Highly recommended, fifty-fifty if y'all are not deeply interested in architecture!

              Profile Image for Nicolle Hazard.

              23 reviews ii followers

              March 28, 2020

              Information technology'southward virtually contemptuous point of view really resonated with certain things I had seen in the Compages field myself. It's a sharp collection of observations on all the things that touch on compages and i particularly enjoyed his study into difficult topics such every bit the architecture backside the Berlin Wall and in Soviet Russia.
              It'southward a book for non-architects also, and I wish it was marketed every bit such. His thoughts on the economics of the built surroundings should be more widely spread.
              The but reason I don't give 5 stars is because some essays were a bit weak compared to others. Either way an insightful delightful read.

                Profile Image for Pablo Lopes.

                37 reviews

                Dec 7, 2019

                Um relato sobre o que every bit realidades da profissão no século XXI, em que equally utopias das vanguardas modernistas são reabilitadas como expressão de uma sociedade democrática east mais igualitária, e como a partir dos anos 70 o domínio de um capitalismo sem restrições subverte estas utopias. É um relato do que resta quando a edificação é valorizada por seu valor como investimento e não pelo uso que se faz dela.

                  December 16, 2019

                  Best architecture book I've read. Not sure whether it's theory or memoir, only it'southward full of bright insights- loved the history of pre-fab and standardization during the communist authorities. A few unremarkable or hyperbolic chapters- merely nigh of them are cracking, and so great! Similar the discussion of of using bison to terminate people from having sexual activity in a public park( this happened). Give to the nerdy planner or architect in your life.

                    Displaying 1 - 10 of 19 reviews

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                    Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34758219-four-walls-and-a-roof

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