X-Urbanism: Architecture and the American City

Rating:
Summary: Questions of authorship.
Review: As I describe in the section "the urban drawings" (pages77-78), the drawings published in X-urbanism are the result of my research on the American City developed from 1984 to the present, with the participation of hundreds of students and the assistance of architects who taught under my direction and sometimes redrew the "raw material" produced by the students. The drawings were developed in my architectural studios and seminars in differen Universities as credited in the book. The New York and Los Angeles drawings were finalized in my office and the authors are credited in pages 77-78 and 189. These drawings served as models for the development of the studios and seminars on Boston, New Haven, Chicago and Atlantic City. These studios and seminars as well as the teaching assistants are credited in the same pages. The Computer drawings of Chicago and Des Moines are my own creation with the assistance of Julie Wheeler, as credited in page 189.

Rating:
Summary: An inspired analysis of the city's marriage to fantasy.
Review: Both eloquently and clearly, X-Urbanism explores the historical and continuing development of the American City through the lens of an eye opening thesis: fantasy and desire have been pivotal factors in the shaping of Urban Space. As the author illustrates, the implications of this point of departure reach far beyond the conventional boundaries of urban studies to include a wealth of other disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and popular culture. Through the course of this book, the affects of fantasy on the Renaissance City, the Baroque City, the Modern City, and the Post-modern City are charted. Without being dogmatic or judgmental, Mr. Gandelsonas frames the City as a simultaneous object and subject that is influenced by the desires of architects while also influencing its inhabitants with its own wishes.

After reading the text and viewing the drawings that conclude this book it was as though I was walking around an object that until now I had only understood from a stationary position.

This book is a must read for anyone who lives inside or outside of a city.

Rating:
Summary: Well done.
Review: It is a rare moment when text and image collaborate to tell a story that could be told by neither alone. X-Urbanism is one of these moments. The dialog between the writing and drawings in this book is brilliant. The ultimate result of the conversation between the two is a nuanced understanding of the relationship that cities have with the subconscious of their inhabitants.

Rating:
Summary: Missed Opportunity
Review: When I picked up this book I was truly impressed. It is extremely high quality, ambitious and far reaching which makes it all the more sinister that the numerous emerging architects whose drawings comprise the most interesting aspect of this book, remain (perhaps strategically?) anonymous. Amazon's own description of the book is a perfect example of how easily the uncredited drawings can be misinterpreted as the work of Mr. Gandelsonas. If this were a purposeful issue of anonymity, I could possibly understand. However, Mies, Corbu and the likes are happily credited throughout the book. So what gives?

As a reader, book collector and architecture enthusiast, I like to use my books on the subject of design as reference material. Unfortunately, I am a little uncomfortable with the deliberate name omissions in X-Urbanism.

I would not recommend purchasing this book unless a massive erratum is installed in every single copy.