Mexico City: A Guide to Recent Architecture

Rating:
Summary: Mexico City's modern architecture in an (elegant) nutshell..
Review: Mexico City is a bit small (the book format, not the metropolis) but the four-inch-square size is a virtue if you're touring the town and want a pocketful of intriguing information and bright photos of recent architecture South of the Border. For architecture students this is a boon -- coffee-table quality in text and graphics, in a reasonably-priced volume that is one of a series on recent architecture in the world's major cities. New York, London, Paris, etc. All from ...ellipsis (sic) publishers. Although I can't speak with the authority of a professional in the field, this book would also seem to be handy for architects who can't leave their desks but wish to make a quick survey of what's been done in the Distrito Federal in recent years. The text spells out problems faced by the various architects: tricky building sites, complex zoning laws, querulous clients. Opher even goes into some "do-it-yourself" sections of the city, where squatters have developed entire communities from (literally) scratch. The illustrations are small and in black-and-white, but the reproduction makes them sparkle. The text intrigues, even though the typeface is a trifle tiny for the middle-aged eye. Overall an excellent book, one that would be a blockbuster in a larger format -- and in this smaller size, makes a great Christmas stocking-stuffer for that creative friend or relative.