Skateboarding and the City: A Complete History

(Paperback)

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Description

Skateboarding is both a sport and a way of life. Creative, physical, graphic, urban and controversial, it is full of contradictions a billion-dollar global industry which still retains its vibrant, counter-cultural heart. Skateboarding and the City presents the only complete history of the sport, exploring the story of skate culture from the surf-beaches of 60s California to the latest developments in street-skating today. Written by a life-long skater who also happens to be an architectural historian, and packed through with full-colour images of skaters, boards, moves, graphics, and film-stills this passionate, readable and rigorously-researched book explores the history of skateboarding and reveals a vivid understanding of how skateboarders, through their actions, experience the city and its architecture in a unique way.

Reviews

The book is superbly researched, colorfully and beautifully illustrated, and thoroughly analyzes the topic. It has the physical appearance of an elegant coffee-table book combined with outstanding scholarship, effectively employing theory and empirical data, particularly the oral and written testimony of participants. * CHOICE *
There's absolutely no way I can do the work justice here the book is incredibly thought-provoking, especially from the perspective of actually being a skateboarder. I highly recommend it. * Sidewalk Magazine (praise for Skateboarding, Space and the City, 2001) *
SA fine book that I recommend to any skateboarder who can read at a college level. * Big Brother Skateboarding Magazine (praise for Skateboarding, Space and the City) *
This is an amazing book and a real surprise A first. Pick it up and youll learn something interesting about the cities you skate in; you might even learn something about skating itself. * Slap Skateboard Magazine (praise for Skateboarding, Space and the City) *
Skateboarders help us to think about buildings and their use. Borden argues that they draw our attention to the city as the site of perpetual change. * The Independent (praise for Skateboarding, Space and the City) *
Borden owes as much to 30 years of personal passion and experience as he does to any architectural or social theory. * The Architects Journal (praise for Skateboarding, Space and the City) *
Iain Bordens contribution to the field must be considered a milestone ... Incorporat[ing] a great volume of visual and textual material [this is] an interesting account that will attract both passionate skateboarders and academics who seek to broaden their understanding and appreciation of this small but remarkably influential wooden board. * Brief Encounters *

Author Bio

Iain Borden is Professor of Architecture & Urban Culture, and Vice-Dean Education, at the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture. Alongside numerous academic publications on architecture, cities, critical theory, public space, film and photography, Iain has been a skateboarder for over 40 years, and has advised numerous city authorities, charities, developers and the media about skateboarding culture and skateparks.