250 Things An Architect Should Know

(Hardback)

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Description

Michael Sorkin's iconic list is now in a handsome printed package, a perfect gift for any architect, student of architecture, or design-savvy urbanist.

By turns poetic and humorous, practical and wise, this book is a joyful celebration of the craft of architecture. A posthumous book by critic, architect, urban theorist, and educator, Michael Sorkin (1948-2020), 250 Things An Architect Should Know is filled with details that architects love to obsess over, from the expected (golden ratio and the seismic code) to the unexpected (the heights of folly and the prismatic charms of Greek islands.)

Reviews

"Filled with photographs, illustrations and archival images, the anthology imparts wisdom for architects and non-architects alike. Above all, it serves as a poignant reminder that the practice of design is as much a product of technical skill as of inherent curiosity - both an intellectual, creative pursuit and a fundamentally human experience."
- Azure Magazine
"This posthumous collection, paired with 100 photographs, illustrations, and archival images of his work, is a practical, poetic, and playful compilation of the knowledge he amassed in [Michael Sorkin's] career."
- Fast Company,

"Essential knowledge for architects in this compact and charming volume."
- Architectural Record,

"Sorkin's musings range from the practical, like familiarizing yourself with the color wheel, or the energy embodied in aluminum, to more existential topics, like what makes you happy. In all, the book offers a multitude of takeaways that will at the very least enrich your own creative practice, and at the very best, will bring new perspective to your life."
-- Dwell,

"The pairing of words and images accentuates the humor in Michael's words, breaks down the lengthy list into smaller sometimes related chunks, and reinforces the diversity of his advice: from philosophy and sustainability to architectural history and science. Ultimately the list encourages people to look attentively at the world around them and -- more importantly, perhaps -- get out there and experience it."
-- World-Architects,

Author Bio

Michael Sorkin was an architect and urbanist whose practice spans design, planning, criticism, and teaching. An outspoken critic of misguided architecture, urban inequality, oppressive ideologies, and other impediments to truly egalitarian and sustainable societies, Sorkin was principal of Michael Sorkin Studio, president of the nonprofit Terreform, and director of the Graduate Program in Urban Design at City College of New York (CCNY). Sorkin was architecture critic for The Village Voice, and he has authored numerous articles and books on the subjects of contemporary architecture, design, cities, and the role of democracy in architecture.