Citizens of No Place: An Architectural Graphic Novel

by Jimenez Lai

Citizens of No Place is a collection of short stories on architecture and urbanism, graphically represented using manga-style storyboards. Fiction is used as a strategy to unpack thoughts about architecture. Modeled as a proto-manifesto, it is a candid chronicle of a highly critical thought process in the tradition of paper architecture (especially that of architect John Hejduk and Bernard Tschumi's Manhattan Transcript). The short stories explore many architectural problems through the unique language of the graphic novel, helping usher the next generation of architectural theory and criticism.

Genres: Architecture, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Design, Graphic Novels Comics, Art

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Jimenez Lai loves art and architecture. Lai is widely exhibited and published around the world, including the MoMA-collected White Elephant. His first book, Citizens of No Place, was published by Princeton Architectural Press with a grant from the Graham Foundation. Draft II of this book has been archived at the New Museum. Lai has won various awards, including the Architectural League Prize for Young Architects and Debut Award at the Lisbon Triennale, and the 2017 Designer of the Future Award at Art Basel. In 2014, Lai represented Taiwan at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2015, Lai organized the Treatise exhibition and publication series at the Graham Foundation. Lai's work has been collected by MoMA, SFMOMA, Art Institute of Chicago, and LACMA.

Reviews

[Corey Bertelsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The actual "stories" themselves are wonderful, witty, and synthesize wry social commentary with architectural theory and history.

But the preface, the commentary at the beginning of chapters, and other "text blocks" - almost ruin this book for me. It will probably turn people off to what is otherwise a superb and thought-provoking read.

It's as if the Architectural Graphic Novel itself wasn't enough to satisfy the academic gods, and Jimenez needed to present an offering of pompous archi-speak diarrhea to "legitimize" his creation.

Jimenez, we don't give a FUCK about your "calibrated superficiality." Let the comics do the talking - that's why we're here, and that's what you do well.

[trestitia ⵊⵊⵊ deamorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Architecture is not just about buildings but also urban planning, landscape etc. Yeah this is the problematic of interdisciplinary.
I'm sayin' cuz' Imma urban planner.
Whatever.

A niche work, and amazing work.



There seem to be plenty of reflections of conspiracy theories, popular hypotheses, and simulative dreams. Between somewhere sci-fi or remote future. Treated as an interdisciplinary subject, namely in the context of space design, especially "design".
And it's a bang-up thing that space means vacancy, place, and black void at same time (and even distance, time, etc). Cuz' in here, as same much every aspect of disciplinaries, discusses all three.

As a recap, this graphic novel asks what would the modern Noah’s Ark look like, what would we do if we run out of land? But more importantly, where/how would people live?
Reminds you how far we can go? How far we can deny that we are just creatures that have to shelter, feed, reproduction, and die. So the story is simple, bc it's same old story.



In urbanism or architecture, vertical design is not a new thing,,, however saturating will-be-nonexistent greens in renders and appending fancy waste recycling costs too much and adding sustainability in title is seen as an answer to all our problems. In other pov, designs that look amazing on paper can nptt be more than 2D drawings, even 'pictures', moreover 3D drawings can not compare with human perception.

And this graphic novel is cutely witty about these issues, along with the demographic, economic, psychologic, ecologic and all other -ic impacts of them.

I know I talked high-flown but actually discourses of ideas n' issues r not that deep, not superficial, more like telling story, not an article, however I read some pp find this hard to understand. Anyway, give it a chance. Don't take it too seriously, I just love to look like a specialist.

Drawings and illustrations are gorgeous. I love to see pattern, abstraction (a nightmare), diagrams, schemes, maps, sections, typologies, grids, geometry, morphography, syntax...



As an unnecessary point, I don't call myself elitist but I'm not against the idea of separating people by classes (no not fucking caste system), also I don't hate immigrants, yet I HATE I have to deal people with devoid of civilization n' trust me sometimes this has nothing to do with education or wealth which is the most distressing part of it.

BTW, I prefer concrete to grass, thang yew✨
xoxoxo
iko

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good, innovative and beautiful and emotional. I've never read anything like it and i really enjoyed it.

[sofi lira s · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The abstraction of the outside shape is an impression/ the fluidity of the inside episodes are stories."

[Bangquito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just realized, a graphic novel could be an alternative approach to tell how architecture works. In order to render spatial continuity, diagram/visual instrument are better option. If a book limited by (vocabulary) insight from the reader, picture gives precision look about discussed building. This decreasing misinterpreted model, but at the same time limiting imagination.

‘Citizen of no place’ aim to critic present architectural practice and it’s impact in satire and sience fiction combo. The problem it present questioning whether today architectural culture would bring us to brighter future or neo dark ages govern by land availability. It’s joke is perceivable by everyone, but wrapped with many inside term. Apparently, each punchline serves as bridge to general summarization.

The artwork itself done in freehand, some looked like half finished product brought by sleep deprived student on tuesday morning. Many of it, for sake of serious atmosphere or explanation, being produced in CAD -which is impressive. This what amazed me, I never thought that (mostly) diagram method can be an instrument of storytelling rather than direct information or eyegasm decoration. Apparently, it still incoherent for public consumption, but i am here to be proven wrong.

It is daunting in some way. Because it’s critics extend to certain extreme, and how it adept architectural style altogether. But it’s fun, honest. Oh, and there is also fight club reference in a bits.

[The Laughing Man · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can say, this was definitely not my cup of tea, although it had its moments.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the stacks, randomly pulling books of the shelves, I come across this black and white art-schoolish volume. Published by Princeton Architectural Press: I don't think I've read anything like this before that's not been self-published. Mixing blueprints with cartoons and infographics induces spatialised distress. Most of the speech bubbles feel displaced. The architectural theory seems overly forced onto the philosophical topography. I did enjoy the range of vectors and perspectives, especially from the plans. If you're looking for something stylistically similar but with better superimposed layers, check out http://www.ipsumlorum.com/ by wt frick.

[Arthur Maximilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimenez Lai really hit it out of the park with this one. This short illustrations / narrative really taking Architecture out of its normative standard which is bounded by surroundings and nature. Jimenez Lai's approach to explain some concepts, ideas, and viewpoints with comic format surprisingly works very well. Descriptions of 'elseworlds' in terms of Architecture without standard context, law, and norms really pushes the idea of Architecture as a whole, making the reader thinking about several 'what ifs' and surely giving us few ideas about Architecture. Overall the narratives are great, the diagrams are appealing, and the 'citizen' is quirky and charming. 5/5.

[mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect graphic novel for me. The drawings are multidimensional and done with multimedia from paper drawings to architectural renderings. He never sticks to one drawing style, not afraid of merging the styles and trying to combine new ones. The texts make you wonder and question your current state in the world and architecture, and what we have been doing with them. This is unequivocally contemporary architectural criticism and certainly, it should lead the way for the contemporary architecture theory.

[Gaetano Venezia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read that covers a decent bit of theoretical ground and will feel us non-architects feeling a little woozy. But there are plenty of smart little storylines and observations throughout so that anyone vaguely familiar with architectural theory and practice will get something out of this.

[Farah Chamma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, though I have no background at all in design and/or architecture. Many things escaped me, especially figures and models. Yet over all, I know this is an important, humorous, and critical work representing the multidisciplinarity of architecture, and of almost everything.

[Aneta Vasileva · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Extremity
Yesterday's extreme is tomorrow's status quo.
The lenient shoulders of our forefathers have already revealed the ground from which we can project the future and their shoulders are a constant reminder that nothing is really original - nor can it remain extreme.

[Bridgett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. This is a highly academic and extremely odd graphic novel. Most average readers will find this unreadable.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Citizens of No Place is equal parts sci-fi, intellectual treatise and absurdist humor. The art is hit-or-miss. Sometimes it's beautifully original, sometimes amateurish. It won me over.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome concepts that could use another round of editing. Some of the very smart ideas drown in thesaurus-speak.

[Emerson John Tiu Ng · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.....

[Dana Krystle · Rating 3 out of 5]

witty, short and architecture based. Very light read. You can finish it in a hour. Lots of architectural terms.

[AL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a nice humorous way of looking at architecture , an nice read if your looking for escape while still engaging with architecture

[Hollie Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

therapeutic somehow

[d · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is short and insane. A lot of the intellectual references in here was probably glossed over by my tiny idiot brain but this was so fun to read. Condensing a lot of contemporary architectural debate and placing it into a politically detached void makes you question what really is the point of it all?, at which point Lai confronts you with humorous nihilistic non-answers, as deserved. Particularly liked the discourse on sections versus plans and the form fornication/intellectual subversion was quite funny. Some favorite quotes: "Strategies in the head, geometries in the heart"; "But plans rely on an unattainable gods-eye-view that humans can never experience."; "Sometimes the only way to truly love architecture is to be inside of it"; "The abstraction of the outside shape is an impression/ the fluidity of the inside episodes are stories."

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of architectural stories and explorations by the incredibly talented Jimenez Lai. Jimenez is one of the most innovative and talented architectural thinkers working today. By creating fictional worlds, Jimenez explores architectural possibilities, producing novel and in some cases frightening scenarios. Important for any architect.

[Christel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this and it's amazeballs. Citizens of No Place is way more than an architectural graphic novel, contrary to its claims. It is a philosophical novel of self in context of space in terms of visualized/imagined future relevance as form and function. It is existentialist, and ultimately a love story. It combines surreal bits into a whole new system of architecture.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"On Uniqueness:
...The unicorn, when viewed as the opposite of mass production, represents the romantic ideal that anomalies are possible. As the unicorn becomes popular to the masses because of its singularity, the demand for it becomes too great. The uniqueness of the unicorn dies as imitation increases..."
-Jimenez Lai

[Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

as i plan for a similar project this piece is really inspiring for me...i just think at some part it really amazed my imagination. ..i just think that although it utilizes the art of graphic novel to convey the politics of architecture to anyone who is not specialized in the field, it is still a bit too obscure! it needed to engage more with everyday life more

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gets the sense that I have never before read a book written by someone who thinks in a manner similar to Jimenez Lai and am unlikely to have the pleasure again. A unique voice to say the least, but I can only recommend to those who know about architecture. My own limited understanding made me feel as if I were missing the majority of the meat of this book.

[Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing stories and amazing illustrations. His transformation of architectural arguments into a graphic novel is impressive, but I'm not sure I would recommend it to someone not obsessed with architecture.

[Patrick Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the proclomation "sometimes the only way to truly love architecture is to be inside it." Text could have been more integrated into the work. The repetative bubbles were very amateurist compared to the beauty and depth of the drawings. Looking forward to future works from Mr. Lai.

[Ahmed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure what I just read. Not recommended for non architects. Not recommended for Non Engineers. Not recommended for readers that want to feel stupid. I need to wash my mind with mindless action now.

[Adan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just because you can make a comic about anything, doesn't mean you actually should. This wasn't a comic so much as a dissertation on archaeological forms and models with a thin layer of narrative thrown on top. There were two interesting stories in the middle, but overall this is a very hard pass.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool weird architecture comic.