Far From Equilibrium

by Sanford Kwinter, Cynthia Davidson (Editor)

El último libro del célebre escritor y teórico de la arquitectura, Sanford Kwinter, Far From Equilibrium analiza los complejos encuentros entre tecnología, cultura y arquitectura, ofreciendo una amplia reflexión sobre infraestructuras, conflictos bélicos, computación e inteligencia mecánica y material, así como sobre muchas otras variables de la modernidad.

Genres: Architecture

196 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

About the author

Sanford Kwinter is a Canadian-born, New York–based writer and architectural theorist, and a co-founder of Zone Books publishers. Kwinter currently serves as Professor of Theory and Criticism at the Pratt Institute. He formerly served as an associate professor at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and has also taught at [link=Massachusetts Institute of Technology], Columbia University and Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
Having received a doctorate in comparative literature from Columbia University, Kwinter lectured at Harvard University, the University of Applied Arts Vienna ( Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien), the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and the Städelschule in Frankfurt. Over the past twenty years, his publications have pioneered new ideas in art, architecture, science and the humanities. He has written widely on philosophical issues related to design, architecture, and urbanism, and was involved in the series of conferences and publications convened by ANY magazine between 1991 and 2000.

Reviews

[Sean Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought most every one of the essays was really interesting and thoughtfully written. It has begun to give me a new interest and modified perception of the role technology has played. The essays center around society's growing use of different technologies and also how architects have been using technology in design. Every article goes far to exude a strong opinion and Kwinter's idea for response. There were one or two articles that I skipped over that included Infrared and the article about Memorials.

On another note the book is overly designed and has a lot of attributes that makes it sometimes a little frustrating to get used to until you finally get through at least half of it. Page numbers are not shown on the majority of pages, everything is justified to the top with a large lower margin and fonts change seemingly at random. I enjoyed the pullout images and the paper makes the color images look real nice, but he could have done with omitting the idiosyncrasies that make it appear as if he's trying too hard.

I'd like to give it 3.5 stars but rounded up.

[Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of smart, polemical essays by a truly peripatetic intellectual. Can't believe these joints are over 10 yrs old. Reread in advance of kwinter's new joint.

[Vanlilith]

architettura&arte