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Architettare, verbo. La nuova lingua del costruire
Che cosa intendono realmente gli architetti quando parlano di «eccellenza», «sostenibilità», «benessere», «vivibilità», «creatività», «bellezza» e «innovazione»? E cosa ci dice tutto ciò sul futuro delle nostre case e del nostro pianeta?Reinier de Graaf analizza con acutezza e ironia i continui incroci fra architettura, politica, finanza e potere, approfondendo come la loro interazione ha mutato l’aspetto e il destino delle città. Attraverso lo studio di alcune delle più note e importanti opere contemporanee e non, spunto di piacevoli quadri narrativi, Architettare, verbo affronta domande l’architettura è arte o servizio pubblico? Come diversificare committenza e finanziamenti pubblici e privati? Come affrontare il personalismo nel sistema dei premi?De Graaf ragiona poi sul valore simbolico del tempo, incrociandolo con il tema della sostenibilità, dagli elementi più generali alle proiezioni dei costi dei lavori che possono durare decenni, in balia di crisi finanziarie e politiche, locali e globali. Perché anche l’architettura è un pezzo della complessità.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2024
47 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Reinier de Graaf
22 books21 followersReinier Hendrik de Graaf was born in Schiedam, Netherlands, where he graduated from Stedelijk Gymnasium in 1982.[1] He holds an architecture diploma from Delft University and a master's degree in architecture from the Berlage Institute. De Graaf worked for architecture firms in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom before joining OMA in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 17, 2023
More a takedown of architectural language and jargon regarding the built environment than about architecture itself. And so cynical!
This is an entertaining read, especially for architects who have probably had many of these thoughts themselves over time, but it didn’t really need to be a book. It’s good for a chuckle and moment of recognition every other page, even though many of the observations have been made by others before. de Graaf chides, critiques, complains, repeats, and then…ends with a glossary. No summing up. No moral.
Architecture, to do anything good, though, ultimately needs to be an optimistic pursuit rather than a cynical one. de Graaf finds joy in poking fun, but offers no positive outlook to replace the things he pokes.
In the context of architecture writing, this is the old man shaking his fist at clouds.
This is an entertaining read, especially for architects who have probably had many of these thoughts themselves over time, but it didn’t really need to be a book. It’s good for a chuckle and moment of recognition every other page, even though many of the observations have been made by others before. de Graaf chides, critiques, complains, repeats, and then…ends with a glossary. No summing up. No moral.
Architecture, to do anything good, though, ultimately needs to be an optimistic pursuit rather than a cynical one. de Graaf finds joy in poking fun, but offers no positive outlook to replace the things he pokes.
In the context of architecture writing, this is the old man shaking his fist at clouds.
August 20, 2023
Curious about the book because of its title and cover, I was unprepared for the depth and scope of the discussion Reiner De Graaf leads through “architect, verb.” It is truly a fascinating book from start to finish. Establishing itself with history (if broad knowledge isn’t your thing, don’t let this opening put you off), it is full of facts I was entirely unaware of about building communities around the world in the past.
Upon the foundation of what has and hasn’t worked, De Graaf moves on to define key concepts that architecture and community design influence directly such as placemaking and the modern community requirements introducing new and exciting ways we can improve lives in creative and sustainable ways. I love the concept of selling “well-being” as part of the architectural concept, and the exploration in the book is great food for thought.
“… placemaking refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value.1 Placemaking is a core value of sustainability. Maintaining liveable urban environments is essential to protecting natural resources and the landscape from further destruction.…Placemaking is the process of reconnecting people to place and creating meaningful and connected communities for people to thrive in.5 Placemaking always begins with the community and the users.”
The book also succinctly and objectively identifies and explores what has failed to improve community, what should be avoided going forward, and the pitfalls of some of the innovations.
“Seattle currently counts as the third most gentrified city in the US, where rising property values and rents increasingly push original residents out of their neighbourhoods and a movement for rent control is enjoying increasing support. More and more often, the third way simply proves a front for the old ways.”
A favourite for me throughout is the theme of inclusion and true community. The unpacking of what Carehaus, for example, works and can be imitated is inspiring.
“Tolerance attracts talent; talent, in turn, is the crucial basis for the emergence of new creative technologies.”
If you are looking for a thought-provoking and uplifting read, this is for you! I highly recommend it, five out of five on the enJOYment scale!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Verso Books (US) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Upon the foundation of what has and hasn’t worked, De Graaf moves on to define key concepts that architecture and community design influence directly such as placemaking and the modern community requirements introducing new and exciting ways we can improve lives in creative and sustainable ways. I love the concept of selling “well-being” as part of the architectural concept, and the exploration in the book is great food for thought.
“… placemaking refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value.1 Placemaking is a core value of sustainability. Maintaining liveable urban environments is essential to protecting natural resources and the landscape from further destruction.…Placemaking is the process of reconnecting people to place and creating meaningful and connected communities for people to thrive in.5 Placemaking always begins with the community and the users.”
The book also succinctly and objectively identifies and explores what has failed to improve community, what should be avoided going forward, and the pitfalls of some of the innovations.
“Seattle currently counts as the third most gentrified city in the US, where rising property values and rents increasingly push original residents out of their neighbourhoods and a movement for rent control is enjoying increasing support. More and more often, the third way simply proves a front for the old ways.”
A favourite for me throughout is the theme of inclusion and true community. The unpacking of what Carehaus, for example, works and can be imitated is inspiring.
“Tolerance attracts talent; talent, in turn, is the crucial basis for the emergence of new creative technologies.”
If you are looking for a thought-provoking and uplifting read, this is for you! I highly recommend it, five out of five on the enJOYment scale!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Verso Books (US) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 3, 2023
Almost an incisive critique of the architecture profession but undermined by the self-serving inclinations of the architect author.
March 19, 2023
Picked this up as I generally enjoy what Verso publish and am interested in the architectural profession and the design of the built environment we all inhabit.
De Graaf’s dictionary of ‘Profspeak’ - included in this book but taken from a previous publication - highlights the absurdity of the ‘linguistic abstraction’ of architectural language in contemporary culture which works to disconnect the profession from everyday life. This seems to be the basis of this book, a perspective on the absurdity of contemporary architectural practice, which has become detached from the public who are the users of the architecture - and those who should be deciding on the buildings, not Market Dynamics a.k.a the rich wanting to get richer.
The book goes into some good detail - leaning on we’ll known examples from recent history (Bilbao, Jane Jacobs, Corbusier etc.) - about the contemporary architectural climate. Touching on ‘starchitecture’, the proliferation of architectural awards, measurement and categorisation in architecture, wellness, creativity, beauty and innovation.
For me the book was a little light and doesn’t go into enough depth on some issues, particularly the climate crisis and the impact on the architectural profession and the power relations under the systems of neo-liberal capitalism. These were touched on but not critiqued enough. The book ends with a review of the real estate portfolio of giant multinational tech companies Alphabet and Google, and their future architectural and endeavours. De Graaf doesn’t take a very critical view of this which I’d perhaps unsurprising as he is a partner in massive multinational architectural practice OMA…
De Graaf’s dictionary of ‘Profspeak’ - included in this book but taken from a previous publication - highlights the absurdity of the ‘linguistic abstraction’ of architectural language in contemporary culture which works to disconnect the profession from everyday life. This seems to be the basis of this book, a perspective on the absurdity of contemporary architectural practice, which has become detached from the public who are the users of the architecture - and those who should be deciding on the buildings, not Market Dynamics a.k.a the rich wanting to get richer.
The book goes into some good detail - leaning on we’ll known examples from recent history (Bilbao, Jane Jacobs, Corbusier etc.) - about the contemporary architectural climate. Touching on ‘starchitecture’, the proliferation of architectural awards, measurement and categorisation in architecture, wellness, creativity, beauty and innovation.
For me the book was a little light and doesn’t go into enough depth on some issues, particularly the climate crisis and the impact on the architectural profession and the power relations under the systems of neo-liberal capitalism. These were touched on but not critiqued enough. The book ends with a review of the real estate portfolio of giant multinational tech companies Alphabet and Google, and their future architectural and endeavours. De Graaf doesn’t take a very critical view of this which I’d perhaps unsurprising as he is a partner in massive multinational architectural practice OMA…
August 2, 2023
Review in reverse chronological order.
I have since picked up Four Walls and a Roof and it’s been a good read a tenth of the way into the book.
Take on day 2 - I started off with a three, raising it to a 4. I have chance to rethink and reevaluate many of the architectural and urban design marketing speak/jargon in my everyday work as a result of the book.
First review- a lot of questions raised, a lot of food for thought, however sometimes he did come across as a hater. Thankful for things to ponder on in my profession.
I have since picked up Four Walls and a Roof and it’s been a good read a tenth of the way into the book.
Take on day 2 - I started off with a three, raising it to a 4. I have chance to rethink and reevaluate many of the architectural and urban design marketing speak/jargon in my everyday work as a result of the book.
First review- a lot of questions raised, a lot of food for thought, however sometimes he did come across as a hater. Thankful for things to ponder on in my profession.
November 11, 2024
it was like 20 years since i was in architecture uni and “architect, verb” was a running joke…i guess it’s still around…wanting to be cute.
it got my eye on the shelf, and had look: the classic intellectualised architect’s humour…and a “here’s the deal” about a few things…and some things said i agree with, but a few don’t really hit the mark, as i’ve noticed even from the introduction where it says that “construction is arguably the most important pillar of our financial system and, as our most recent global crisis demonstrated, a potential source of its collapse.”…um, it might be a thing everyone says in some circles, but, if we think about it, that statement contains a lot of errors.
i’ll start simple, so, this book was first published in 2023…the last crisis i generally felt in the world was Covid, just saying. now, if we go back to like 2008, but that’s not the last, that was also not “construction” or, if we are generous with terms, “the housing market”…the problem was how the banking system decided to approve loans. just because something was felt in construction, that doesn’t mean construction was the problem (a very limited selfish view to assume so). and if we wanna talk about what the most important pillar of the financial system is, construction is also not it.
in the end, this book comes with some information but not (all) really an accurate perspective of the real world, and quite a few platitudes, things lots of people tend to say, not necessarily accurate things.
it definitely makes me question how many architects live in a bubble of their own work, without full understanding of what their work impacts and how in the world, which is what the book was trying to somehow prove/fix in the first place, how people view architects and what they (think) they know…hit and miss.
“measurement as a substitute for logic”…aham, and this is how it got 2 stars instead of my initial 3 star rating. logical people would get it (“amateur philosophy meets pseudo science” but the author is accusing others of that, while this book is doing the “classic” “fighting back”…).
“(…) ending in Silicone Valley: from the architect as miracle worker to the nerds plotting his redundancy.” - conspiracy theory much (the cult of the ego)? is that really what’s happening in the world of architecture now?! the book was a bit of a letdown with things like this too. i really wanted to give this 1 star…
“There are signs that the era of starchitecture is coming to an end”…with people making statements like the author of this book more, i guess…
it got my eye on the shelf, and had look: the classic intellectualised architect’s humour…and a “here’s the deal” about a few things…and some things said i agree with, but a few don’t really hit the mark, as i’ve noticed even from the introduction where it says that “construction is arguably the most important pillar of our financial system and, as our most recent global crisis demonstrated, a potential source of its collapse.”…um, it might be a thing everyone says in some circles, but, if we think about it, that statement contains a lot of errors.
i’ll start simple, so, this book was first published in 2023…the last crisis i generally felt in the world was Covid, just saying. now, if we go back to like 2008, but that’s not the last, that was also not “construction” or, if we are generous with terms, “the housing market”…the problem was how the banking system decided to approve loans. just because something was felt in construction, that doesn’t mean construction was the problem (a very limited selfish view to assume so). and if we wanna talk about what the most important pillar of the financial system is, construction is also not it.
in the end, this book comes with some information but not (all) really an accurate perspective of the real world, and quite a few platitudes, things lots of people tend to say, not necessarily accurate things.
it definitely makes me question how many architects live in a bubble of their own work, without full understanding of what their work impacts and how in the world, which is what the book was trying to somehow prove/fix in the first place, how people view architects and what they (think) they know…hit and miss.
“measurement as a substitute for logic”…aham, and this is how it got 2 stars instead of my initial 3 star rating. logical people would get it (“amateur philosophy meets pseudo science” but the author is accusing others of that, while this book is doing the “classic” “fighting back”…).
“(…) ending in Silicone Valley: from the architect as miracle worker to the nerds plotting his redundancy.” - conspiracy theory much (the cult of the ego)? is that really what’s happening in the world of architecture now?! the book was a bit of a letdown with things like this too. i really wanted to give this 1 star…
“There are signs that the era of starchitecture is coming to an end”…with people making statements like the author of this book more, i guess…
May 13, 2024
A snide, inconclusive temper tantrum. The author’s critical skepticism is a balm, but in the end, he dashes behind a snarky “profspeak” glossary to avoid offering an alternative.
Architects were once gods, de Graaf recalls; they shouldn’t be, but they once were. Now we are servants to extra-architectural masters. We can no longer speak in our own words but must babble in the parlance of marketers, developers, social justice warriors, finance bros and tech nerds. Each project must vindicate itself through maddeningly nebulous metrics; every architect, every firm, every work must describe itself with the same adjectives. Thus the terrain of architectural possibility collapses into a sweet-smelling puddle. Everyone is award-winning and innovative, everything is sustainable, all spaces are places and all places are eminently liveable.
So what do we yearn for? “Splendid isolation?” Blessed irrelevance? Red-hatted De Graaf wants architecture to be “architecture again,” to shed its “unsolicited baggage” and “re-emerge as an independent and critical discipline.” (He wishes to travel light, even if that means forgoing toothbrush and extra underwear.) But he is short on details of what this renewed discipline might look like. In each chapter, he flies us to a new destination, sketches an absurd landscape, and then ditches without commentary; at least in this work, he is more comfortable as a satirist than a theorist. Satire reveals the water we breathe, but can’t help us swim; I worry that De Graaf is drowning.
I am left wanting De Graaf to take ownership over his arguments, and his title as an architect. It is our prerogative to envision a better future, not to flail in present mires. De Graaf finds perverse satisfaction in positioning himself as the aggrieved outsider, the purveyor of reason in an increasingly absurd world. He observes, but insists that participation is futile. Society no longer wants who he was trained to be, so he capitulates, rather than transforms. As a young architect, I refuse to accept the role of pseudoscience lab assistant or DuoLingoed profspeaker; but De Graaf unwittingly presents a worse alternative: self-pitying crustacean.
Architects were once gods, de Graaf recalls; they shouldn’t be, but they once were. Now we are servants to extra-architectural masters. We can no longer speak in our own words but must babble in the parlance of marketers, developers, social justice warriors, finance bros and tech nerds. Each project must vindicate itself through maddeningly nebulous metrics; every architect, every firm, every work must describe itself with the same adjectives. Thus the terrain of architectural possibility collapses into a sweet-smelling puddle. Everyone is award-winning and innovative, everything is sustainable, all spaces are places and all places are eminently liveable.
So what do we yearn for? “Splendid isolation?” Blessed irrelevance? Red-hatted De Graaf wants architecture to be “architecture again,” to shed its “unsolicited baggage” and “re-emerge as an independent and critical discipline.” (He wishes to travel light, even if that means forgoing toothbrush and extra underwear.) But he is short on details of what this renewed discipline might look like. In each chapter, he flies us to a new destination, sketches an absurd landscape, and then ditches without commentary; at least in this work, he is more comfortable as a satirist than a theorist. Satire reveals the water we breathe, but can’t help us swim; I worry that De Graaf is drowning.
I am left wanting De Graaf to take ownership over his arguments, and his title as an architect. It is our prerogative to envision a better future, not to flail in present mires. De Graaf finds perverse satisfaction in positioning himself as the aggrieved outsider, the purveyor of reason in an increasingly absurd world. He observes, but insists that participation is futile. Society no longer wants who he was trained to be, so he capitulates, rather than transforms. As a young architect, I refuse to accept the role of pseudoscience lab assistant or DuoLingoed profspeaker; but De Graaf unwittingly presents a worse alternative: self-pitying crustacean.
August 4, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were some interesting sections like the Bilbao Effect, Everyone a Winner, Profspeak, and Placemaking. I liked how the different chapters tied back to international planning strategies, economics, global politics, and the creative world of art, architecture, and even Silicon Valley. The book spans multiple decades and references many well-known people although not always in a positive way.
The Architecture Without Architects chapter raised some intriguing questions particularly related to AI in the AEC industry. In a profession that is already oversaturated with architects, AI's potential for reducing the number of people needed in architecture firms is disquieting for many of us architects.
The author discusses some different design/planning strategies and fads. Although critical of most of them, the author doesn't provide other solutions or other alternatives. There were also some sections where my eyes glazed over, and I didn't see the need for that info to be in the book. This is what kept me from giving the book 5 stars.
I am glad I read it and learned new information in a field I have been part of for 40 years. I enjoyed it enough that I have recommended it to several people in the AEC industry. If there were half stars, I would have rated it 4.5 stars.
The Architecture Without Architects chapter raised some intriguing questions particularly related to AI in the AEC industry. In a profession that is already oversaturated with architects, AI's potential for reducing the number of people needed in architecture firms is disquieting for many of us architects.
The author discusses some different design/planning strategies and fads. Although critical of most of them, the author doesn't provide other solutions or other alternatives. There were also some sections where my eyes glazed over, and I didn't see the need for that info to be in the book. This is what kept me from giving the book 5 stars.
I am glad I read it and learned new information in a field I have been part of for 40 years. I enjoyed it enough that I have recommended it to several people in the AEC industry. If there were half stars, I would have rated it 4.5 stars.
Currently reading
January 20, 2024Three chapters in, and I'm already adding it to cart.
Each chapter is inspired by a verb and from there, tackles a very specific topic that makes an interesting discussion, such as ‘Should architecture be considered as art or function?’,
It contains interesting essays. However, for those who do not have much knowledge of architecture (like myself), it’s lacking in images and providing some basics. Every new chapter introduces new architects and buildings like Capital Gate, Isozaki’s Museum of Mankind, and more, which I’d enjoy the book a lot more if I had pictures than having to search up every other page.
While I may not be this book's audience, I can also see the relevance to other fields like advertising. It's critiques of the world of architecture and capitalism offer much food for thought, but no solution, Instead, I believe it's meant for the readers to figure out what type of architect/ creator they want to be.
Each chapter is inspired by a verb and from there, tackles a very specific topic that makes an interesting discussion, such as ‘Should architecture be considered as art or function?’,
It contains interesting essays. However, for those who do not have much knowledge of architecture (like myself), it’s lacking in images and providing some basics. Every new chapter introduces new architects and buildings like Capital Gate, Isozaki’s Museum of Mankind, and more, which I’d enjoy the book a lot more if I had pictures than having to search up every other page.
While I may not be this book's audience, I can also see the relevance to other fields like advertising. It's critiques of the world of architecture and capitalism offer much food for thought, but no solution, Instead, I believe it's meant for the readers to figure out what type of architect/ creator they want to be.
July 19, 2025
Entertaining and engaging. A book about the trends, fads, and pitfalls of modern architectural practice - also for non-architects. Great Appendix on "The Principles of Profspeak"
"Sociologist Aneesh Aneesh has dubbed the mode of governance that ensues in the general application of algorithms as 'algocracy'. 'Under the algocratic mode of governance, work is controlled not by telling the worker to perform a task, nor necessarily by punishing the worker for their failure, but by shaping an environment in which there are no alternatives to performing the works as prescribed.' When computer progreammes are able to create identical twins that are so detailed as to effectively supplant the original in validity, and when programmes have the ability to play out scenarios within the mirror world, will 'reality follow the similacrum?' (page 205)
"Sociologist Aneesh Aneesh has dubbed the mode of governance that ensues in the general application of algorithms as 'algocracy'. 'Under the algocratic mode of governance, work is controlled not by telling the worker to perform a task, nor necessarily by punishing the worker for their failure, but by shaping an environment in which there are no alternatives to performing the works as prescribed.' When computer progreammes are able to create identical twins that are so detailed as to effectively supplant the original in validity, and when programmes have the ability to play out scenarios within the mirror world, will 'reality follow the similacrum?' (page 205)
July 27, 2025
Another opus of pseudo-thought from a guy whose day job is making architecture that is a manifestation of this civilization's intellectual, creative, social and environmental degeneration.
His dysfunctional glass trash populates the world, yet he has something to say about "sustainability of architecture".
Another degraded attempt of gaining cheap kudos of a "thinker" by writing "criticism of the discipline"
MR DE GRAAF, IF YOU WERE EVER ABLE OF THOUGH YOU WOULD NOT BE DESIGNING WHAT YOU ARE DESIGNING.
MR DE GRAAF, YOU ARE THE BEST TARGET OF YOUR OWN "CRITICISM", I AM WAITING FOR IT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF YOUR ENDLESSLY ENTERTAINING WRITING HOBBY
His dysfunctional glass trash populates the world, yet he has something to say about "sustainability of architecture".
Another degraded attempt of gaining cheap kudos of a "thinker" by writing "criticism of the discipline"
MR DE GRAAF, IF YOU WERE EVER ABLE OF THOUGH YOU WOULD NOT BE DESIGNING WHAT YOU ARE DESIGNING.
MR DE GRAAF, YOU ARE THE BEST TARGET OF YOUR OWN "CRITICISM", I AM WAITING FOR IT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF YOUR ENDLESSLY ENTERTAINING WRITING HOBBY
March 22, 2025
Beautifully written and researched, however the sheer amount of topics often ends up leaving a topic feeling like it hasn't sufficiently been fully explored. The book overall feels like a very shallow pond, wide but not that deep. Despite that, it is still one of the better written books about architecture.
Also commendations must be given for an inclusion of a dictionary for all the nebulous terms throughout architecture.
Also commendations must be given for an inclusion of a dictionary for all the nebulous terms throughout architecture.
June 23, 2023
A good overview of current trends in BS in architecture and urban design. Generally illustrates each point with case studies of people and buildings. Easy read.
April 24, 2024
A humorous and an ironic take on factual reality of architecture, pretty much on point.
July 9, 2025
Witty and concrete critique of modern urban development based on well described analysit
July 17, 2025
Each chapter opens with an interesting paragraph as a bait, then continues with what feels like an endless Wikipedia copypastes with snark sprinkled on.
August 10, 2025
As an engineer, it is a fun reading when architect criticize cynically their own profession.
January 4, 2026
A well researched and deeply cynical take on the professional milieu of architecture and construction. As an architect, I found it to be a fun, if a little dismaying, read. Laughed out loud as much as I found myself knowingly shaking my head.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews