Shouldn't We All Be Developers?

by Roger Zogolovitch

Concerned with "development as art," Shouldn’t we all be developers? is written by Roger Zogolovitch, founder of Solidspace. Zogolovitch studied at the Architectural Association in London between 1965 and 1971, and has seen the business of architecture since then from all as architect, client and developer. He set up Solidspace as a vehicle to develop interstitial sites not otherwise recognised as suitable for inner city development.

Shouldn’t we all be developers? is written in the first person, as a manifesto for an approach to contemporary development and architecture. The Solidspace approach encourages collaboration with other architects― partnerships include those with de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects, Mole Architects and Stephen Taylor Architects. Their schemes are concerned with varied plans and sections, in order to open up small sites to larger footprints through interconnected spaces―borrowing, in part, from the history of Modern architecture, and ideas of the ‘raumplan’ and ‘architectural promenade’.

Projects include One Centaur Street in Lambeth, Essex Mews in Crystal Palace and the first Solidspace project, the Zog House in Queen’s Park.

Genres: Architecture

191 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2015

Reviews

[Jakub Lupták · Rating 3 out of 5]

gap sites, the book. some interesting ideas/opinions and solutions, but the book apptempts to discuss the vast issues of land/development and affordability, but is too superifical to do the topic justice in my view. good for people interested in the idea of 'gap sites' in cities. for a more general discussion I'd recommend Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing

[Timmytoothless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Builds a stirring case for the independent developer; dedicated to urban densification with well-designed, small-to-medium scale projects.

[Ee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zogolovitch gives valuable insights into his experience as a small scale developer in London and encourages more architects to become developers themselves.