The future of architecture, since 1889

Although the title of this volume suggests yet another survey of modern monuments, this narrative by Cohen (New York Univ.) is anything but. The author presents architectural history as dynamic social history sustained by contested theoretical and built constructs. Aiming to present different ways of thinking about the past, Cohen presents buildings as dialogues between architects as allies and as adversaries instead of isolated intentions between an architect and a building. In addition to issues of production, he highlights the reception of modern architecture through design texts and publications, reviews, and conferences. In this way, 20th-century architecture exceeds the narratives of modern pioneers and a quest for novelty. Cohen's approach allows reinterpretation of modernity through conservative and traditional perspectives, the conflict of national and international impulses, and the reconsideration of modern masters in a broad disciplinary context. The book is accordingly segmented into conversation clusters arranged in a rough time line. Images reflect the same attention to reception and process through a presentation of construction photos, preliminary sketches, textbook covers, and groups of architects working together. Cohen deftly redefines the radical social agency of architecture in its capacity to provoke constructive conversation. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and general readers. L. Banu Purdue University

This 500-plus-page tome charts the saga of 20th-century architecture, serving it up in bite-sized, thematic chapters liberally sprinkled with illustrations (many in color) and seasoned with discussions of lesser-known works and designers. What Cohen (Sheldon H. Solow Professor, architecture, Inst. of Fine Arts, New York Univ.; Architecture in Uniform: Designing and Building for the Second World War) brings to the oft-covered subject of 20th-century architecture is a history that goes beyond major works and figures and instead offers readers a reordered view of the familiar landscape. This includes greater coverage of the groundbreaking early work of well-known architects, work by less famous or farther-flung designers, architectural theory, projects never built, and issues of city planning. -VERDICT As with so many far-ranging histories, some topics suffer from being set aside and picked up again in later chapters, but this won't pose a problem to anyone who already has a basic knowledge of architectural history. Moreover, what the book loses in continuity, it gains in accessibility: chapters read like self-contained, well-illustrated essays that will appeal to both the casual reader and the avid student.-Amy Trendler, Ball State Univ. Libs., Muncie, IN (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.