10 X 10: 10 Critics, 100 Architects

by Jackie Cooper and Aaron Betsky

10 x 10 is a kaleidoscopic view of new architecture in the world today. 100 emerging architects have been selected by 10 leading international architecture curators and critics. Each critic has also selected and listed 10 cultural references - including designed objects, books, films, themes, and movements - to reveal a dynamic range of influences in today's design environment. The book is unique in architectural publishing and provides a truly global view of the most imaginative and important architects not only of today but also of the future. This monumental book is itself architecturally designed, with a plastic lenticular three-dimensional cover and an innovative shifting grid page design, which packs in over 1,500 striking images in 468 pages. The absorbing tome is presented alphabetically by architect in a dynamically direct A-Z format that results in arresting sequences with the turn of each page, making 10 x 10 an invigorating examination of contemporary architecture and culture. The book features over 250 buildings and projects dating from 1990 to the present. These consist of recently-built works, as well as projects currently under construction. 10 x 10 journeys around the globe from multi-million dollar schemes such as the Yokohama International Port Terminal in Japan by Foreign Office Architects; through projects such as the tiny timber summer house in Risør, Norway designed by Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk; to the digital world of the Guggenheim Virtual Museum by Asymptote Architecture. From traditional to conceptual, this book mirrors the immensely diverse factors that form and fuel architectural practice and experimentation, to illustrate the most innovative responses to changing technologies and social conditions. Encompassing environmental, industrial, urban, technological, and virtual dimensions, 10 x 10 showcases an abundance of homes, workplaces, religious centres, and places of entertainment. This is a vigorous battlefield of architectural ideas: each critic has been specially commissioned to write an essay supporting their selection of architects, in some cases challenging the selections of other critics, and also giving their own view on contemporary trends in architecture. 10 x 10 is not only an essential source book, but the ultimate design object celebrating the architectural future.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0714843792
• ISBN13: 9780714843797
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Length: 468 Pages
• Weight: 7.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 11.6" x 11.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

great inspriation

This book is an awesome tool for any architecture student, it provides an insight into what is possible if we push the boundaries of design. It has been a great resource for me and many of my peers during my architectural studies. Can't wait to pick up the new book 10x10-2 I only hope it provides me with as much reading pleasure as the first. If you have a family member or friend about to start studying architecture or who has a keen interest in architecture, buying this book as a gift will most certainly whet their appetite for the field.

A well designed book

As a student of Industrial Design, I always pay the most attention to architecture due to it's impact on the world around us. It is truly the most influential form of design. I was thrilled to pick up a copy of '10x10' and look through the pages, discovering architects and buildings that I had never heard of, while being impressed by the book's graphic layout and organization. As a plus, Phaidon manages to produce such great books at an affordable price which is important to most students!

.....

The author Haig Beck is a design professor at the University Of Melbourne, Australia. He was the editor of many prominent international rchitectural journals. This new book of his features many contemporary architects of the present (year 2000) all around the world. Well, what can i say, IT IS WELL WORTH IT! For a book of it's price, it contains pages after pages of coloured graphics, photos, computer generated stuff of the buildings on glossy paper. A lot of the projects are really state of the art too with technological superiority. Reflects the new ways of building now. Featured architects include LAB, Ashton Ragatt McDougal (Storey Hall RMIT), and many others. Big and heavy book, and great!

10x10 is awesome !

This book is an awesome collection of unussually creative projects, tons of beautifull full page photos,mixed media graphics, models and X-treme page layouts. A vast amount of architectural imagery, great resource of ideas, design vocabulary and construction systems from around the world; exceptionally presented in this oversize format, truly a reflection of the new directions in contemporary Architecture. The author has a master eye for the "new" and "unique".

not just a coffee table book

Although I was initialy detered by the publisher and the size of the book, I decided to purchase it. It consists of an extraordinary compilation of Architecture for the year 2000. Even though some of the projects have been presented in other books,here they are more in context and are shown in an amazingly complete way for a 4 page presentation.This book will soon become a reference. Very rich graphicaly and quite refreshing.