Morphosis

by Peter Cook

Winners of numerous awards and the subject of exhibitions from Tokyo to Berlin, Los Angeles to New York, Morphosis architects Thom Mayne and Michael Rotondi are leaders in the avant-garde movement of the new architecture of California. Through their association with SciArc (Southern California Institute for Architecture), of which Mayne was a founding member and where Rotondi is the present Director, they have also been a leading force for the younger...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847810305
• ISBN13: 9780847810307
• Release Date: May 1990
• Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 2.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The best book on Morphosis out there.

I have seen a lot of books on Morphosis out there. Some are more projects' photographs, other are of single projects drawing, philosophy and graphic. This one is a graphic masterpiece. I bought this when I was an architect student and it helped me layout the foundation of my portfolio and presentation. I don't necessary design like Morphosis, but love how they projected their projects to the curious eyes. This is a very thick book, of mostly weird angles FormZ's renderings mixed with CAD drawings. You get tried of looking at rendering pages after pages, but each project is unique in its own. My friends and roommates borrow this book the most of all the books in my architectural library, by far. The cover is very cool, but the pages were cheaply glue or constructed and it break apart, under heavy browsing. I repair this book with zappa-gap many times. So this is my #1 architectual book.

great collection of morp's work for fans

Being an architecture student, I constantly refer to many books, and Morphosis is one of my favourite contemporary architecture firm. This is really a thick and quite a heavy book. Its a compilation of many of Morphosis' work. Their "Best Of.." volume. This marvelous edition is divided into 2 parts. The first part consist of many colourful computer generated views, elevations, plans and 3D computer models etc of their buildings. The 3D models give a good visual understanding of their complicated but exciting buildings. The second part consist of essays by Thom Mayne. The thing about Morphosis is Mayne's writing is clear. He states his intention and theories clearly without getting out of the subject of architecture much. He talks about the difference between a project and a building which is a very good way of looking at architecture today. The graphics and writing provide a very clear understanding of their buildings. The bottom line is, if you like Morphosis, you'll love this book among your collection.

Not for the Faint of Heart

As someone who holds graduate level degrees in both architecture and graphic design I take immense pleasure in participating in a journey of design presented by some of the most talented individuals practicing today. The latest installment in Morphosis' development is by far the most mature of their collected works. Perhaps this is owing to the continued and greater collaboration between architect Thom Mayne and designer+critic Lorraine Wild. To a greater degree than the other two, Volume 3 presents the collection of minds at work at Morphosis. The pages "read" like a piece of architecture, taking us through the visceral experience of space-yet here we are in two dimensions. Literature can at times be difficult, and this book is not an easy experience, but it is worth the time and effort to engage the images, the drawings, the words. Like one of the other revolutionary tomes Ms. Wild has designed-John Hejduk's "Mask of Medusa"-we must pause to think about how to read: The table of contents has been placed in the middle of the book, and we are left to choose our own path through the work, piecing together an understanding which in turn becomes an experience, and that of course, is architecture. It is visionary like the magazines designer+architect El Lissitzky published, "Vesc Objet Gegenstand," and "ABC." Such visionary books are for inspiration, not illustration, nor are they for the faint of heart.

Vivid and captivating projects

Morposis are one of the most interesting of the recent clutch of US architects. This book and its sequel are well crafted and capture the feel of the practice well. The accompanying text is excellent, and the reproduced drawings are fascinating. Definitely one for the bookshelf