Building/Object: Shared and Contested Territories of Design and Architecture

Building/Object explores the space between design and architecture, challenging the boundaries between the two disciplines and revealing the political configurations and resonances of everyday objects. It brings new aspects of creativity and experience to our understanding of the human environment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Building/Object delves into the realm that exists between the traditional objects of design and architecture, engaging in a thorough examination of the distinctions between the fields of design history and architectural history. Spanning 13 chapters, this book explores a wide range of entities that defy categorization as either objects or buildings, including air conditioning, bookshelves, partition walls, table monuments, televisions, convenience stores, and cars. By examining these intermediary entities, the book uncovers specific political configurations and resonances that might otherwise be obscured.

Through this exploration, the book challenges the notion that the definitions we establish between objects and buildings, as well as architecture and design, are as fundamental as commonly assumed. It sheds light on the nuanced relationships and interdependencies that exist between these disciplines, highlighting the ways in which they shape and influence one another.

By bringing new perspectives on the creative and experiential aspects of the human environment, Building/Object expands our understanding of the built world. It encourages us to reevaluate our assumptions and perceptions, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of the spaces we inhabit and the objects that surround us.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350234000