Non-Design: Architecture, Liberalism, and the Market

Anthony Fontenot's book explores the libertarian roots of postwar architectural and urbanist discourses, revealing a rejection of conscious design and an embrace of spontaneous order. It uncovers the philosophical common ground between opponents of state support and notable postwar architects and urbanists, challenging conventional views of postwar architecture and liberal and libertarian philosophies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 09 July 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Non-Design: The Libertarian Heart of Postwar Architectural and Urbanist Discourse

Anthony Fontenot's groundbreaking book delves into the surprisingly libertarian core of the most influential British and American architectural and urbanist discourses of the postwar period. Expressed as a critique of central design and a support of spontaneous order, Non-Design unveils the unexpected philosophical unity between opponents of state support, notably economist Friedrich Hayek, and numerous notable postwar architects and urbanists such as Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Reyner Banham, and Jane Jacobs. These thinkers championed a distinct concept of non-design, characterized by a rejection of conscious design and an embrace of various phenomena that emerge without intention or deliberate human guidance. This diffuse and complex body of theories challenged many of the cultural assumptions of the time, eschewing the traditions of modern design in favor of the wisdom, freedom, and self-organizing capacity of the market.

Fontenot's exploration reveals the hitherto unknown connections between the aesthetic deregulation sought by ostensibly liberal thinkers and Hayek's more controversial conception of state power. By detailing this unexplored affinity, Non-Design offers a profound reinterpretation of our conceptions of political liberalism.

Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Non-Design thoroughly challenges conventional views of postwar architecture and urbanism, as well as liberal and libertarian philosophies. It sheds light on the complex interplay between state power, individual autonomy, and the shaping of urban spaces, offering a fresh perspective on the evolution of architectural and urban design in the postwar era.

Weight: 1028g
Dimension: 189 x 262 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226686066