Unbuilt: Radical visions of a future that never arrived

Unbuilt explores the stories of plans, drawings, and proposals that emerged during the 20th century in an era of optimism in architecture. It features the work of Buckminster Fuller, Geoffrey Bawa, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Archigram, as well as contemporary architects such as Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Will Alsop, and Rem Koolhaas. The book is richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, maps, collages, and models from all over the world, covering everything from Buckminster Fuller's plan for a Domed City in Manhattan to Le Corbusier's utopian dream of skyscraper living in central Paris. It also explores ideas that pushed the boundaries, such as plug-in cities, moving cities, space cities, domes, and floating cities, as well as Maglev, teleportation, and rockets.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Pavilion Books

Unbuilt: The Stories of Plans, Drawings, and Proposals in an Unparalleled Era of Optimism in Architecture

In the 20th century, an era of unparalleled optimism in architecture, a multitude of plans, drawings, and proposals emerged. While some of these grand projects remained on the drawing board, others were mere flights of fancy that couldn't be brought to fruition. In other instances, test structures or parts of buildings did materialize in the real world. This captivating book showcases the work of renowned architects such as Buckminster Fuller, Geoffrey Bawa, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Archigram, as well as contemporary architects like Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Will Alsop, and Rem Koolhaas.

Richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, maps, collages, and models from across the globe, Unbuilt covers a wide range of visionary concepts. From Buckminster Fuller's plan for a domed city in Manhattan to Le Corbusier's utopian vision of skyscraper living in central Paris, from a proposed network of motorways carving through central London to a peculiar scheme for rolling pavements in post-war Berlin, the book delves into the realm of architectural imagination.

This is an essential book, not only for its captivating stories of what might have been in our built world but also for providing insight into the motivations and dreams of architects. Whether driven by a desire to build a better world or to satisfy egos, architects have pushed the boundaries of what is possible. From plug-in cities, moving cities, space cities, domes, and floating cities to Maglev, teleportation, and rockets, the book explores a wide array of innovative ideas that were ahead of their time. While some of these ideas were deemed unnecessary or impractical, others have left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape.

Unbuilt serves as a testament to the boundless creativity and ingenuity of architects throughout history. It reminds us of the potential that exists within the realm of architecture to shape our future and create a better world for generations to come.

Weight: 1204g
Dimension: 223 x 282 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849946636