LITERATURE
updated : March 31, 2008 5:04 AM

Books are like water: They can be dry sometimes, but they sure quench your thirst when you need it. These are some books we recommend for your eyes/mind: lots of photos and critical writings. More to come as it takes some time to actually read all these books. Feel free to make suggestions.

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	ARCHITECTURAL GUIDEBOOK TO LOS ANGELES Comprehensive guide to the built environment of Los Angeles County with maps
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	ART OF INNOVATION Written by Tom Kelley, one of the founder of IDEO and that's all you nee to know to read this book
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	AUTOLAND Nicolas Faure's simple photography of incisions of automobile arteries through nature and cities
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	BLUR Makng of "nothing" or ephemeral state/definition of space by the ever prolific duo, Diller + Scofidio in Swiss EXPO 2002
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	BOUNDARIES Very personal note from Maya Lin's body of work (especially on Vietnam Memorial Wall) and her perception of blurring definition/condition of art and architecture
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	BOURGEOIS UTOPIAS: THE RISE AND FALL OF SUBURBIA Written by Robert Fisherman which explains the history and origins of suburbia as utopian ideology in metropolitan design history
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	BUNKER ARCHEOLOGY Historical brief on war-architecture with beautiful and brute black+white photographs of abandoned bunkers in Normandie, France: written by Paul Virilio
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	CITY OF QUARTS: EXCAVATING THE FUTURE OF LOS ANGELES Mike Davis exposes the history of urban planning of Los Angeles and its root and results of capitalistic architectural planning and architectural fortresses
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	FILM FORM Film theory by one of the most influential and important film maker, Sergei Eisenstein from early 1900s which applies today to many visual designers
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	FLESH Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio of New York brings in depth analysis of human body, motion analogous to space
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	IRON A b/w photographic diary by Gil Garcetti (of all people) of erecting one of the most important building in Los Angeles: Walt Disney Concert Hall and tribute to its builders
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	JAPANESE DETAIL Collection of Sadao Hibi's beautiful photographs of Japanese traditional architectural details and elements
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	LOOKING FOR LOS ANGELES Collective discussion between diverse writers, urban critiques, architects, and artist to find relationship between art and urban landscape
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	LOS ANGELES: THE ARCHITECTURE OF FOUR ECOLOGIES Historical and social interpretations of Los Angeles urban design and its architecture where dingbats and autopia originated
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	NEUROMANCER A cyber punk classic written by William Gibson that gave birth to cyber space, hackers, and matrix
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	RICHARD SERRA A near perfect collection of his beautiful, space piercing sculpures from 1985 to 1998
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	STONE Works of landscape artist Andy Goldsworthy; simply awesome!
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	TSCHUMI @LE FRESNOY Probably the best example of Bernard Tschumi's theory and writing: space of events at work
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	THOMAS STRUTH German photographer's beautiful collective between 1977-2002: especially (xtra)large photos of artificial and historical, urban spaces around the world. Visit your local museum when the exhibit is available: incredible.
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	VARIATIONS ON A THEME PARK: THE NEW AMERICAN CITY AND THE END OF PUBLIC SPACE A collective essays by various architect(ural)s sociologists such as Michael Sorkin, Mike Davis, and Margaret Crawford
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	WHY WE BUY: SCIENCE OF SHOPPING A fascinating study and theory by Paco Underhill of how consumer buy products and how interior space can change and influence their behaviors
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