Chad Schwartz

Constructing Arizona is the first book to comprehensively present the architecture of the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona, balancing a breadth of projects with a depth of analysis.Building on over fifty interviews with noted members of the architecture community in Arizona and the critical first-hand analysis of their built work, this book reveals the inherent principles, vocabulary, and influences of the regional architecture while also tying its contemporary makeup to a lineage of constructing in the Sonoran Desert. Schwartz argues that the best work of this region is not united by a stylistic or intellectual construct, but, instead, through the architects’ development of a variety of relationships between architecture and place. As such, the analysis provided is organized into thematic chapters, each focused on understanding these relationships to the primary characteristics of place: light, heat, air, water, ground, flora and fauna, tradition, materiality, and making. The lessons provided, however, extend well past this unique region of the globe as the framework provided can be applied in any context, allowing Constructing Arizona to serve as a valuable reference guide for thinking about the crafting of an architecture of place, especially those places in the world with rapidly expanding urban conditions in arid environments.Given the current state of our planet, these lessons will be of critical importance to communities across the globe that soon may have to adapt to living in similar conditions.

Constructing Arizona is the first book to comprehensively present the architecture of the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona, balancing a breadth of projects with a depth of analysis.Building on over fifty interviews with noted members of the architecture community in Arizona and the critical first-hand analysis of their built work, this book reveals the inherent principles, vocabulary, and influences of the regional architecture while also tying its contemporary makeup to a lineage of constructing in the Sonoran Desert. Schwartz argues that the best work of this region is not united by a stylistic or intellectual construct, but, instead, through the architects’ development of a variety of relationships between architecture and place. As such, the analysis provided is organized into thematic chapters, each focused on understanding these relationships to the primary characteristics of place: light, heat, air, water, ground, flora and fauna, tradition, materiality, and making. The lessons provided, however, extend well past this unique region of the globe as the framework provided can be applied in any context, allowing Constructing Arizona to serve as a valuable reference guide for thinking about the crafting of an architecture of place, especially those places in the world with rapidly expanding urban conditions in arid environments.Given the current state of our planet, these lessons will be of critical importance to communities across the globe that soon may have to adapt to living in similar conditions.

The second edition of Introducing Architectural Tectonics is an exploration of the poetics of construction. Tectonic theory is an integrative philosophy examining the relationships formed between design, construction, and space while creating or experiencing a work of architecture. In this text, author Chad Schwartz presents an introductory investigation into tectonic theory, subdividing it into distinct concepts in order to make it accessible to beginning and advanced students alike.The book centers on the tectonic analysis of twenty contemporary works of architecture, located in over a dozen countries across the globe – Germany, Italy, Burkina Faso, the United States, Chile, Japan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Spain, Australia, and more – and designed by notable architects such as Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron, Kengo Kuma, Peter Zumthor, Xu Tiantian, and Francis Kéré. Although similarities do exist between the projects, their distinctly different characteristics and range of interpretations of tectonic expression provide the most significant lessons to help you learn about tectonic theory.This second edition has been updated to include the tectonic analysis of four new architectural precedents:From Nigeria, the Makoko Floating School by NLÉ.From Burkina Faso, Lycée Schorge by Kéré Architecture.From Mexico, the Matamoros Public Market by Colectivo C733.From China, Quarry #8 by DnA_Design and Architecture.Written in clear, accessible language, these investigations examine the poetic potential of architecture, presenting lessons and concepts that you can integrate into your own work, whether studying in a university classroom or practicing in a professional office.

The second edition of Introducing Architectural Tectonics is an exploration of the poetics of construction. Tectonic theory is an integrative philosophy examining the relationships formed between design, construction, and space while creating or experiencing a work of architecture. In this text, author Chad Schwartz presents an introductory investigation into tectonic theory, subdividing it into distinct concepts in order to make it accessible to beginning and advanced students alike.The book centers on the tectonic analysis of twenty contemporary works of architecture, located in over a dozen countries across the globe – Germany, Italy, Burkina Faso, the United States, Chile, Japan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Spain, Australia, and more – and designed by notable architects such as Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron, Kengo Kuma, Peter Zumthor, Xu Tiantian, and Francis Kéré. Although similarities do exist between the projects, their distinctly different characteristics and range of interpretations of tectonic expression provide the most significant lessons to help you learn about tectonic theory.This second edition has been updated to include the tectonic analysis of four new architectural precedents:From Nigeria, the Makoko Floating School by NLÉ.From Burkina Faso, Lycée Schorge by Kéré Architecture.From Mexico, the Matamoros Public Market by Colectivo C733.From China, Quarry #8 by DnA_Design and Architecture.Written in clear, accessible language, these investigations examine the poetic potential of architecture, presenting lessons and concepts that you can integrate into your own work, whether studying in a university classroom or practicing in a professional office.

Introducing Architectural Tectonics is an exploration of the poetics of construction. Tectonic theory is an integrative philosophy examining the relationships formed between design, construction, and space while creating or experiencing a work of architecture. In this text, author Chad Schwartz presents an introductory investigation into tectonic theory, subdividing it into distinct concepts in order to make it accessible to beginning and advanced students alike.The book centers on the tectonic analysis of twenty contemporary works of architecture located in eleven countries including Germany, Italy, United States, Chile, Japan, Bangladesh, Spain, and Australia and designed by such notable architects as Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron, Kengo Kuma, Olson Kundig, and Peter Zumthor. Although similarities do exist between the projects, their distinctly different characteristics – location and climate, context, size, program, construction methods – and range of interpretations of tectonic expression provide the most significant lessons of the book, helping you to understand tectonic theory. Written in clear, accessible language, these investigations examine the poetic creation of architecture, showing you lessons and concepts that you can integrate into your own work, whether studying in a university classroom or practicing in a professional office.