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Publishers Weekly Review

Located in the heart of New York City, Cooper Union's architecture school has been an influential force in shaping modern architectural trends. The cross-section of studio projects by the school's students and faculty covered here ranges from the practical to the utopian and quixotic. City planners would do well to pay attention to the projects included in this survey, among them inspirational plans for a men's shelter on the Bowery, a total transformation of Ellis Island, a cultural center for Hoboken, N.J., an opera house, a library, a firehouse. On the other hand, the architectural projects inspired by works by Cezanne, Paul Klee, Thomas Hardy, Gregor Mendel and the Orpheus legend will interest mainly students. A repository of ideas for architects and designers, this handsome tome includes manifesto-like statements, sketches for houses, markets, bridges and a motel and visual doodles on elements of urban landscape. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

CHOICE Review

The Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union undoubtedly issues a catalog including a full description of the curriculum, but this book is a handsome, well-printed publication of representative design studio work done at the school between 1972 and 1985. Student work of the years 1964-71 was previously published (under the same title, in 1971) following a show at the Museum of Modern Art. Some educators may object to the abstract quality of the projects, which are inspired by art and literature. They may also be shaken out of their preoccupation with "professionalism" in the training of future architects. Dean Hejduk, who revolutionized The Cooper Union, has brought architecture closer to art than any of his colleagues. His strongly held beliefs are pushed relentlessly yet systematically and are centered on the search for the essence of each design problem and on a combination of analysis and intuition. A strong emphasis on the poetic aspects of design is made manifest in this volume, which should be in all libraries of schools where any form of design is taught. P. J. Mitarachi Boston Architectural Center