Leading architect Reinier de Graaf punctures the myths of contemporary architecture

No longer does it suffice to judge a building solely by its appearance; it must be measured and certified. When architects talk about 'Excellence', 'Sustainability', 'Well-being', 'Liveability', 'Placemaking', 'Creativity', 'Beauty' and 'Innovation', what do they actually mean? And what does this jargon tell us about the future of our homes, cities and planet?

'With dry wit, humor, and honesty, sets out to debunk the myths of contemporary architecture.' Jaxson Stone, Metropolis

'feels like a stealth mission - an effort to slip something explosive into the carry-on luggage of the TED Talks class.' Will Wiles, Literary Review

'Reflects on the current state of his field, arguing that constraints on creative autonomy, overcommercialization and a poor understanding of good design have transformed 'spaces of spontaneity into preprogrammed, overdetermined areas.' The New York Times Book Review

'No one else is identifying the problems or suggesting potential exits from them as wittily or as intelligently as he is.' Tim Abrahams, Architectural Record

'Acerbic on an industry that continues to wallow in its self-congratulatory vocabulary while ignoring its role in the climate crisis and the brutalities of late capitalism' - Edwin Heathcote, Financial Times

"In this perceptive study, Dutch architect Reinier de Graaf expounds on the state of 21st-century architecture. De Graaf's biting prose rails against the canon of modern architecture, and he interweaves real-world examples throughout. Passionately argued and expertly told, this is a rousing architectural critique." - Publishers Weekly

"A compelling collection of essays and diary entries about de Graaf's life in architecture...no one else is identifying the problems or suggesting potential exits from them as wittily or as intelligently as he is." - Architectural Record

"[de Graaf] reflects on the current state of his field, arguing that constraints on creative autonomy, overcommercialization and a poor understanding of good design have transformed 'spaces of spontaneity into preprogrammed, overdetermined areas.'" - The New York Times Book Review

"[An] incisive new book...Reinier de Graaf argues with persuasion and wit that Vancouver's often-high ranking in some livability indexes is this city's trademark, its brand. De Graaf understands what's happened. Vancouver is the world's best 'recipe for how to turn your city into a place that is so enjoyable to live that no one can afford to do it.'" - The Vancouver Sun

"[De Graaf] deftly mixes history, anecdotes, and personal experience" - Untapped Journal

"[architect, verb.] feels like a stealth mission - an effort to slip something explosive into the carry-on luggage of the TED Talks class." - Literary Review

"With dry wit, humor, and honesty, [de Graaf] sets out to debunk the myths of contemporary architecture" - Metropolis