Architecture Theory since 1968

I'm a graduate student in architecture, and for a theory course we read selections from this book, and two other similar theory anthologies, Kate Nesbitt's "Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture," and Niel Leach's "Rethinking Architecture." All books attempt to do roughly the same thing, and I have to say the Hays (this one) was the one I got the least out of.I'll start with one minor criticism, which wouldn't condemn the book, but is extremely infuriating: the page numbers are printed on the inside upper corners of the pages near the spine, not the outside upper corners as is standard practice in books. This makes it difficult to flip through and find what you're looking for, and is just sort of a mind-bogglingly idiotic thing to do. Compounding the problem, many pages are simply not numbered!That little complaint aside, I guess Hays does do a pretty good job with his selection of essays. If anything it illustrates how much the discourse has obfuscated itself over the last 30+ years. To give you the the flavor of the book, here are a few selections:"The concept of architecture is itself an inhabited constructum, a heritage wich comprehends us even before we could submit it to thought. Certain invariables remain, constant, through all the mutations of architecture. Impassable, imperturbable, an axiomatic traverses the whole history of architecture. An axiomatic, that is to say, an organized ensemble of fundamental and always presupposed evaluations. This hierarchy has fixed itself in stone; henceforth, it informs the entirety of social space."(Jacques Derrida)"The combination of the system theory of the urban realm with its dynamic interpretation as a pressurized field gives rise to an assembly language based on impregnation, with system elements existing simultaneously, and at least virutally, everywhere, emerging to actualization only within nodes (conjunctions) of mutually interfering systems."(Stanford Kwinter)"This suggests the idea of architecture as "writing" as opposed to architecture as image. What is being "written" is not the object itself - its mass and volume - but the act of massing. This idea gives a metaphoric body to the act of architecture. It then signals its reading through an other system of signs, called traces. Traces are not the be read literally, since the have no other value than to signal the idea that three is a reading event and that reading should take place; trace signals the idea to read. Thus a trace is a partial or fragmentary signal; it has no objecthood."(Peter Eisenman)They are not all quite like that of course, but most will not find this 'easy' reading. Learning to read english like this is a skill that takes some time to develop. Hays's little blurbs preceding each writer are decent enough, grounding you a little before you take on the selection, but they are not spectacular.I simply cannot recommend this book to anyone other than students forced to read it or those with a highly devoted interest in contemporary architectural theory. Anybody else will find it useless. (The Nesbitt and Leach were somewhat better)

I expect this book to be in the line of Programs and Manifestoes on 20th Century Architecture by Ulrich Conrad but I found that this book is much heavier both literally and theoretically. While Conrad's book is easy to read and full of practical design ideologies, this book, on the other hand, ventures into deep philosophical territory, granted not all of the essays are such. The books also features architectural drawings or photos or "projects" sometimes accompanied by the architect's comments or thoughts of which I found very refreshing.

This is a good architecture reference, but like most architecture texts, it can be a boring read. This is not reading for pleasure.

I praise Michael Hayes for his succinct and accurate notation and massive inter-article references. This text is the bible of a discipline that ostensibly began in the twentieth century, as self-conscious writing began to absorb architecture as a theme or subject.Each successive wave of theorization about architecture contains similar elements of concern and patterns of approach, each multivalent through time or the pen of the author. Hayes gathers the contentious groups and individuals who have jumped into the fray of Architectural Theory and presents them neatly, their most salient essays all within one binding.

Good book

A very good compilation of texts that one must go through if Theory of Architecture is your thing. Must be in your book shelf.

The book was delivered faster than I thought, the book was as it was described.

Save your money.Content- Although this book collects many scriptures, it makes no attempt at demystifying or clarifying them (not to mention English translation from French). Thus, most of the content remains up there in the realms of theoretical vagueness, that is-illegible.Fortunately you can find most of the text on the interwebs! Easily translated into coherent everyday English and well explained.Form- Spacious margins mean smaller text, means savings in printing, means difficult to read. Small ,grey fonts, again, translate into savings in print- very difficult for the reader. Not all pages have numbering. Why is that? Go figure. For example from p.329 to p.337 no numbering and not a single image to try and explain this bad design. This occurs often.

perfect thank you!

On his own, K Michael Hays is a doyen of architectural theory, and with this edition of collected essays, he essentially prepares a new testament of architectural theory. The giant volume occupies a permanent position on my desk. Mobility is a massive problem. But who wants mobility when one can have all these excellent essays and excerpts united under one cover?

the book arrived in the standard amazon package, which is almost too small for its size. There was no protection layers between the box and the book. The book was damaged at all corners and is a bit dirty as well.