All but closed to outside visitors and influence; its public posture guarded and combative; we see almost nothing from inside North Korea. Award-winning photographer Mark Edward Harris has had rare access to this reclusive country; traveling within its borders as well as documenting life along its northern border with China and the highly militarized DMZ dividing North and South Korea. His images are amazing: the monumental architecture and empty streets of the capital; tightly controlled zones of economic and tourist trade with South Korea; mass games featuring 100;000 choreographed participants. Short essays; extended captions; and a foreword by North Korea expert Bruce Cumings further illuminate a country increasingly at the center of international politics.
#801246 in eBooks 2012-03-20 2012-03-20File Name: B007N15EC8
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A broad view of a topical architectural issueBy Michele ChiuiniRegionalism has occupied the architectural discourse under different guises. picturesque. vernacular. popular and organic architecture. at least since the early 19th century. In the 1980 Kenneth Frampton revived the interest in regionalism by defining with "Critical Regionalism" a contemporary typological and tectonic approach.It is clear from this anthology that regionalism still eludes a precise definition. which is in a way a healthy aspect of an approach that should be primarily local even when embracing some universal values.The broad inclusiveness of the texts. spanning from 1929 lectures by Le Corbusier to the last decade (up to 2005) makes this work very valuable not just as a history of ideas. but also as away to realize the deep roots that link modern architecture to the local ways of building. Today we can interpret Regionalism as Sam Mockbees Rural Studio work or as the Regenerative Architecture proposed by Steven Moore (both included in the anthology). with its obvious connections to the idea of social and ecological sustainability.I have found the texts to be very stimulating for my architecture students. and not too hard to read. Seminal theorists. such as Christopher Alexander and Juhani Pallasmaa. are included. The authors introductions are informative and explanatory without being unduly long. It is a good choice of essays. some hard to find in print. that makes a good reading also outside the classroom.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. WonderfulBy Rachel JohnsonGreat seller - the book was in better condition than expected.I love the book also; great for undergraduate architecture students. It is basically a series of essays. lectures. I think of it as a collection of short stories that address the title.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Mil BodronVery good book.
