Library Services, Resources, and News: Spring 2025
I'm Randy Souther, the library's liaison for Architecture.
This page highlights recent news, as well as some of the library's services and resources available to support faculty teaching and research. It will be updated ahead of each semester, and periodically in-between.
News
See the Library News Archive to view past news items for this and selected other disciplines.
April 2025
New Library Search Interfaces
Gleeson Library will launch new, more intuitive interfaces for Fusion and EBSCOhost databases on June 16. The update offers improved design, accessibility, and features.
Users must manually migrate any saved alerts and folders. See the Fusion and EBSCOhost Database Updates guide for more information, FAQs, and a link to preview the new interface.
In addition to Fusion, 77 EBSCOhost databases will implement the new interface, including:
- Architectural Digest Magazine Archive
- Art & Architecture Source
- Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
- Engineering Source
Discarding VHS Collection
Gleeson Library is planning to deaccession our VHS collection of 1,155 items. We are no longer able to support this obsolete format. None of the tapes has circulated in at least two years, some for much longer or not at all.
Please see the list of VHS holdings under consideration for discard. If there are any you feel are essential to retain, please inform your library liaison Randy Souther by May 15.
We are working with the office of Environmental Sustainability to recycle the tapes.
February 2025
New transformative agreement with Oxford University Press, and extended agreements with Cambridge University Press and Springer.
Transformative agreements allow you to publish your articles open access with no fees or reduced fees. Our current agreements are with Oxford, Cambridge, Elsevier, Springer, Association for Computing Machinery, and American Chemical Society.
View our Transformative Agreements
January 2025
ProQuest Ebook Central subscription ends February 1, 2025
ProQuest Ebook Central is one of our major ebook providers, and its cancellation will affect more than 250,000 titles in our collection.
If you rely on any specific ebook title for assigned readings in your courses, or for your own teaching or research, please check the ebook status below, and notify me promptly ( randall.souther@usfca.edu ) if the ebook is from ProQuest Ebook Central. Gleeson Library may be able to provide alternate access to frequently used ebooks.
See the link below to check the status of any ebook in question.
August 2024
Cancellations and Withdrawals
The library has had to cut more than $50,000 from our materials budget this coming year, and larger cuts are likely next fiscal year. See our Cancellations and Withdrawals page for a partial list of cancelled databases and journals.
See Cancellations and Withdrawals
Important cancellations include:
- Link+ — book borrowing and lending service (books can still be borrowed via our Interlibrary Loan service).
- ProQuest Ebook Central — more than 250,000 academic ebook titles.
- Passport GMID — international consumer and industry market research.
- Credo InfoLit — information literacy tutorials and videos
New Information Desk in the Library
The library's Reference Desk has been closed, and reference services have been moved and combined with circulation services at the Information Desk at the entrance of the library. Reference librarians will be on-call — just ask at the Information Desk.
Selected New Books in Architecture
Book summaries composed with AI-assistance.
Poetic Significance: Sài Gòn Mid-Century Modernist Architecture
Poetic Significance explores the unique Vietnamese modernist architecture of mid-20th-century Saigon, blending architectural photography, history, and analysis. Unlike global modernism’s rationality, Vietnamese modernism is vibrant, poetic, and rooted in traditional aesthetics. Emerging during the Second Indochina War, it features micro-climatic strategies that make it lighter and more graceful. Ordinary people adopted and transformed this style into a vernacular tradition, crafting modernist shophouses with elements like louvers and brise-soleil. This book highlights how Vietnam’s architectural identity evolved post-colonialism, merging modernism with cultural authenticity, offering insights for architects, designers, and cultural enthusiasts alike.
Southern Vietnamese Modernist Architecture: Mid-Century Vernacular Modernism
Southern Vietnamese Modernist Architecture highlights the remarkable mid-century modernist designs developed in southern Vietnam, blending functionality with tropical adaptability and cultural identity. Amidst war and nation-building, Vietnamese architects created vibrant modernist structures—houses, apartments, and public buildings—that stood apart from colonial or traditional styles. This architecture became a cultural vernacular, showcasing bold mass-void interplay and bridging global modernism’s functionalism with local spirit. American architect Mel Schenck and photographer Alexandre Garel document this overlooked movement through extensive research on 400 buildings and 4,000 photographs, offering a compelling narrative of Vietnam’s modernist legacy and its aspirations for independence and progress.
Site: Marmol Radziner in the Landscape
“Site: Marmol Radziner in the Landscape” showcases 19 houses by architects Marmol Radziner, known for blending interior and exterior spaces. The book features over 200 stunning photographs of homes in desert, urban, canyon, and woodland settings across the American Southwest and the Netherlands. Organized by habitat, it illustrates the architects’ philosophy of erasing boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Novelist Mona Simpson provides a personal foreword, while an interview with Marmol and Radziner offers insights into their design process. The expansive format and lush imagery highlight the seamless integration of architecture with its natural surroundings.
2024 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook
The 2024 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook is an essential resource for construction professionals, featuring over 600 illustrations to aid in code compliance. This updated edition incorporates critical new information, including structural load updates based on ASCE/SEI 7-22. It covers key IBC changes, addressing steel, wood, concrete, and masonry standards, guards on retaining walls, sprinkler protection for apartments, egress for occupiable roofs, Type III construction, fire resistance of exterior walls, lithium battery facilities, and temporary public structures. The handbook simplifies complex code provisions, making it invaluable for architects, engineers, contractors, building managers, and municipal officials involved in construction projects.
Re-Thinking the Building Envelope: Lessons from Nature in the Era of Climate Change
This book explores how nature-inspired biomimetic design can revolutionize building envelopes to address climate change. It discusses the shift from static to dynamic, adaptive facades that respond to environmental changes. The text covers climate-adaptive building envelopes, natural adaptation strategies, and biomimetics in architecture. It analyzes case studies, advanced techniques, and materials, illustrating the process of translating natural concepts into architectural technologies. The book serves as a valuable resource for researchers and facade manufacturers, offering insights into innovative approaches that meet contemporary needs in building design and energy efficiency.
Architect: the Evolving Story of a Profession
The architect’s role has evolved significantly over 3000 years, from master builder to principal designer, influenced by societal, technological, and economic factors. This book explores the profession’s adaptation through history, from Ancient Egypt to the 21st century, examining the relationship between architects and patrons. It highlights the visionary aspect of architectural work and discusses the profession’s origins, current state, and future prospects in the Western tradition. The authors argue that architects’ historical ability to adapt will be crucial for navigating future uncertainties, while maintaining the core aspects of design and the human need to shape their environment.
Ernö Goldfinger
Ernö Goldfinger (1902-1987) was a prominent modernist architect known for his pre-war Hampstead house and late 1960s high-rise housing. His career spanned decades, focusing on domestic spaces, urban planning, and architectural construction. Influenced by Auguste Perret, Goldfinger brought Parisian 1920s style to England, offering innovative solutions for post-war buildings. He excelled in composing free-standing building clusters and integrating structures into existing streetscapes. Goldfinger also collaborated with Paul and Marjorie Abbatt on Britain’s first modernist toy business. This book, based on extensive archival research, provides an illustrated account of Goldfinger’s life and work, authored by Alan Powers and the late Elain Harwood.
Pistols in St Paul's: Science, Music, and Architecture in the Twentieth Century
“Pistols in St Paul’s” chronicles the pioneering efforts of scientists, architects, and musicians in 20th-century Britain to understand and develop architectural acoustics. The book explores innovative experiments conducted at various locations, from St Paul’s Cathedral to Abbey Road Studios, aimed at treating buildings as musical instruments. These groundbreaking studies culminated in the 1951 opening of the Royal Festival Hall, the first building specifically designed for musical tone. This comprehensive account highlights the power of international collaboration during challenging times and showcases the evolution of a new scientific field over five decades.
Modern Architecture: The Basics
“Modern Architecture: The Basics” explores the evolution of architecture since the late 18th century, covering technological, stylistic, and sociocultural changes. The book’s 24 chapters examine key movements, figures, and building types, with a focus on urban development in the 19th and 20th centuries. It discusses representation in architecture and its global cultural impact. The text introduces contemporary topics like gender, race, and postcolonialism, offering an accessible and inclusive overview of modern architectural history for students and newcomers to the field.
The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing for Nature, Culture, and Joy
“The Architecture of Urbanity” by Vishaan Chakrabarti presents a compelling vision for addressing global challenges through urban design. Chakrabarti argues that cities are crucial spaces for tackling issues like climate change, population growth, and social division. He proposes an “architecture of urbanity” that can create more equitable, sustainable, and joyful communities. The book explores architecture’s historical role in societal issues and showcases innovative designs from architects worldwide. Through rich illustrations and case studies, Chakrabarti demonstrates how thoughtful urban planning can improve life in various settlements, from refugee camps to megacities, positioning cities as humanity’s best hope for a better future.
Architectural Detailing: Function Constructability Aesthetics
“Architectural Detailing” is a comprehensive guide to designing high-performing buildings. The book emphasizes the importance of aesthetics, functionality, and constructability in architectural details. It systematically describes principles for creating effective details that meet performance requirements, control water and air leakage, manage heat and vapor flow, accommodate movement, and facilitate construction. The fourth edition updates content to align with current building codes and incorporates modern knowledge on materials and construction techniques. It expands on sustainability, high-performance architecture, and resilience, featuring examples of prefabricated assemblies and energy-efficient structures. The guide aims to help architects create well-detailed designs that communicate effectively throughout the construction process.
Living Disability: Building Accessible Futures for Everybody
“Living Disability” is a collection of essays and interviews from 35 disabled writers exploring disability justice and urban systems. The book goes beyond policy and compliance, showcasing how disabled individuals are creating inclusive spaces in cities. It covers various aspects of urban life, from sidewalks to public transit, affordable housing, and park design, highlighting their disproportionate impact on disabled communities. The contributors share personal experiences and strategies, offering insights into overlooked aspects of urban design and addressing major urban challenges. The book aims to inspire change, embracing complexity and community while advocating for a more accessible and equitable urban future.
Graph Vision: Digital Architecture's Skeletons
“Graph Vision” by Theodora Vardouli explores how graphs, a mathematical concept, revolutionized architecture’s relationship with digital computing. The book traces the graph’s influence on architectural representation, design tools, and infrastructure, highlighting its role in shaping the discipline’s digital future. Vardouli examines influential research groups and figures who embraced graphs as a means to challenge traditional geometric depiction. The author argues that this “graph vision” reflected a mid-20th century ambivalence towards visual appearance in both architecture and mathematics, ultimately paving the way for digital approaches in architecture.
Félix Candela from Mexico City to Chicago: Rise and Fall of Experimentation in Concrete
This book explores Félix Candela’s transition from Mexico City to Chicago in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It examines the renowned architect’s iconic concrete-shell structures and the political, economic, and material conditions influencing his work. Through essays based on archival research and interviews with Candela’s associates at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the collection offers new insights into the factors shaping his creations. The book provides a unique perspective on Candela’s career during this pivotal period, shedding light on the complex interplay of innovation, circumstances, and external forces surrounding his architectural achievements.
Architecture. Research. Office.
“Architecture. Research. Office.” is a comprehensive documentation of the AIA Award-winning New York design firm ARO. The book showcases over 30 significant projects, including cultural institutions, public buildings, and residences, while outlining seven guiding principles of the firm’s practice. It highlights ARO’s innovative approach, defined by purpose rather than namesake, and its commitment to continuous learning and addressing social and environmental challenges. The publication features rich illustrations, an introduction by Brooke Hodge, and a conversation with the firm’s partners, offering insights into ARO’s philosophy and impact on the architectural field.
I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture
I. M. Pei (1917-2019) was a renowned Chinese-American architect whose seven-decade career spanned continents and left an indelible mark on modern architecture. This book explores Pei’s life and work through six key themes: transcultural identity, urban redevelopment, art and civic form, material innovation, politics and patronage, and cultural regeneration. It showcases his most iconic projects, including the Louvre pyramid and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, while also revealing lesser-known aspects of his career. Through unpublished archives, commissioned essays, new photography, and personal accounts, the book cements Pei’s legacy in architectural history and popular culture.
Mies Van der Rohe: An Architect in His Time
“Mies van der Rohe: An Architect in His Time” by Dietrich Neumann offers a comprehensive and nuanced examination of the iconic modernist architect’s life and career. The book challenges established narratives, emphasizing the importance of social, political, and architectural contexts in understanding Mies’s work. Neumann draws on overlooked archival sources, presents previously unknown projects, and reevaluates key works. The author provides a balanced perspective, highlighting Mies’s innovative designs while acknowledging their flaws. This richly illustrated volume covers Mies’s entire career, from his early work in Germany to his influential projects in America, offering the most substantial account to date of this pivotal 20th-century architect.
Prior Art: Patents and the Nature of Invention in Architecture
“Prior Art” by Peter Christensen explores the complex relationship between patents and architecture. While patents existed earlier, architects only widely adopted them in the mid-19th century. The book examines how patent culture, traditionally associated with engineering, was adapted to architecture’s artistic and formal concerns. Christensen’s multinational research unifies fragmented global histories of architectural patents, highlighting their impact on building conception, design, engineering, construction, and promotion. This groundbreaking text reveals the significant yet understudied influence of intellectual property rights on architectural innovation in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Also Known As: Uncovering Representational Frameworks in Architecture, Art, and Digital Media
“Also Known As” by Michelle JaJa Chang explores the intersection of architecture and digital media through conceptual frameworks. The book draws analogies between objects and architectural ideas, examining how representation techniques like drawing and imaging act as organizational theories connecting abstract concepts to reality. Chang investigates design technology’s societal impacts through a series of essays and anecdotes, using diverse examples from surveillance blimps to ancient bowls. The fragmented structure of the book offers both in-depth analyses and brief observations, providing a unique perspective on the relationship between architecture, media, and design.
Concrete Century: Julius Kahn and the Construction Revolution
Julius Kahn, a 28-year-old civil engineer, revolutionized construction in the early 20th century by inventing a practical method of reinforcing concrete with steel bars. This innovation enabled the creation of strong, fireproof buildings, addressing the fire-prone nature of industrial structures. Kahn’s company, founded in 1903, popularized his reinforcement system worldwide. Michael G. Smith’s book, “Concrete Century,” explores Kahn’s journey from a German immigrant fleeing antisemitism to a pivotal figure in modern architecture. The book highlights how Kahn’s invention not only improved building safety but also contributed significantly to the development of the modern economy.
Who Are Godwin and Hopwood?: Exploring Tropical Architecture in the Age of the Climate Crisis
“Who Are Godwin and Hopwood?” explores the tropical modernist architecture of John Godwin and Gillian Hopwood in post-colonial Nigeria. This comprehensive monograph by Ben Tosland examines the couple’s six-decade career, highlighting their site-specific, climate-adapted designs that aligned with Nigeria’s aspirations after independence in 1960. The book, organized by building typology, showcases their significant contributions to Nigeria’s architectural landscape through rich illustrations. It also discusses the contemporary relevance of their passive cooling techniques in the context of the current climate crisis.
The Prefabricated Interior
“The Prefabricated Interior” explores the often-overlooked role of prefabrication in interior design. The book examines various typologies of prefab interiors, including bathrooms, kitchens, workspaces, furniture, and mobile spaces, from the 19th century to the present. It highlights how interior prefabrication has influenced architectural techniques and processes, emphasizing sustainability, accessibility, efficiency, and affordability. The author, a leading expert in the field, presents a decade of research, making this comprehensive work an essential resource for students and researchers in interior design.
City of Wood: San Francisco and the Architecture of the Redwood Lumber Industry
“City of Wood” by architectural historian James Michael Buckley explores San Francisco’s rise as the American West’s first major metropolis, driven by the exploitation of California’s redwood forests. The book examines the interconnected network of logging camps, company towns, and urban centers that formed a regional “city of wood.” Buckley illustrates how the redwood industry provided both financial capital and construction materials for San Francisco’s rapid growth following the 1849 gold rush. By analyzing this resource extraction network, the author demonstrates the crucial link between the city’s development and the exploitation of natural resources in its hinterland.
Artificial Intelligence in Architecture
AI in architecture has reached a pivotal point, transforming both design practices and theoretical discussions. From practical applications to innovative tools for morphological studies, AI is reshaping the field. The most profound shift lies in the reevaluation of authorship, as nonhuman agents now generate over 50% of content. This raises urgent questions about the role of human creators in an AI-driven design world. This book explores the evolving relationship between architects and AI, featuring insights from leading voices like Cesare Battelli, Mario Carpo, and Andrew Witt, among others.
Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere
Rewi: Ata haere, kia tere is a tribute to the late architect Rewi Thompson (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa), a visionary thinker who believed that great architecture is crafted through careful consideration of people and place. This book brings together a breathtaking range of his projects, from conceptual dreamscapes to one-of-a-kind homes. It is written by one of the rising stars of architecture and a well-known commentator on urban issues, and includes interviews with those who worked with him.
Transpecies Design: Design for a Posthumanist World
The UN's 2019 Global Assessment Report warns of impending mass extinction due to human activities. To address this crisis, the book proposes a shift from anthropocentric design to transpecies design. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and aims to regenerate the natural environment while preserving biodiversity. By moving beyond human-centric perspectives, transpecies design offers a new framework for creating sustainable solutions. The book serves as a crucial resource for professionals and students in various design fields, architecture, environmental philosophy, and cultural studies, advocating for a more holistic and inclusive approach to design that benefits all species.
Earth, Sky and Water: Houses in the Nordic Style
Mette Lange's "Earth, Sky & Water" showcases thirteen houses designed with natural materials and human-scale comfort. The book is divided into three chapters: "By the Water," "In the Forest," and "In the Countryside." Lange's unique approach involves camping on-site before designing, ensuring a deep connection with the environment. The book features inviting photography, detailed project descriptions, and highlights Lange's socially responsible work in India. Kenneth Frampton contributes a foreword to this visual feast of Scandinavian summerhouses, which also serves as an inspiration for architects seeking to run sustainable studios.
European Churches and Chinese Temples As Neuro-Theatrical Sites
This book explores how religious sanctuaries across cultures reflect and influence human cognition and behavior. It analyzes over 80 Christian, Buddhist, and other sacred buildings, examining how their designs embody cultural ideals and shape visitors' experiences. The author argues that these spaces serve as "inner theatres" where believers perform their faith, interacting with divine entities and reinforcing group identities. By integrating insights from humanities and sciences, the book demonstrates how architectural elements reflect historical meta-theatrical projections and affect modern visitors' embodied cognition. It compares European and Chinese religious sites, revealing distinct cultural trajectories in individualist/collectivist thinking and performative traditions.
On the Appearance of the World: A Future for Aesthetics in Architecture
How can architecture develop better aesthetic directions for the twenty-first-century built environment? Our world, increasingly defined by efficient but unconsidered architecture and cities, seems to be getting uglier. In On the Appearance of the World, Mark Foster Gage asks why. He imagines a future scenario where architectural design and ideas from aesthetic philosophy align toward the production of a built world that is more humane, habitable, beautiful, and just.
FABRIC[ated]: Fabric Innovation and Material Responsibility in Architecture
FABRIC[ated] explores fabric's role as a catalyst for innovation and transformation in architecture. The book examines how fabric research and development has influenced architectural design, teaching, and practice. It highlights fabric's responsive, flexible, and adaptive qualities, offering innovative solutions and increased material responsibility. The text is divided into foundation and theory chapters, followed by case studies of 14 international projects categorized under Veiling, Compression, and Tension. These projects showcase diverse applications of fabric in architecture, from concrete forming to building skins, demonstrating new methods for addressing sustainability and social justice. The book appeals to both students and practitioners, providing pedagogical and practical models for fabric use in architecture.
Manual of Biogenic House Sections
This book explores sustainable house construction using materials that sequester carbon or have low embodied carbon. It showcases 55 modern houses built with wood, bamboo, straw, hemp, cork, earth, brick, stone, and recycled materials. The book presents detailed cross-sectional drawings, exploded axonometrics, and photographs of each house, demonstrating how these materials influence architectural design. By focusing on modest-sized homes and their role in architectural experimentation, the book aims to transform current building practices and promote environmentally conscious construction for a more sustainable future.
Vernacular Architecture: Critical and Primary Sources
"Vernacular Architecture: Critical and Primary Sources" is a comprehensive four-volume collection of essential readings on traditional building cultures worldwide. Spanning 200 years of scholarship, it offers a framework for understanding vernacular architecture studies. The volumes trace the field's evolution from rural, romantic interpretations to contemporary, interdisciplinary perspectives. This collection connects historical insights to modern urban challenges, making it valuable for scholars, professionals, and policymakers. It serves as a crucial resource for architecture, conservation, planning, material culture, art history, geography, and heritage studies.
Building Bad: How Architectural Utility Is Constrained by Politics and Damaged by Expression
The author contends that architectural functionality is constrained by political and economic forces while being undermined by expressive modes. Utilitarian elements like windows may conflict with energy conservation goals, while expressive systems can overshadow practical considerations. Politics and economics set boundaries for utilitarian functions, evaluated based on wealth accumulation in a competitive global economy. Simultaneously, artistic sensibilities driven by competition often lead to impractical building forms. This tension between functionality, economic constraints, and artistic expression creates a complex interplay in architectural design, challenging architects to balance practical needs with aesthetic and symbolic values.
John Outram
This book offers the first comprehensive study of John Outram, an architect known for his decorative and elemental designs. It explores Outram's innovative buildings, including The New House at Wadhurst and the Isle of Dogs Pumping Station, as well as unrealized projects. The author, Geraint Franklin, examines how Outram's work blends architectural history, metaphysics, and mythology, using storytelling and iconography to communicate shared values. The book delves into Outram's creative approach to building technology and his reconciliation of traditional architectural roles with modern design. Featuring new photography and archival images, it provides fresh insights into this significant late 20th-century architect.
Le Corbusier's Chandigarh Revisited: Preservation As Future Modernism
This book reevaluates Le Corbusier's Chandigarh through a contemporary lens, examining its relevance to modern challenges like climate change, globalization, and technology. The author, a former resident and scholar, employs poststructuralist and postcolonial perspectives to explore preservation, identity, and change in the city. The work analyzes Chandigarh's current state against original plans, questioning the continued relevance of its aesthetics and ethical foundations in urban planning. It examines the city's hydrology, Capitol buildings' symbolism, and the unbuilt Museum of Knowledge, arguing for Chandigarh as an 'open' work designed for future completion. This engaging study appeals to those interested in architecture and urban planning.
World Architecture and Society: From Stonehenge to One World Trade Center [2 Volumes]
This two-volume encyclopedia explores globally significant buildings and sites throughout history, divided into four regional sections: the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific. It features regional essays examining architectural development across time and cultures. Entries highlight the unique importance of structures like Stonehenge and Angkor Wat, as well as broader building traditions such as Spanish colonial missions and medieval Islamic universities. The encyclopedia also includes remarkable stories of architectural achievement and memory, like Tuskegee University and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, focusing on both architectural aspects and social significance.
Architecture and Objects
Graham Harman's "Architecture and Objects" introduces object-oriented ontology (OOO) to architectural theory, challenging traditional concepts of form and function. Harman critiques influential philosophers and proposes de-relationalized versions of form and function (zero-form and zero-function) to expand architecture's possibilities. He engages with prominent architects' works and writings, offering a new perspective on architecture's role in revitalizing aesthetic paradigms. The book aims to deepen the dialogue between philosophy and architecture, providing fresh insights into contemporary architectural language and practice.
The Architecture of Disability: Buildings, Cities, and Landscapes Beyond Access
"The Architecture of Disability" by David Gissen proposes a radical shift in architectural thinking, placing disability at the core of design rather than as an afterthought. Gissen argues that physical capacity should be fundamental to spatial conception, challenging the conventional approach of merely accommodating disabilities. By examining historical sites and urban spaces, he demonstrates how disability has always influenced architecture. The book advocates for integrating disabled perspectives into architectural production, reimagining the field's foundations and moving beyond traditional accessibility concepts. This approach offers a new lens to understand and create built environments that truly embrace human diversity.
Expanding Field of Architecture: Women in Practice Across the Globe
This book documents contemporary architectural projects designed by women architects participating in diverse forms of practice in diverse regions around the world. Examining each design within its unique context, this collection of forty projects includes beautifully illustrated case studies of transformative buildings, encompassing a range of sizes, building types, materials, and construction methods. Overcoming historical challenges within architectural practice, the women architects in this collection lead their firms and expand the field of architecture.
Mok Wei Wei: Works by W Architects
This monograph explores the work of Mok Wei Wei, a leading Singaporean architect, over three decades. It showcases his projects with W Architects, including apartment complexes, museums, and community centers, highlighting his innovative solutions for building in a tropical city. The book is organized into three themes—"Refract," "Respond," and "Reflect"—tracing his career from the 1980s to today. It illustrates his approach to designing for a dense urban environment while addressing challenges like climate, heritage preservation, and national identity. Essential for fans and architects working in tropical cities globally.
Bayana: The Sources of Mughal Architecture
Bayana, a city in Rajasthan, challenges conventional views on Muslim architecture and urban development in India. In the late 12th century, Muslim conquerors captured a Hindu fort and established two towns - one below and another within the fort. These towns became the center of an autonomous region in the 15th and 16th centuries. The book explores how Bayana's unique artistic traditions, which evolved independently from Delhi, influenced North Indian architecture. Notably, it argues that many features of the renowned Mughal architectural style originated from innovations first developed in Bayana, highlighting the city's significant but often overlooked role in shaping India's architectural heritage.
Adjaye - Works 1995-2007: Houses, Pavilions, Installations, Buildings
David Adjaye―Works showcases the early career of this renowned international architect, known for his innovative use of space and materials. The book explores Adjaye's initial projects, from private homes to public buildings, which laid the foundation for his unique brand of "critical regionalism." It highlights his creative urban interventions, such as rooftop living spaces and sunken courtyards, across London and Brooklyn. The monograph presents these early works with new analyses and archival material, demonstrating Adjaye's artistic sensitivity and architectural ingenuity that have since propelled him to global acclaim, exemplified by projects like the National Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Studio Gang: Architecture
The most in-depth exploration of one of the most important, innovative, and creative architecture practices working today. For the last twenty years Studio Gang, led by Jeanne Gang, has created bold, visionary architecture that engages the urgent social and environmental challenges of our time. This first comprehensive monograph brings together 25 signature projects-from the award-winning Aqua Tower and Writers Theatre to highly-anticipated upcoming buildings for the American Museum of Natural History and O'Hare International Airport-to reveal the resonant concepts and design approach that connect them. With a rich variety of visual materials and short essays by Jeanne Gang, the book elegantly captures the creative sensibility and trajectory of an architecture driven by pressing twenty-first-century questions.
In the Land of the Patriarchs: Design and Contestation in West Bank Settlements
"In the Land of the Patriarchs" offers an in-depth exploration of West Bank settlements, revealing their complex evolution beyond political motivations. Noam Shoked examines how these controversial residential projects were shaped by diverse actors, including developers, environmentalists, and ordinary Israelis seeking housing solutions. The book highlights the unexpected collaborations and conflicts that influenced settlement design and construction, reflecting varied worldviews and aesthetic visions. Shoked demonstrates that the transformation of political ideology into physical structures is often unpredictable, driven by pragmatic choices and unforeseen circumstances rather than solely by high-level political decisions.
Building America: The Life of Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Benjamin Henry Latrobe, America's first professional architect, left an indelible mark on the new republic's landscape. An English émigré, Latrobe contributed to iconic structures like the US Capitol, White House, and Navy Yard, creating neoclassical interiors that embodied American democracy. He also designed engineering projects to unite the nation and improve public health. Despite his genius and efforts to establish architecture as a respected profession, Latrobe faced financial struggles throughout his career. Jean Baker's "Building America" portrays Latrobe as a charming yet driven figure who played a crucial role in shaping the American aesthetic during the early years of the United States.
Philip Johnson: A Visual Biography
A spectacular visual biography of one of the most celebrated architects and cultural icons of the twentieth century With his elegant suits and trademark round black glasses, Philip Johnson - a witty, wealthy, and well-connected architect - was for many years the most powerful figure in the society and politics of his profession. This impressively illustrated book traces his seven decades of larger-than-life influence, innovation, and controversy in the realm of architecture and beyond. Hundreds of images and documents, many published here for the first time, trace the remarkable life and career of a true legend.
The Complexities of John Hejduk's Work: Exorcising Outlines, Apparitions and Angels
This book explores John Hejduk's architectural career through the lens of "exorcism," revealing his thought process and profound questioning of architectural design. It divides his work into three eras, using analogies of outlines, apparitions, and angels across seven chapters. The author examines key projects like the Texas houses, Wall House, and Architectural Masques to investigate Hejduk's imaginative progression. Featuring insights from notable figures in architecture, the book offers a deep dive into Hejduk's mind, making it valuable for those interested in 20th-century architecture and design.
The Elements of Modern Architecture: Understanding Contemporary Buildings
"The Elements of Modern Architecture" showcases influential buildings from 1950 to present, analyzed through detailed freehand drawings. The book examines key architectural elements such as site, space, details, and natural light in a diverse range of structures worldwide. It explores what makes these buildings significant contributions to architecture, focusing on their innovative forms, construction techniques, and responses to local conditions. With over 2,500 hand-drawn illustrations, the book encourages readers to appreciate architecture through direct observation and critical thinking, emphasizing the importance of physical experience in understanding memorable design.
The Women Who Changed Architecture
"The Women Who Changed Architecture" is a comprehensive visual chronicle showcasing over 100 influential women in architecture from the 19th century to the present day. The book highlights pioneers like Marion Mahony Griffin, who passed the architectural licensure exam in 1898 and contributed significantly to Frank Lloyd Wright's reputation through her exquisite drawings. It also features contemporary leaders such as MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, who focuses on sustainable design and equitable urban spaces. This essential resource offers in-depth profiles and stunning images, illustrating the transformative impact of women on the field of architecture worldwide.
Fake Heritage: Why We Rebuild Monuments
"Fake Heritage" explores the global phenomenon of replicated historical landmarks and artifacts. John Darlington examines various examples, from replica Eiffel Towers to reconstructed ancient cities, discussing the ethical implications and consequences of fabricating cultural heritage. The book delves into the complexities of historical authenticity, distinguishing between blatant frauds and respectful homages. It also addresses the challenges of faithful recreations and the impact of modern technology on our perception of history. Through stunning visuals and insightful analysis, Darlington reveals how the duplication of heritage raises intriguing questions about our relationship with the past.
Future Cities: A Visual Guide
This book explores the visual history and future of cities, examining how architects, artists, and designers have imagined urban environments in response to global challenges. It analyzes the implications of these visualizations, considering who benefits from future cities and why they are desirable. By experimenting with visualizations, the book highlights their power and agency in shaping our understanding of urban futures. Through critical lenses such as technological, social, and global perspectives, it provides a comprehensive analysis of future city visions, engaging creatively with how we perceive tomorrow's world and contributing to broader future studies.
Vernacular Architecture in the 21st Century: Theory, Education and Practice
The issues surrounding the function and meaning of vernacular architecture in the twenty-first century are complex and extensive. Taking a distinctively rigorous theoretical approach, this book considers these issues from a number of perspectives, broadening current debate to a wider multidisciplinary audience. These collected essays from the leading experts in the field focus on theory, education and practice in this essential sector of architecture, and help to formulate solutions to the environmental, disaster management and housing challenges facing the global community today.
Informal settlements of the Global South
This book challenges conventional thinking on human settling, mobility, and placemaking through 15 global case studies. It questions the traditional divisions of Global North vs. South and formal vs. informal spaces, exploring the interconnectedness of these concepts. The authors, from diverse backgrounds, use the 'Global South' as a methodological tool to examine settling and unsettling worldwide. The studies highlight the agency and resourcefulness of marginalized communities, revealing untold stories of adaptation and contestation. This fresh perspective on the North-South debate offers new insights for researchers, students, and professionals in architecture, planning, politics, and sociology.
Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller
Alec Nevala-Lee's "Inventor of the Future" is a comprehensive biography of Buckminster Fuller, the visionary designer and futurist renowned for the geodesic dome. The book explores Fuller's revolutionary approach to design problems, his concept of Spaceship Earth, and his influence on sustainability and technology. Nevala-Lee delves into Fuller's most famous inventions, his relationships with notable figures, and his tumultuous personal life. Drawing from extensive research and interviews, the biography offers a nuanced portrait of Fuller's career, challenging the myth of him as an otherworldly generalist. It highlights Fuller's enduring legacy and the continued relevance of his ideas in today's rapidly changing world.
Selected Services and Resources
Reminders of key resources ahead of each semester—see more in Faculty Resources:
Class Instruction
I will meet with you and your class to provide an overview of library resources and research strategies tailored to specific assignments. (Please request at least two weeks in advance.)
Appointments
If you are new faculty and would like a personal overview of what the library offers—or if you've been around a while and would like a refresher—please schedule a time to meet.
Course Reserves
The library can place both physical and online materials on reserve for your classes. We encourage you to make arrangements prior to the start of each semester or as soon as possible, and email gleesonreserves@usfca.edu with any questions.
Items previously on reserve must be renewed every semester that you wish to have them availalbe.
Research Guides
We curate research guides for a variety of disciplines, topics, and classes. Please consider including a link to the Architecture guide on your course canvas pages for your students.
Book Orders
If you would like us to purchase specific books for the library, please contact me via email with the information: randall.souther@usfca.edu. We're happy to partner with you to build a rich and useful collection.
Streaming Videos for Classroom Use
If you’re planning on using streaming videos from the library, we encourage you to make arrangements prior to the start of each semester:
Even if you’ve made arrangements for a specific title in the past, please confirm that the license will be active during the semester. Many of our streaming videos are licensed for only a year at a time, and we want to make sure you and your students have access when you need it. License expiration dates, when applicable, are indicated in the “Access Restrictions” note in the catalog record for the video.
You can search our streaming video collection in the library’s catalog. For additional information, please see our Video and Streaming Media for Faculty guide, or contact me for help.
Open Access Publishing
Learn about open-access opportunities for your work.
Transformative Agreements
See our current agreements with journal publishers to allow USF faculty to publish their articles open access at reduced or no cost to the author.
Scholarship Repository
We encourage you to add your publications to the library's repository of USF scholarship for open access and archiving.