A New Sculpturalism

In the wake of architectural giants from Frank Lloyd Wright to Frank Gehry, contemporary Southern California architects began exploring experimental new forms and creating a distinctive--and heretofore unexamined--urban style. Considered as a group for the first time, the story of their advancements, metamorphosis, and digressions inspires innovation and demonstrates a thoughtful relationship to new design perspectives and a changing urban environment. This major new book, illustrated with an impressive range of photographs and sketches, brings together perspectives from prominent historians, curators, and professors. New Sculpturalism in the Southern California Architecture compliments an exhibition of the same name to be held at The Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in May 2013, and is part of the Getty Research Institute series The Los Angeles Architecture, 1940-1990. Four original essays will examine Southern California experimental architecture from 1987 though today. Christopher Mount will emphasize the distinctive way these new works focus on form and take shape as their primary consideration in their unique "New Sculpturalism."
Nicholas Olsberg will trace a history of Southern California architecture before Gehry. Margaret Crawford will look at Los Angeles's particular brand of urbanism in relation to contemporary architecture while TBD will consider "Sci-Arc" (The Southern California Institute of Architecture)'s method of teaching and how it has shaped Los Angeles today. A section devoted to client interviews will allow insight into process of creation, and the respected art world figure Jeffrey Dietch will contribute a Foreword. Together with a stunning collection of images, this book promises to present a groundbreaking examination of new developments in an important school of contemporary American architecture.