The book is simply another design tool—indispensable to many, but of limited use to others. When I speak of books, I am not referring to the common association with literature (novels, poetry, fiction, …), which are also useful within the abstract and diffuse design process. Enric Miralles, for instance, used to turn to verses by Lorca or the creative world of Queneau to anchor those early design intuitions. Yet I am not referring to this kind of reading, which is equally recommended, but rather to what is specific to our profession—to our unique and sharp gaze. Architects look for inspiration in books, but it is only when they reflect their thoughts on paper that they reveal their true, intangible nature.
Architects are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of print subgenres. These range from deep written reflections on the discipline to illustrative volumes of architectural images, construction details, plans, and drawings. We are shaped by what we see; that is undeniable. Consequently, this entire wealth of knowledge stays with us throughout the design process, surfacing unpredictably as we address the challenges that arise. Simply turning to a book can open doors along this design path, just as it can close others. We navigate by intuition, but we are always guided by parameters established from the very beginning. Looking for external references in books and magazines is a difficult exercise at first, as the siren song of countless sources can lead us astray. Knowing how to choose these references and initial guidelines will outline a clear, feasible path where the design becomes more manageable, accessible, and adaptable to future changes.
While architects have a vast range of books and magazines at their disposal, categorizing them is a challenging task, unlike in other fields of knowledge. These can be grouped into three categories, with the last perhaps being the most elusive of all.
The first category of books to classify within architecture is the purely written text. The architectural essay is perhaps the oldest format in the discipline, predating the discovery of perspective mathematics and Renaissance illustrations. We understand the architectural essay as the most faithful expression of architectural thought. When accompanied by illustrations or diagrams, it becomes a resource of high academic value. Vitruvius proved this with treatises such as ‘De Architectura’—later reinterpreted during the Renaissance by Alberti—whose lessons remain highly relevant today. However, the golden age of this format was undoubtedly the 20th century, with essays that paved groundbreaking paths for both architecture and urban planning: the essays of Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier's ‘Towards a New Architecture’ , Aldo Rossi's ‘The Architecture of the City’, Robert Venturi's ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, the everyday insights of the Smithsons' writings, Louis Kahn's reflections bridging metaphysics and ontology, and Rem Koolhaas's New York rhetoric in ‘Delirious New York’.
The second category consists of monographic volumes, a genre that has a larger following today within professional architectural practice. Moving away from the theoretical stance of the architectural essay, monographs present a far more accessible format—more intuitive and closely tied to graphic expression, featuring both photographs of the completed works and accompanying technical drawings. Featured in both books and magazines, this format is highly suited for design phases where quick, direct solutions are needed, providing a comprehensive overview of an architect's work. Monographic books can easily be understood as reference books—resources that offer alternatives within our workflow and subconsciously influence our decisions. While essays help build architectural theory, monographs move away from this dogmatic stance to serve as support and reference once the project's direction has been established.
The third and final category is, as previously mentioned, the hardest to define, encompassing a wide range of reference materials. Much like monographs, this category includes books and magazines whose primary function is to serve as a reference manual. However, they are not limited to summarizing a specific architect's built work; instead, they branch out into the technical aspects of the field. This is where we find structural calculation manuals, libraries of construction details, building and structural journals, visual dictionaries, and building codes and regulations. In short, these are the documents that facilitate our work once the project parameters are fully defined and the design is in an advanced stage of development.
Books and magazines are undoubtedly fundamental tools in architectural practice. They have always been intrinsically linked to the discipline and are now more prominent than ever. In a society fueled by information overload and visual saturation, social media and websites serve as the perfect complement to the physical library. Platforms like Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram are tools that, gradually and perhaps regrettably, are replacing traditional print compilations, while architecture and urban planning websites and blogs—such as this one—will remain the cradle of new architectural reflections and research.
This article was written by Borja Fernández. The translation is powered by AI.
