The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 17 February 1998
by Reyner Banham
At University of California at Santa Cruz, in 1986, this reader took a highly entertaining course in high-tech architecture taught by Reyner Banham. In this book, published much earlier, he defined and examined four ecological models for Los Angeles; Surfurbia, Foothills, The Plains of Id, and Autopia. Each model is accompanied by a discussion of representative architecture. Banham gives an entertaining, enlightening and admiring view of that city's supposedly vacuous monuments. He demonstrates that this much-maligned city deserves a spot among the great cities of the world, and, indeed, has often found itself ahead of European architectural trends. Banham elevates even the freeways to the status of great human monuments. Since its publication in 1971, Banham's view has vindicated LA, and this book is still worth reading for his entertaining prose and insightful perspective. (In 1972, Banham's exuberent view of Los Angeles was captured in the short film Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles, apparently produced for British audiences, and relatively obscure, now. Poor quality bits and pieces can be found on-line, though. Look for young Ed Ruscha having a burger with Banham at a drive-in diner.)
Also by Reyner Banham: [Megastructure] [A Critic Writes]
See also: [Reyner Banham by Nigel Whiteley]
[Other Books in or about California]